Tickhill Music Society presents:
Amy Green (saxophone) 2018 BBC Young Musician Finalist and Christine Zerafa (piano).
The saxophone is an instrument with a split personality.
Saxophonist Amy Green is coming to Doncaster.
Invented by Adolphe Sax in 1846, its parents are the oboe and the clarinet but with a brass tube. It was first adopted by military bands and then taken up enthusiastically by jazz musicians.
Classical composers such as Berlioz and Debussy embraced it, but to many it remains an enigma.
It comes to Tickhill Music Society on 11 November in the expert hands of Amy Green, described as “one of the leading saxophonists of her generation, both as soloist and
While at the Royal College of Music Amy was awarded the gold medal for the most outstanding student. Amy will be accompanied by the equally distinguished pianist Christine Zerafa, who recently gained a PhD at the Royal Academy of Music. Christine will be receiving a grant from the Arts Council of Malta to enable her to make the journey from Malta to Tickhill.
The duo will be playing a varied programme including works by Debussy, Vaughan Williams and John Williams.
Friday 11 th November 7.00 p.m. in St. Mary’s Primary School, Tickhill, DN11 9LZ
Non-members: £12 at the door. Accompanied children and students (16-19) – free
150th Anniversary Celebration
Compositions from the early part of this greatly-loved British musician’s career are featured in the Choral Society’s opening concert of the Season 2022-23. Two of the four works were commissions from festival committees at Leeds Musical Festival, formed to celebrate of the opening of Leeds Town Hall in 1858 and the Worcester 1911 Three Choirs Festival founded over a century and a half earlier.
At the heart of the programme comes RVW’s most greatly loved work, a Romance for violin and orchestra that has for this year topped – for a record TWELFTH year in succession – the voting in Classic FM’s Hall of Fame
The Lark Ascending was inspired by George Meredith’s eponymous poem, composed for British violinist Marie Hall and will be performed in this concert by Sally Robinson. Prior to that, All people that on earth do dwell, sung in the much-loved version devised by Vaughan Williams for the 1953 Coronation from material used originally for his 1930 choral setting
This will be followed by Toward the unknown region, the first of a series of texts set by the composer from the pen of American poet, Walt Whitman.
The finale, Five Mystical Songs, features baritone soloist, Malachy Frame, returning by popular acclaim following his appearance at the Society’s Messiah performance in December 2021.
Soloists: Sally Robinson (violin), Malachy Frame (baritone)
National Festival Orchestra
Saturday 12 th November 2022 7.30pm
Alder Grove Methodist Church DN4 8RF
Tickets – £14 available on the door, £12 in advance (from
the ticket secretary 01302 360129),
Students £3, School pupils FREE.
Also available from WeGotTickets
Sprotbrough Music Society
This energetic swing band from Leeds has a reopertoire carefully chosen to give a lively and varied performance of swing throughout the 20th century.
Music from the early days, New Orleans numbers and lively jump-jive. The band appeared, in Sprotbrough, to great acclaim last season and it was a unanimous decision that they be invited back – and so they are.
Don’t know the programme yet (they don’t either!) but it is sure to be unmissable.
Thursday 17 th November, 7pm
St. Mary’s Church Hall, Sprotbrough, DN5 7RH
Tickets available on the door – £15
RIGHT UP OUR STREET – DN FESTIVAL OF LIGHT IS BACK!
This year, as part of Right Up Our Street’s 10th Anniversary, there will be an exciting festival activity across two venues:
1.3 Seconds by Guillaume Marmin
With the space travel theme in mind, the installation by Guillaume Marmin gets its name from the time it takes for light to travel from the earth to the moon at a velocity of 300 000km/s.
Originally inspired by the church’s columns, stained glass windows and overall gothic style, visitors are given glimpses of the architectural details as lights flash and illuminate the grand space of the Minster.
The contrast between the darkness and flashes of light immerses the audience in an almost overwhelming experience that intends to play with the perception of the existing space.
We Rise by Greenaway & Greenaway
Greenaway & Greenaway are creating a spectacle that has been commissioned by Right Up Our Street for the DN Festival of Light central artwork to be projected on the Corn Exchange. This piece is about telling the story of Doncaster through the eyes of the people, creating a unique film.
Spoken word narration by Toria Garbutt and GSD.
The final recital of the series, this year, on the wonderful Schulze Organ in the beautiful setting of Doncaster Minster, DN1 1RD
The mighty organ in St. George’s Doncaster is the work of Edmund Schulze of Paulinzelle in Saxony, and dates from 1862 and is their largest organ. A wonderful way to pass an hour on a potentially dark autumn afternoon.
The visiting artiste is Andrew Cantrill-Fenwick, one of the UK’s most experienced and versatile church musicians. His career has taken him to three continents, working in schools, churches and cathedrals and he has appeared in some of the world’s most prestigious venues as conductor and organist. He has broadcast on Concert FM (Radio NZ), NPR (USA) and BBC Radio 3.
In New Zealand, he appeared regularly as a concerto soloist with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, including a live radio and TV broadcast for the 250th anniversary of the death of JS Bach. His recording of virtuoso French organ music from Wellington Cathedral ‘Fete’ was hailed as: “music to convert the stoniest of hearts to the cause of the French organ school and Cantrill presents it all so fetchingly… he is a formidable musician and his feeling for timbre and texture makes the CD just so inviting.” (NZ Herald).
In this recital the programme will include: Te Deum by Jean Langlais, Aria by Geree Hancock, Toccata by Marcel Languetuit, Seven Allergorical Pictures based on and Kling no Klokka by Sverre Eftestol.
Friday 25 th November – Andrew Cantrill- Fenwick (Durham)
1.10pm free entry with retiring collection
Throughout September and October the chorister recruitment events at Doncaster Minster were very successful with a very positive response. The minster welcomed several potential new recruits to the choir. Please, do not despair if you missed it as there will be further opportunities in the future.
The Minster is always looking to recruit adult members of the choir in all sections. If you are interested please contact the Director of Music, Darren Williams, at [email protected]
Friday 7th October – London Klezmer Quartet
It is 10 years since Tickhill Music Society last welcomed a klezmer band to one of its concerts. Judging by the applause which greeted the London Klezmer Quartet at its appearance at Tickhill, they have been sorely missed.
Klezmer, for the un-initiated, is a form of traditional music of the Jews of Central and Eastern Europe. The line-up of the LKQ consists of clarinet, fiddle, accordion and double bass (which is both plucked and bowed).
For the Tickhill audience the band went through its repertoire of dance tunes, songs and improvisations, contrasting love songs, dances, laments and drinking songs, and drawing inspiration from all parts of Europe, from Ukraine to Latvia and points in between.
The humour was of a wry nature, including a sardonic tribute to the humble potato, the staple diet of the poor peasant. The audience were encouraged to join in with foot-stamping and singing refrains in Yiddish.
It was an evening which not only entertained in spades, but now and again gave a gentle reminder of the hardship suffered by Jews over the ages.
The Cost of Living Fundraiser Concert
Presented by Citizens Advice Doncaster Borough On Saturday, 17 September Doncaster Baptist Church kindly hosted The Cost of Living Fundraiser Concert presented by Citizens Advice Doncaster Borough and given by John Mark Rose (piano).
The supportive audience were treated to a varied programme that included music by J. S. Bach, Haydn, Debussy, Chopin with an encore by English composer Lennox Berkeley.
Also featured was a cost of living crisis monologue written and performed by Sarah J Robinson. The monologue was well-received and gave the audience an insight into the valuable work done at Citizens Advice and the sort of issues presented by clients. Helpful Citizens Advice colleagues served free light refreshments before the concert started.
During the course of the event, speeches were given by James Woods, CEO of Citizens Advice Doncaster Borough and Carey Williams of Doncaster Baptist Church.
It was decided that funds raised would go to Food Aware Community Interest Company. The total generously donated was £314.30. Many thanks to all those involved.
Doncaster Minster organ recital
The Doncaster Minster Friday lunchtime organ recital on 23 rd September was performed by Matt Edwards from Alloa (Scotland). This was a very enjoyable recital full of good tunes, variety and at times unusual interest, beginning with variations of a brief theme and variations by Andriessen which showed how much could be done with very little and Vaughan Williams’ gentle Rhosymedre Prelude very gently played.
In contrast was Mendelssohn’s so called 3 rd sonata which largely consisted of Fanny Mendelssohn’s wedding march.
Mr. Edwards introduced his own arrangement, A Tribute to John Williams, with a pot pourrie of 11 film tunes which despite familiarity worked well on this instrument. A very approachable hour ended with the Fantasia in G by JS Bach.
The programme, generally jolly and tuneful, also introduced a short chirpy Trumpet Menuet by Hatfield organist Vernon Hoyle, very similar to Trumpet Menuet by other composers whose cheerful air was absolutely delightful. Well done Vernon!
The Hatfield and Askern Colliery Band along with the Choirs of Doncaster Minster
Audience members were treated to a joyous and uplifting concert on Saturday 1 st October at Doncaster Minster.
The programme certainly consisted of many well known pieces to celebrate Doncaster’s new city status and heritage.
This was a joint concert given by The Hatfield and Askern Colliery Band along with the Choirs of Doncaster Minster.
The band, directed by the newly appointed Jack Capstaff, opened the evening with E. Gregson’s fitting Prelude for An Occasion which set the scene.
This was followed by Koening’s Post Horn Gallop, chosen to link with the galloping horses of the St. Leger, was wonderfully entertaining with soloist, Mike’s, performance on this valveless instrument.
Langford’s Worth Valley Railway referenced Doncaster’s historic links with the railway. The band also showcased Eric Coate’s Dam Busters March and William Walton’s Crown Imperial which added a sense of occasion and patriotism.
The Choir, led by the Minster’s Music Director Darren Williams, performed pieces historically used during coronations commemorating the many visits made to Doncaster by Her Majesty, the late, Queen Elizabeth II and also celebrated the civic life of the city.
The motet O Taste and See, by Vaughan Williams, and Locus Iste by Bruckner, further illustrated the choir’s capacity for a cappella singing and ensemble work. The Community Choir chose a set of lighter popular pieces including You Raise Me Up by Lovland and Fields of Gold, by Sting, perfectly showcasing the Minster’s ongoing outreach work within the community and was enjoyed by the choir and audience alike.
Even the wonderful and mighty Schulze organ was given pride of place during pieces such as All People That on Earth Do Dwell (Old 100 th ), Bourgeois/V. Williams arrangement, and Jerusalem, by Parry where the Choirs and Band combined forces for a rousing finale.
Boyce Orchestra Autumn Concert
On 9 th October at St. Aidan’s Parish Church the Boyce Chamber Orchestra (directed by Richard Ellis) gave a concert, the first for some years because of covid and probably the last ever after 53 years existence as Mr. Ellis is leaving the area and no successor has, upto the time of writing, been found.
If it shall be the Boyce’s final concert it was a more than worthy one comprised mainly of Viennese classical repertoire. The concert was launched by a performance of Mozart’s Figaro Overture, a good starter and well prepared which led to more Mozart; a performance of the G Minor Symphony K550, which featured some good phrasing.
After the interval it was Beethoven, his 7 th symphony, described by some observers as “the apotheosis of the dance”, which generally applies but particularly to the finale which, in my opinion, should be taken as fast as humanly possible! On this occasion the Boyce players’ tempo was highly creditable and indeed very exciting. The other movements went well too.
The Allegretto, now famous as the accompaniment to the film “The King’s Speech”, being particularly well shaped. There was some notable woodwind playing in the first movement’s introduction and a scherzo which mainly contrasted jig-like rhythms and the solemn trio section.
The New Hallgate Chamber Orchestra MEGA concert – KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY
Sunday 16 th October finally arrived after postponement in June (and over a year prior to that due to the lockdown!) for this spectacular concert which celebrated the Hallgate Orchestra’s 40 th anniversary.
With conductors Carey Williams and David Tonkin at the helm the concert featured a huge and varied programme of music by 12 members of the legendary BACH family. This marathon concert showcased the works of THE JS Bach; Brandenburg Concerto No.5 with soloists Shirley Barningham (flute), Richard Ellis (piano) and Charlotte Pinder (violin), Concerto for oboe (Laura Skyers) and violin (David Allison) in D minor, Sheep May Safely Graze and Et Exultavit (from Magnificat) with vocal soloist Angela Hartley (contralto), along with lesser known and, in the main forgotten, Bach family members to delight and intrigue the audience.
Vocal soloists Angela Hartley (contralto), Chris Bullough (soprano) and Gary Rowlands (baritone) came together for WF Bach’s Hymn Kein Halmlein placed centrally in an arrangement, by Mr. Williams, of JF Bach’s Sonata no. 4!
This was particularly exciting as no one knew quite what would happen however the two pieces seamlessly blended together.
The interval, during which copious amounts of German cuisine were served, music continued with the stirring music of two marches and 5 pieces de concerts for wind band by WFE Bach.
As a fitting tribute to orchestra member Bernard Whittaker, who sadly passed away during the pandemic, Adrian Skelton (viola) and Carey Williams (piano) played the 2 nd movement of JCF Bach’s Viola and piano concerto. Jonathan Gooing also added to the occasion by playing the organ for various preludes, fantasias and fugues by JE Bach and JC Bach. Carey Williams (harpsichord), Richard Ellis (piano) and Jonathan Gooing (organ) performed an amusing Variations on Twinkle Twinkle by JCF Bach predating the more well known Mozart version by c.50 years!
Definitely a celebratory concert for both the Bach family and also the 40 wonderful years of the Hallgate Orchestra’s existence. Monies raised from donations given a this concert was added to a larger ‘pot’ and helped to purchase an ambulance which has been sent to the Ukraine. Many thanks to all who supported and contributed, both orchestral and audience members, to make this a truly memorable concert.