Welcome back. It’s been a long while since my last Blog, but my website has had a re-vamp, so I’m aiming to get going again with my posts, giving you an insight into my activities, my thoughts and a few suggestions that might interest you.
Now that Easter is past I’m getting into my Summer programme of rehearsals and concerts – not to mention the latest developments in the garden!
The East Sussex Community Choir will perform Haydn: Creation with orchestra and soloists on 29 June, but before then we are heading to Rye for a day out. We’re hoping for nice weather and a nice lunch before giving a short (and Free) concert in the parish church at 5pm on Saturday 4 May. ‘May the fourth be with us’ that day.
And the Brighton Orpheus Choir have just begun rehearsing for a concert based on The Sea (Saturday 6 July) which will include Folk song arrangements by Vaughan Williams, 2 sea shanties and Charles Villiers Stanford: Songs of the Fleet. It’s the centenary of death of Stanford this year and this set of songs feature a young baritone; Harrison Gration – a name to watch out for in the future.
Recently, I’ve been spending a lot of my time planning concerts for December 2024 right up to December 2025. This requires me to come up with attractive programmes for both choir and audience, working within budgets set by committees, finding appropriate venues, choosing soloists and instrumentalists and often booking them well in advance. I’m happy to say that it’s all done – yes REALLY! More details will follow in time.
THE GRAND TOUR. I play harpsichord in a Baroque Flute Quartet called Consonus Baroque and we are currently in the middle of a series of 3 concerts, each of which we are playing in both Anne of Cleves House in Lewes and at Michelham Priory. This Friday 26 April we present our third programme entitled The Grand Tour which features music that an 18th century gentleman might have encountered on his Grand Tour. We start in London and work our way through France, Germany and Austria all the way to Italy, and then back again. A few tickets may still be available, and if not for this Friday, there are two more recitals in the series.
I promise to blog again in May.
Nick
Lovely to hear from you again, Nick. Missed your garden ramblings, too. I’m looking forward to hearing more about your concerts in the fullness of time. Keep on blogging!
Looks great Nick.
Looking forward to your next workshops!
Hi Margaret. Don’t worry, a workshop post is in the pipeline. Hope you’re well. Nick
Hi Nick
I may not be at choir for tome being but love your blogs and hearing what is going on
My favourite (only) Blog is back! Thanks for all the music Nick and looking forward to gardening news.