Galliard Ensemble Programme

Concert Programme Saturday 10th June 2023

 Our 100th Concert

Gioachino ROSSINI

Arr. Graham Sheen

Overture from The Italian Girl in Algiers

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART

arr. Wolfgang Sebastian Meyer:

Fantasie in F minor, K. 594

François COUPERIN

arr. Mordechai Rechtman

Rondeau from ‘Les Moissonneurs’ (from the arranger’s ‘Baroque Suite’)

Maurice RAVEL

arr. Mason Jones

Le Tombeau de Couperin (selection)

Eugène BOZZA

Scherzo, op. 48

Interval

Gustav HOLST

Wind Quintet in A flat major, op. 14

Percy GRAINGER

Walking Tune

Percy GRAINGER

Lisbon

Paul PATTERSON

Westerly Winds, op. 84

Julius FUKIC

Polka

Galliard Ensemble

Former BBC New Generation Artists, the Galliard Ensemble is established as one of Britain’s leading chamber groups, with repertoire ranging from Mozart and Beethoven to Berio and Birtwistle.

Now in its 30th year, the ensemble has performed in many of the world’s leading venues and festivals, including Wigmore Hall, South Bank Centre, Bridgewater Hall, Sage Gateshead and at the BBC Proms.  They have also performed in Portugal, Spain, France, Ireland and Slovenia and are frequently broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and around the World. 

The Galliard Ensemble is known for its virtuosic, entertaining and distinctive performance style and its recordings have been widely praised; the Sunday Times, BBC Music Magazine, Gramophone, and BBC Radio 3 have all selected a Galliard Ensemble CD as “outstanding” or as Critics’ Choice.

They have worked closely with many leading contemporary composers, including György Ligeti and with Sir Harrison Birtwistle, on his quintet Five Distances (for their performance at the BBC Proms) which led to their award-winning CD of Birtwistle’s chamber music for winds.

Their latest recording, ‘From the Beginning’, will be released in the Autumn of 2023 to mark their 30th anniversary.

Their educational work ranges from concerts for children to masterclasses at leading conservatoires and universities such as Royal Northern College of Music, University of Cardiff, Trinity Laban, and at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Weston Music Society 100th Concert

2000 - 2023

Of course, there were many concerts in Weston (and in Baldock) in the years before 2000, but only then did we begin to take ourselves seriously. We had a grand enough beginning – a proper orchestral concert in memory of a much-loved Weston resident, Bob Clements. It was organised by his son Richard Clements with Felicity and John Lowe. 

The following year we looked for a second memorial concert and were able to invite the fine Brazilian guitarist Fabio Zanon. We were encouraged to such boldness by John Taylor, a recording engineer specialising in the guitar, who frequently uses Weston’s church as a recording venue. Since then his advice, contacts and enthusiasm have led to our Society’s now well-known specialism in guitar recitals. Guitarists of the highest calibre have been happy to play for us - Paraguayan Bertas Rojas, Croatian Zoran Dukić, Italian Luigi Attendemo and Scottish Sean Shibe are just some of many.

Over the years many other fine musicians have visited Weston, some well-known nationally, even internationally. Highlights include the unexpected visits in 2011 and 2013 of staff and students from the renowned Curtis Institute in Philadelphia USA who brought the now internationally established Dover String Quartet, Curtis’s CEO and violist Roberto Diaz, and the then student pianist Alexander Ullmann.  Equally welcome more recently have been the long-established Maggini and the ever-enterprising Piatti String Quartets.

In 2015 we even dared to invite the leading baroque violinist Rachel Podger to visit Weston. The very happy relationship with Rachel which followed led to a working rehearsal visit for her ensemble Brecon Baroque, a further duo recital with the violist Jane Rogers and an all-CPE Bach recital with Kristian Bezuidenhout.

By contrast we have also experimented successfully with Peruvian harps, saxophones, ocarinas and accordions – and a semi-staged performance of Handel’s Messiah attracting both elation and opprobrium. But there were no doubts about the visit of alumni of Clare College choir under Graham Ross, nor with Recordare under Harry Bradford

The Covid epidemic in 2020 prevented all public performances for a year. Two of our booked events appeared online instead, thanks to recordings made specially for us by the Copenhagen Guitar Duo and the pianist Simon Callaghan.

Then in 2021 Weston church’s heating failed. One guitar recital was transferred to the village hall. Three other events moved to the newly refurbished St Nicholas church in nearby Old Stevenage which proved an excellent alternative venue. But for our 100th concert we were glad to be able to return to our long-welcoming home at Holy Trinity, Weston.

We have tried to provide as wide a variety of music-making as is possible in such a small out-of-the-way venue without its own piano. We are very conscious of the support and goodwill of our audiences who often come from afar in discouraging weather.  We have done our best to make the effort worthwhile, socially as well as musically.  Simon Armitage  Secretary 2023