Backstage at the Leeds Piano Festival
The Leeds International Piano Competition is one of the major keyboard events of the year.
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Recording the Modern Harpsichord – Persichetti’s Sonatas
PhD researcher Christopher D. Lewis has recently submitted his doctoral thesis AND is about to relase a new recording – double congratulations! Here he introduces us to the harpsichord music of Vincent Persichetti, whose sonatas are the focus of his most recent project:
Christopher D. Lewis (Harpsichord): Vincent Persichetti: Harpsichord Sonatas Nos. 1, 3, 5, 8, 9 and Serenade. Release worldwide 14 July 2017. Naxos Records: https://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.
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Summer performances – on and off the air
Professor David Owen Norris describes his summer projects – a special post for all the students who think the staff are on holiday when term is over
Pianos & Premieres
The Geffrye Museum has very kindly decided to give us an 1812 Strecker grand pianoforte with divided pedal. This will fit very well with our other instruments with divided pedals – a Ganer Square of 1781, a Broadwood grand of 1828, and a Bechstein of 1902.
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A Piano Postcard
Tutor in Piano Duncan Honeybourne updates us on his recent performances and recordings:
My latest CD on the EM Records label, recorded in the Turner Sims Concert Hall last year, received four stars in the June edition of the BBC Music Magazine.
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London streets to Romanian mountains
BA Music finalist Kath Roberts tells about her summer of music activities:
Approaching what I called my ‘last summer as a proper student’, I was lucky enough to take part in a number of musical projects!
The first was playing in the debut tour of the ‘Street Orchestra of London’, also known as SOL. Modelled on the Ricciotti ensemble in Holland, the orchestra was founded with the belief that “every human being has an equal right to enjoy quality live music.
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Superstar Summer
Jon Gingell teaches guitar at Southampton University as well as working in theatre as performer, programmer and copyist. He is a Southampton Music graduate.
Over the summer break, I have been dividing my time between theatre work in Paris, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and the National Theatre, and live gigs on the european blues festival circuit with American singer-songwriter Earl Thomas.
In Paris I played guitar, ukulele and banjo for Damon Albarn’s musical Wonder.
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Dedication
By Peter Bridgwood (MMus Performance) Written by the acclaimed playwright Nick Dear, Dedication explores the relationship between William Shakespeare and the 3rd Earl of Southampton Henry Wriothesley. Taking the extremely limited knowledge that we have about their relationship, Dear postulates three different story lines; an old man obsessed with the young Lord; a business relationship like any other; or a sordid love affair, condemned by the society of the time.
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A Multi-Media Summer
Bethany Stenning, 4th Year BA Music (with Year Abroad) student reports on her varied summer activities.
During the summer I was asked to fly out to Dublin to take part in a short film. I was living in Dublin for the second half of my year abroad (I spent the first half in Paris), and whilst I was there I performed frequently at various pubs/cafes etc.
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Behind the scenes at the Proms
Kerry-Ann Bronner spent the summer between years 2 and 3 learning all about the complexities of mounting the Proms, and applying knowledge from her degree course (as well as her tea-making skills!) to a real life employment context:
In May this year, I learned of an exciting opportunity offered by the BBC to spend a few weeks on a work experience placement within the Music Television department, working on the Proms.
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Southampton Saxophones in Strasbourg
Giant saxophones strewn around Strasbourg
First stop for the summer vacation: the World Saxophone Congress. Kathryn Firth, who just finished her BA Hons Music, tells us about it here.
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