Notes from Music Selection 8th December 2017
4 Heathfield, Hythe
Present: Sian Leighton, Tim Leighton, David Parsons, Pete Robson, Simon Wilkins, Elspeth Wood
Apologies: Chris Coles, Ken Thomas
The main objective of the session was to select music for the concert that will take place at Fawley church on June 30th 2018. It had already been decided to play a cello piece in memory of Rose Bell. With the increased brass section of 4 horns and 2 trombones, it was hoped that pieces other than the concerto would provide good playing opportunities for these players. Although the original plan was to play a concerto and a symphony, this format was discussed and an alternative was decided upon, as Fawley had requested ‘classics’ type music, and a suitable, playable symphony including appropriate instrumentation was difficult to find.
The pieces decided upon were:
Saint-Saens:‘Cello concerto No 1 in A minor (20 mins, available on IMSLP)
Elgar: Nursery Suite (25 mins, available on IMSLP. We may choose not to include all the sections.)
Borodin: Steppes of Central Asia (9 mins, available from MO library)
Verdi: Force of Destiny (8 mins, available on IMSLP)
Dan Orton: an orchestral arrangement of Rachmaninov nocturnes 1,2 and 3 (10 mins, available from the composer for members to print off)
Dan has said that he would be happy to alter orchestration as required. A thorough check of the orchestration by Simon or Peter would be helpful, to see if anything needs to be added or taken away before the pieces are submitted for printing from the website.
The possibility of playing ‘The Swan’ for cello and piano as an encore was suggested. (Presumably this would depend on the piano at the venue.)
Some other good suggestions were raised and will be reserved for future concerts. A list of ongoing suggestions is at the end of this document.
As we are not going to play a symphony in this concert, we will definitely plan one for the February concert in 2019. The possibility of playing Simon’s symphony again at that time was welcomed but this will be discussed further next year. The possibility of playing Tchaikovsky symphony no2 was also discussed at some length: it remains to be seen whether we could manage that.
The autumn concert for 2018 will have an operatic theme, and Pete will propose a programme in the new year, which we will discuss at the next meeting. Some overtures and choruses will be planned, with the possibility of involving the St Nicholas singers if they would like to do so, and if this is financially viable. The overture to ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’ was a request that could not be fitted into the summer concert but which might be appropriate for the autumn concert.
We will meet again after the next concert to finalise plans for the autumn concert and discuss the shape of 2019 concerts, bearing in mind that there will be no symphonic concert in 2018.
Suggestions List
Composer, Piece, Duration Comment
G Faure Cantiquede Jean Racine 7mRequires singer
E Elgar Chanson du Matin/ de Nuit 3.5m +No trumpets
C Debussy Au Claire de Lune Simon might arrange
W Mozart EineKleineNacht MusicTony K has written mvt 2 for our orchestra
G Verdi Force of DestinyJune Concert
Delibes Flower DuetNeeds singers
James Bond MedleyToo expensive but we have ‘for your eyes only’ Consider for film concert
BadletPirates of the CaribbeanConsider for film concert
Britten 5 Courtly DancesDone before. Can consider again
Saint SaensThe Swan (in memory of Rose)Possibly as encore June
J Barry Dances with Wolves 12 m May be rather slow and boring. (One opinion!) Playable. Consider for film concert (In MO library)
H Balfour Gardiner Shepherd’s Fennel Dance 2m Sounds fun. In library.
H Berlioz Le Carnival Romain8.5 m Played in past. Challenging but possible. Consider for future
C Debussy CoppeliaLibrary version not usable
Delibes Fantasia on ballet Sylvia Library version not usable.
H Berlioz Benvenuto Cellini 9.5m 3 trombone + tuba
H Berlioz Rackoszi March 4.5m Largeorch needed
F Liszt Les Preludes Trombone 1,2,3 + tuba
F Herold Le Fille Mal Garde Clog Dance+ 5m
J Brahms Variations: St Anthony Chorale Some parts tricky for the strings, but could consider reduced
A BorodinPolovtsian Dances Too difficult at present
T KitchersideArrangement of a Shepherd’s Farewell It is arranged for Strings, oboes, clarinets and bassoons, with flute parts additional if desired (should try out this year).
Gounod JudexMainly strings.
Gounod Funeral March of a MarionettePossible
Maxwell DaviesFairwell to Stromness arr for strings by P Robson
J Haydn Symphony no 99,101,104No trombones
F Schubert Symphony no 4,5No trombones. No9 does
W Mozart Symphony no 40,41No trombones
Beethoven Symphony no 3,7No trombones
Elgar Nursery SuiteJune Concert
Borodin Steppes of Central Asia June Concert
S Coleridge Taylor Petite Suite de Concert16m Trombones. Good option
Nicolai Overture, Merry Wives of Windsor ?Autumn concert 4horns, trombones
Pleyel SymphonySome of them have very unusual instrument combinations
Mozart Ballet music from Idomineo K367
Bucalossi, E Grasshopper Dance Piano part only on IMSLP
Curzon, F The BoulevardierNot on IMSLP
Curzon,F The Dance of and Ostracised Imp (2.5m)Not on IMSLP
Anderson, L A Christmas Festival
Binge, R Saxophone Concerto Unable to locate music but Hilda keen to play it.
Elgar Imperial March op32 £40 from Goodmusic
Dvorak Symphony 3/5 Demanding
Mendelssohn Scottish Symphony Difficult in parts Has trombones
Gade, N Symphony 1/8 Has trombones
Tchaikovsky Symphony 2 Seriously considered, but is it too hard?
Gounod Faust Ballet Music On IMSLP. Has trombones
Mendelssohn Hebrides OvertureOn IMSLP. No trombones. 2 horns
Orton, DanOrchestral PreludeHas no trombones but he would happily write in extra parts.
Orton, DanRachmaninov 3 nocturnesJune Concert
Orton, DanBeethoven Sonata in F
Orton, DanChopin, Prelude no.12