LINDEN BAROQUE COMMITTEE MEETING 19TH APRIL 2017

At Michael Jenner’s home

Alan Selwyn, Ian Cutts, Louise Jameson, Lysander Tennant, Michael Jenner, Nick Jackman.

Apologies from Maggie Bruce, Mary Walton, Simon Galton

1) Minutes of last meeting. We have joined Making Music. Michael to arrange organise access to their online information (eg instrument insurance). Lysander discussing with Peter Fender our concerns about the standard of Six Centuries Choir. We propose to agree to do a second Messiah but for a fee of approx. £500 and with a rehearsal without the choir.

2) Review of concert on 5th March with Ibi Aziz.Audience of approx 120. Good programme. All soloists good.Ibi has some shortcomings as a director, but we might use him again. Wes Elliott (2nd lute) came as dep for Jamie Akers, was unprepared, caused problems, not to be used again. Lighting was inadequate – get new stand lights? - Louise to research. A platform for the director or leader would be useful – expensive to buy but cheap to make – could it be kept at St Stephens? – Alan to pursue. Better wine next time.

3) Review of St Matthew Passion on 31st March with Peter Fender. Soloists OK; Susanne Heinrich (gamba) brilliant; Theresa (leader 2) great;Kirra (leader 2) did vg obligato, made useful points, worth using again. Standard brought down by choir, rehearsal time lost. Not enough space. Buskers audible during concert. Good audience.

Poor communication in advance; PF’s schedule circulated but not tailored to our needs; fixing of keyboard players confused by no overall responsibility. Should be clear who is managing each concert. Alan to revise checklist – put on website?

4) Concert on Sunday 30th July 2017 with Ashley Solomon. Rehearsals: 2/7 at St Silas, without Ashley, 23/7 at St Marks Regents Park, 29/7 at St Silas.Concert at St Stephens.

Programme: W F Bach Sinfonia; C P E Bach Symphony in G major (which one?), and flute concerto in D minor, with Ashley as soloist; Gluck Dance of the Furies, Dance of the Blessed Spirits,Recit and Che Faro (with Debbie Miles-Johnson); Haydn Symphony 7 in C “Le Midi”

Pitch A=415Hz. A difficult programme; string section partly fixed, more needed. Magda Loth-Hill fixed as leader. 2 horns needed – Louise giving Nick names. Nick to tell Maggie wind requirements.Michael to fix harpsichord.Music: WFB Sinfonia already got; for others: 1) ask Ashley if he’s got;

2) ask Claire Sharpe if available through RAM, or Michael Mullen if available through RCM;

3) otherwise buy or hire. Ashley’s fee agreed at £450. Nick is managing this concert.

5) Concert on Sunday 29th October 2017 with Steven Devine. Rehearsals Sunday 22/10 and Saturday 28/10.Nick to book rehearsal venues. St Stephens booked for concert. French programme (Lully, Charpentier, Philidor).Michael is managing this concert. Large string section already fixed. Ben leading.

6) Messiah on Saturday 9th December 2017 with Stephen Gregson and an ad-hoc choir, at All Hallows Church, Twickenham. Alan is contact – to agree rehearsal dates with director. Check whether there is rugby that day – it can play havoc with transport. Need leader, trumpets,timps(director may have these). Harpsichord – try Michael Strange, or Claire Williams – she would need at least £300, or more if coming to the rehearsal. Check soloists, and which edition. Theresa for parts??

7) Messiah on Saturday 16th December 2017 with Peter Fender and Six Centuries Choir at St James Piccadilly. Concerns as discussed above. We propose rehearsal on Friday 15th evening with soloists but not choir [since agreed].

8) St Matthew Passion on Saturday 17th February 2018 with Michael Fields and the Phoenix Choir in Eastbourne. Alan is managing. Julia Bishop is fixed to lead. Director will fix keyboard, doesn’t want a gamba, will play lute.

9) Further ahead. Concert in Spring 2018?Easter is 1/4/18, so early March or late April. Alan to ask Theresa, then Louise to liaise; or Catherine Martin. Workshop with Peter Fender – in advance of Messiah?Or one with Rachel Podger. [Post meeting note: Helen France and Jenny Frost are organizing string workshops in Headcorn, Kent – Julia Bishop on 17/6/17 and 28/10/17, Ollie Webber on 2/9/17.] Ian to contact Matthew Altham of Pegasus choir re possible Linley Shakespeare Ode in autumn 2018 with Steven, who is keen.