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South Downs Recorder Players |
Archive of past activities
(Some photos may not be available due to the restriction on web space)
WORKSHOP and SRP MEETING HELD 24th January 2004 with Guest Conductors Helen Hooker and Maureen Haines
On 24th January 2004 the Branch was delighted to welcome Helen Hooker to Seaford as this year's SRP visiting Conductor and, ‘to make a day of it' we combined our usual afternoon meeting with a morning Workshop. Maureen Haines, Musical Director of the Arun Recorder Consort very kindly agreed to come along to join Helen for the workshop sessions so we could divide into two groups with players working at the level most suited to them and we all enjoyed a most interesting and instructive morning. Our Conductors switched Groups half way through and chose and provided the music for each level, enabling both Groups to study a good variety of music from different periods in some detail and to experience working with different Conductors.
Helen conducted the combined groups for the equally stimulating and enjoyable afternoon Meeting when, thanks to our larger numbers, which included both C Bass and Contra Bass players, we were able to play some multi-part music including Alison Lewin's Midsummer Morris and, as a Grand Finale, a rousing arrangement of “Sussex by the Sea” much appreciated by our 40 strong band of players drawn from a number of different areas of the County, and especially enjoyed by our seaside dwelling contingent! Another very full and happy day to add to our list of ‘Special Occasions'! Thank you very much Helen and Maureen for sparing the time and effort to come and work with us in Seaford.
Click here to see photosThe 2004 Recorder Summer School (1st August to 7th August - Wakefield)
The 2003 Recorder Summer School (2nd August to 9th August - Wakefield)
Seven South Down members spent a very happy and instructive week at the 2003 Recorder Summer School at Wakefield, playing a wide variety of music from all periods and meeting up with old, and making new, friends from many different areas of the UK. We hope that there will be even more of us at next year's Summer School. Click here to see photos. You can also see some video clips of the student night ==> videoclip (750 kB) (You need to use QuickTime Player to view the movie)
Uckfield Festival Recorder Orchestra/Ensemble on 19th July 2003 at Weald Hall, Uckfield Civic Centre
Following a request from Martin Eastwood of Uckfield, a nearby E.Sussex town, the Branch was able to assist with the selection and supply of music with the organisation of a Recorder Orchestra/Ensemble afternoon to take place during the Uckfield Arts Festival with the aim of instigating a Recorder Group in the town. On 19th July ten of our members joined players from the Uckfield area for an enjoyable playing session conducted by our own Musical Director, Mike Uridge, and Rivnah Cummerson who teaches in the area. We look forward to more such meetings and hope this will lead to the formation of a regular playing group in the town. Click here to see photos of Ucfield Festival recorder playing.
The following photos are no longer available from this web site. Please contact the webmaster if you need to access them.
Meeting with guest conductors BRIAN BLOOD and MARGUERITE DOLMETCH on 22nd March 2003
A total of 38 players, comprising a high percentage of Branch 'regulars' and some visitors from other Branches enjoyed a stimulating and instructive day with Brian and Marguerite. For the morning workshop sessions we were in two groups studying music chosen by our own Branch conductors and partially pre-rehearsed so we were, hopefully, familiar with the basic technical problems leaving more time for our conductors to tackle the finer points of technique and interpretation. Brian and Marguerite brought a varied and most enjoyable selection of music for us to play in the afternoon. In the first part of which we again split into two groups coming together after the tea interval when Brian rounded off the occasion by introducing us to his interesting and very challenging 9 part arrangement of an organ Prelude and Fugue by Saint Saens. As we came away tired after a long happy day I am sure I was not the only one to reflect, and not for the first time, on how lucky we are that such talented and experienced musicians are willing to spend so much time and effort visiting us in our Branch to help us with our playing and understanding of the recorder and its music.
Meeting on 25th January 2003AGM and playing session 26-10-2002
Christmas Concert 2001 We gave a Christmas Entertainment, this time in conjunction with a choir drawn from our own members. As in the past the players funded the expenses and the proceeds of a retiring collection were given to a local Children's Hospital.
Dec 99 Christmas Concert
Oct 99 Petersfield (Wessex) Playing day
Dec 98 Christmas Concert
Nov 98 Crypt performance