Behind the scenes with David Owen Norris
Southampton's head of classical performance, pianist Professor David Owen Norris, has a summer full of projects.
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Celebrating Michael Finnissy
Last week staff, students and friends of the Department gathered for a special concert at Turner Sims to celebrate Michael Finnissy's twenty years as Professor of Composition at Southampton.Ā Postgraduate composer Joe Manghan was one of the performers:
Iāve been studying at Southampton for almost 7 years now, and Iāve had several opportunities to participate in Finnissy projects. In 2012, I performed timpani in his completion of Mozartās Requiem.
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Theatre Guitar for Shakespeare’s Globe
Guitar tutor Jon Gingell has just finished music directing and performing for Emma Riceās show for Shakespeare's Globe, Little Match Girl and Other Happier Tales. Music was by Stephen Warbeck (Shakespeare In Love, Captain Corelliās Mandolin, Billy Elliot).
The show began its run at Bristol Old Vic before Christmas, took in a tour from Plymouth to Liverpool, and then returned to its home at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in London in March.
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Music Therapy in Moldova
Lecturer Sarah Hodkinson has just returned from Moldova, where she has been teaching music therapy to professionals from all over the country.
Moldova is considered the poorest country in Europe, having only established independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Historically , children with severe and often mild disabilities were typically homed in institutions such as baby homes.
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Triumph and Passion with the Bournemouth SO
Will Wilkins (year 3) reports on an exciting and enlightening visit to the BSO: Last Tuesday, January 23rd, it was my great pleasure to visit a Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra rehearsal at the Lighthouse in Poole as part of a delegation from the Southampton University Music Department. The orchestra were in their second day of rehearsals for their āTriumph and Passionā concerts, which were performed in Poole, Portsmouth, and Exeter over the following three days.
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Will Champion from Coldplay visits the Music Department!
Two of our first year Music students, Martina Stramaccioni and James Needs, reflect on a recent visit to the Department by Coldplay drummer Will Champion.
Martina:
"I found Will Championās visit a humbling experience. It was unbelievable that a musician as successful and well respected as him had taken time out of his busy schedule and come talk to us young musicians in person. As students, embarking upon our own musical journeys, the talk was inspiring.
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Brilliant Bach with Blaze and Balding
Second year BA Music student and violinist Columba Dromgoole-Cavazzi describes her experience of performing in a recent performance project:
In the lunchtime concert on Friday 24th November, the string workshop and early music ensemble worked together for a performance of Brandenburgās Fourth Concerto, and the beautiful aria āErbarme dich, mein gottā from Bachās St. Matthewās Passion.
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New Turner Sims RUSH tickets
Turner Sims intern and third year student Sabine Russell introduces the new RUSH ticket scheme:
Many music students will have noticed that a new Student Newsletter from Turner Sims landed in their inboxes a couple of weeks ago about a new RUSH ticket scheme. The idea for this initiative has come about to raise awareness of the free tickets made available by Turner Sims for their concert series.
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Authentic tootling with the Prince Regent’s Band
Third year BA Music student David Child reports on a recent visit to Southampton by the Prince Regent's Band:
As a brass student, it was an absolute delight to listen to and meet the players of the highly reputable Prince Regentās Band, who specialise in historic wind and brass chamber music in the period from the French revolution (1789) to the end of the First World War (1918).
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Music in the community
Finalist Sarah Newell tells us about some of the work she is involved with the localĀ community:
On the 7th of June, I had the opportunity to perform at MenCap, Southampton. It was a wonderful experience to play for MenCap, especially as they are a charity working for such a great cause. I played acoustic pop set as well as some of my own originals. The crowd were very welcoming and everyone seemed to enjoy the music.
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Southampton Showcase
Final year BA Music and Management Science student and Showcase Intern Vicky Halloran updates us on developing Showcase and plans for the future:
As someone with a head for business and a love of music, I was enthused by the opportunity of an internship which provides real-world business engagement in the music field.
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Pianist Ingrid Barancoski reflects on her year in Southampton
Dr Ingrid Barancoski,Ā from the Villa-Lobos Institute at UNIRIO (Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro) reflects on her year in Southampton researching Nadia Boulanger and Almedia Prado:
In June 2014, I was reading the book entitled The musical work of Nadia Boulanger, and found it fascinating.Ā Researching about the author, Prof. Jeanice Brooks, I came across the University of Southampton.
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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.Ā 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 ā a Ganer Square of 1781, a Broadwood grand of 1828, and a Bechstein of 1902.
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How to Write a Dissertation
In the second of our series on third year research projects, Beth Walker talks us through the steps of her project on film music: Over the course of my final year I gave myself the challenge of writing a 10,000 word dissertation titled 'Emotion in Film Music'. This was my first time completing such an extensive academic project but it was definitely worth it (especially since it counted towards my degree!).
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