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Christmas Concert Programme 2006 |
| I've had a letter from Caring at Christmas thanking us for our collection which raised £358.30. A worthwhile effort I would say. |
The National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain.
GRIMSBY 3 rd March 2007 |
Ann Smith’s account of the day out with daughter Kirsty
Kirsty, during a busy day at work(!!), was idly looking on the internet, and found the website of The Saxophone Choir of Great Britain. They gave details of a Workshop to be held in Grimsby on Saturday, 3 rd March from 2-4pm, with the option of joining them for part of their concert that evening. We so enjoyed their concert at St Georges, Brandon Hill early last year, that we decided we would love to go. We signed up, said we would also like to take part in the concert if we could, and we had an e-mail back saying ‘See you there’.
We set off at 7am for Grimsby, since I was positive we would have massive hold-ups on the Motorway, or something would go wrong on the way, so we arrived just after 11am. We then had time to locate the hotel we were to stay in that night, and the Hall where the Concert was to take place. We even had time to go one mile further and visit the delights of Cleethorpes!! We found a pub/hotel on the seafront, and had some lunch. The sun was shining so we managed a short walk down on the sand afterwards. The beach looked great, like Weston on a bigger scale. We could not see the sea it was so far out, and there was a tanker on the horizon waiting for the tide to come in. Looking to the left we could see the mouth of the Humber on the outskirts of Hull.
We duly arrived at the Hall at 1.30pm. The workshop was obviously a local event, because there were a lot of school children there; we were the only ones to come so far, and I was definitely the oldest!! However they made us very welcome, and we had two hours of rehearsal. A few of the members of the choir helped, and we practised three pieces which were to played that evening. There were three baritones, the other two were boys of about 15, and we all three intended to play in the evening. Kirsty was one of four tenors, but only one, another girl was playing in the evening. Kirsty was lucky enough to stand next to a girl of similar age who was actually in the choir. She was most encouraging and told her all about the group. The hardest bit of the rehearsal was the staging. The stage was 8 steep steps high, and for two of the pieces we had to come on after the piece had started. Clambering up those steps carrying a saxophone and trying to look as if you were playing was difficult.
We finished just after 4pm, and were free until 7pm. The Choir then rehearsed until 6pm. We played in two pieces in the first half: Under the Veil by Nigel Wood, and Carnival by Karen Street, and we were able to sit at the front on the side through the rest of the concert. We also played for the encore which was called the Shetland Sequence. It was a Scottish Reel which was fast and furious for the soloists, but for the rest of us it was clapping for the first half, followed by a bagpipe sort of drone for the second.
We had an opportunity to talk to many of the Choir. Jen the Principal Baritone explained that many of them were professional musicians, playing, composing, teaching or conducting, but some of them, like her, had proper jobs. She was a nurse. The girl Kirsty was next to was an IT Consultant. I had quite a chat with the Tubax player, she was about my age but she was the only one. Nigel Wood was the Musical Director. He was unfortunately getting over ‘flu and only had a croak of a voice, but he still managed to play Waltzing Soprillda, Waltzing Matilda with variations, on the Soprillo saxophone, a really tiny saxophone. He was terrific. For the three pieces we played there was a guest conductor, Richard Ingham, who was great fun, and helped his conducting along with castanets.
We got back to the Hotel at about 10.45pm absolutely shattered, having had a most exhilarating day.
Ann Smith. March 2007 |
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| Passing Notes February 2006 |
Once again I have had the good fortune to attend two great concerts at St Georges recently. The National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain was superb, providing an immaculately played programme of music covering a large stylistic range. They demonstrated how to make music making fun.
More recently, I caught the opening gig of a tour by Quercus (Oak). Ian Ballamy, sublime on tenor and soprano saxes, June Tabor with the richest of controlled voices and pianist Huw Warren. Stylistically they were unclassifiable. Ian Ballamy is a jazz saxophonist, June Tabor, a long established folk singer, and Huw Warren, a pianist and composer with jazz and classical leanings. Together they produced a potent mix of emotional and technically brilliant music. There is just so much amazing talent out there and once again it was a privilege to experience such wonderful music making.
Dave J |
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| So, one year
has passed… |
| …what a year! I’ve gone from an A level
class of two, to an entire building full of people who love to
do the same thing as me! (Music, of course!)
Initially University was a very daunting prospect, as some
of you may know, it is very different from the routine pattern
of school. However, having jumped in with two feet, the opportunities
that have opened up have been wonderful – from performing an
opera in Holland, to singing carols in the magnificent Bath
Abbey. There was also that wonderful experience that some of
us saxband-ers shared in, of breaking the Guinness World Record
for the largest saxophone ensemble……in the World!!! (if anyone
wants to see Pee Wee Ellis’s autograph, let me know!) What a
shame that this moment of glory was spoilt just nine days later,
when 930 saxophonists turned up in Canada. We are going to have
to get a bigger gang from saxband next time!!!
I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Big Band, Windband
and Saxophone ensemble. From the saxophone ensemble, an all-girl
quartet has formed - ‘Alchemy’ and I’m sure the others won’t
mind if I mention that we are available to play for parties,
weddings, pubs…etc!! Plug, plug!
Must also plug Bath International Music Festival – I was not
really aware of it before this year, but there are some fantastic
gigs available – I saw fabulous performances by Stacey Kent
& her band, Pee Wee Ellis, and Courtney Pine & his band.
A great way to experience live music, whilst cheekily broadening
my musical appreciation and listening skills!!
Here’s to next year!
(Amy Dixon - August 2004)
Here is the address of a website concerned with the record
breaking performance mentioned above.
http://www.boldts.net/Tor-Saxophones.shtml |
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| The Saxothon |
Dave James, accompanied by Lyn Thomas
on piano and joined from time to time by various Cadbury Saxophone
Band members, presented a mixed programme of - almost - non-stop
music for four hours at St Mary's Church in Yatton on 29th March
2003.
Their efforts raised £170 for the church restoration
fund and the event has paved the way for other similar events
in the future. (Julia - April 25 2003) |
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Yatton
Music Society is Changing In addition to the usual monthly
concerts in Yatton Parish Church, YMS will be staging quarterly
gigs in the upstairs room of the Prince Of Orange Inn. (Remember
the rhythm & folk evening there last year). The idea will be to
present a wide variety of music (usually two groups in one night)
to appeal to a wider audience in a more informal setting. Membership
costs £4 per year. Enjoy reductions in admission price to all
YMS events. (Dave, November 2002)
I'm afraid it didn't last. In spite of some really enterprising concerts, audiences dwindled to an embarrassingly low figure, and I got fed up with all the work for so little response. So back to music at St Mary's then. (Dave Feb 2007)
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| Book
of The Month November 2002 - Editor's Choice The Cambridge
Companion To The Saxophone, edited by Richard Ingham (Cambridge
University Press) 226 pages paperback, £15.95. Just what every
saxophile needs in their Christmas stocking this year. The book
fills the gap between Paul Harvey's booklet - The Saxophonist's
Bedside Book (Fentone) and Wally Horwood's comprehensive - Adolphe
Sax His Life and Legacy (EPL). Lots of experts contribute to a
series of chapters covering the whole gamut of saxophone playing.
Sections on invention and development, the repertoire, playing
techniques, saxophone quartets, playing professionally, the saxophone
and jazz, rock, classical and contemporary music, famous soloists,
and wind synthesisers, mean you can dip in and out at will. First
impressions are of interest at every page turn, even though I
found the feel of the book a little dull. Could it be the lack
of colour? However, highly recommended. Bob Bailey at Clevedon
Music Shop can get it for you, although you might find it cheaper
on the net.(Dave, November 2002) |
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Our
Christmas collection 2006 from The Plough, Mall etc
raised £358.30 for Caring at Christmas. 2005 was £535.11, 2002 was £316, 2001 was £377
and. 2000 was £308.
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| New
Sax Technique Pioneered on "A Prairie Home Companion"
http://www.prairiehome.org |
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Andy Stein has perfected
the "shoe" technique
(click picture for closer look)
(Julia - December 7th 2001) |
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Old
Young Friends Amazing Success
Many of you will remember James Bateman and will be delighted
to learn that he has made it through to the woodwind semi finals
of the BBC Young Musician of The Year competition. This means
he is in the last 12, which is a truly great acheivement. The
next round is to held on the 21st December, at The Guildhall in
London. From here, the 5 musicians will be selected to appear
on the televised woodwind finals. I know we all wish James all
the very best. (November 2001 - Dave) |
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Vintage
Saxophones
I recently had a phone call from someone called Ben who renovates
and sells old classic saxophones. He has several Selmer mark VI
alto and tenors for sale. His phone number is 07968 972308 (mobile)
Somewhere in London I think. (November 2001 - Dave)
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What's
a Galliard?
Much discussion has ensued since our first playthrough of The
King Charles Galliard. I rechecked my sources and discovered that
it was " a merry dance in three time in contrast to the slower
pavan". (Collins encyclopedia of music). The Oxford Companion
to Music says "...... steps were rapid and complex....indicates
the intention of gaiety..." which doesn't quite fit our piece.
Any contributions in this debate are welcome. E mail Julia. Graham
and Lorna should be able to offer something, being the dance experts
that they are. (September 2001 - Dave) |
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| Blatant
Saxism?
From a message on a community music mailing list:
'Intonation
problems of multi-keyed bass sections are overcome in the same
way that one would in say, the saxophone section. (Well, maybe
not. The best (and most merciful) way to fix the sax section
is to take them out and shoot them).'
Address all protests to: sillyperson@hotmail.com
(found and contibuted by Julia) |
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You're
Never Too Old...
"According to The Daily Express
and Q4Music 30 March 2001, David Gilmour passed his alto
saxophone grade one exam, together with his 11-year-old
son Charlie, both with merit. He got his sax from his wife
as his 55th birthday present. At a recent book launch in
London's Marylebone High Street he announced that he can
read music for the first time in his life." (April
2001 - Julia) http://www.pinkfloydfan.net/news.html
Too young to remember who he is? Click picture for explanation! |
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A
Sign of The Times?
Amongst so much junk mail that regularly lands on my doormat,
I do receive the occasional useful publication. One which arrives
every 3 months or so is published by the Associated Board of the
Royal Schools of Music in order to keep teachers and others up
to date on news and other issues. Looking through the latest copy
I was intrigued to discover, that in the first half of the magazine
which is devoted to news items, no less than 50% of the copy space
was devoted to Jazz. I wouldn't mind betting that even 10 years
ago, that dreaded word would not even have been mentioned in such
a journal. (April 2001 - Dave) |
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On
Trills, Rits and Ralls
Talk in all the smart circles recently had been about how to play
trills correctly, but now all the gossip is about rits and ralls.
We all know that rall is short for rallentando, which means slow
down gradually, and that rit is short for ritenuto which means
hold back, ie slow down now. But did you know that rit can also
be short for ritanardo, which means, yes, the same as rallentando.
So how does one know what the composer meant? Unlike trills, there
is no historical or chronological convention to help here, so
when someone accuses you of playing a rall when you should be
playing a rit, (which happens to all of us most days), you can
now confidently tell them that you weren’t playing a rit, you
were playing a rit. Or vice versa. (April 2001 - Dave) |
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| Band
Name Suggestions |
| Cadbury
Saxophone Band |
Cadbury
Saxophones (aka Sadly Cacophonous) |
| Sax-Bomb
|
Zummerzax
(er zummat) |
| Puff
Saddies (Sad Puffers?) |
Sax
Pack |
| Simply
Sax |
Saxotones
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| Solely
Sax |
Cadbury
Saxophone Consort |
| The
Conical Bores |
No
Sax Please We’re Rubbish |
| Sax
o Fun with Dave James |
Pick'n'mix
|
| Cadbury
Saxophones |
Sound
Sax |
| Cadbury
Sax(ophone) Ensemble |
Cadbury
Sax Sounds |
| Sad
Sax |
Pavilion
Sax(ophone) Band |
| Somerset
Saxes (or Saxophones) |
The
Pavilion Band |
| The
Sound of Sax |
Mad
Sax |
|
Let Rip |
Mad
Sax III (Beyond the Baritone) |
| Saxophonics
|
Crooks & Bells |
| North
Somersax |
A
Good Reed |
| Saxuality
|
Reeders |
| Saxophone
Minstrels |
Satin
Sax Band |
| A
Saxophone Treat |
Sound of Satin |
| Sax
o' Fun |
Sweet
Tooters |
| Somerset
Sax Sounds |
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|
Saxghoul |
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