On Wednesday, to mark International Day of Peace, Minerva Voices, conducted by Dan Harding, performed Gounod’s motet, Da Pacem Domine, prefaced by a poem read by second-year Alice Baker.
Watch it online here.
Category Archives: Notes on Music
The philosophy of music: or the music of philosophy ?
What’s On: the virtual brochure
Read our new What’s On digital brochure:
Click to enter full-screen mode.
University alumna finds herself at Abbey Road studios as part of Final Fantasy XV launch
University alumna and singer Suzannah Lipmann found herself at Abbey Road studios yesterday, as part of a special livestream broadcast.
For one night only, there was a special performance to launch the soundtrack to the new Final Fantasy XV game by composer Yoko Shimomura, performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Choir, conducted by Terry Davis; the composer herself was present at the performance. Pictured above, Suzannah is on the front row of the sopranos, eight from the left.
The hour-long event presented highlights of music from the forthcoming game soundtrack, and can be watched here:
Whilst reading Social Anthropology (including a year abroad in Japan) at Kent, Suzannah was a regular performer featuring prominently in the former Jazz @ 5 sessions on the former foyer-stage in the Gulbenkian, as well as singing with the University Chamber Choir and Chorus.
Using the skills developed as an undergraduate, she now handles the Japanese side of her family business in metal-trading, whilst slo learning Japanese at SOAS, and travels to Japan for three weeks each year on business. As well as the London Philharmonic Choir, Suzannah sings with the Godwine Choir and in a band.
“The LPC gets to do some pretty exciting gigs,” she enthuses, “like this one, the BBC Proms and others at the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Festival Hall!” Suzannah is next in action singing in a performance of Verdi’s Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall on 24 September. Fantastic to see she’s still keeping up her music in Life After Kent in such a spectacular fashion!
With thanks to the London Philharmonic Choir for the images.
New What’s On brochure now out!
Our Autumn What’s On is now out, and is bursting with events throughout October to December here in Colyer-Fergusson.
Our termly Lunchtime Concert series launches with percussion ensemble Kopanya in October; the acclaimed musicians of the Kentish Piano Trio bring Beethoven’s ‘Ghost’ Trio in November; and eminent sitar-player Ustad Dharambir Singh is joined by Pt Sanju Sahai on tabla for a recital in December,
The University Chorus and Symphony Orchestra will be rounding-off the Shakespeare 400 anniversary in style with a concert including the suite from Walton’s famous film score for Henry V, and the Musical Theatre Society will present their ever-popular showcase. The season ends in rousingly festive style with the Big Band’s Christmas Swing-Along.
Whatever you do, make sure you have Friday 25 November inked firmly in your diary for what promises to be a memorable concert, as internationally-renowned bass, Sir Willard White, joins forces with the Brodsky Quartet to pay tribute to the relationship between Frank Sinatra and the Hollywood String Quartet; the evening will also include folksongs by Britten and Copland, Barber’s evocative Dover Beach, a selection from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, the Great American Song Book …and much more. Early booking is most definitely advisable! As ever, we also welcome the many visiting musicians to Colyer-Fergusson, including events promoted by both the Canterbury Festival and Sounds New and a birthday concert for Trevor Pinnock.
You can find out more about all these events online here, or download the new brochure here. We look forward to welcoming you to Colyer-Fergusson this season!
Strings attached: staff development takes a novel twist
Members of staff from the School of Law here at Kent came to the concert-hall yesterday for a spot of team-building and staff development with a twist.
Organised by the Administration Manager for Kent Law School, Jill Holliday, the hall rang to the strumming of ukuleles, as staff got to grips with playing throughout the afternoon.
‘The Law School decided it wanted to do something completely different for its end of year celebrations this year,’ says Jill. ‘The idea of something musical was originally a bit of a joke between the organisers but having discovered Musivate on line we decided to give it a go. It’s fair to say most staff approached it with a degree of trepidation, but once we all got going everyone had a great time! It was slightly surreal – sitting with over fifty KLS staff singing along to The Lion Sleeps Tonight while strumming on a ukulele, but rather fabulous at the same time! It offered staff who have never picked up an instrument, or had the opportunity to use the Colyer-Fergusson Hall, to give this a go, which really added to the day.’
Music, science and beauty in the everyday
Exploring the intersection between science and music this morning, in preparation for a project which will take place next spring.
A combination of music and images from cutting-edge research in the School of Biosciences will aim to highlight moments of beauty in in the mundane, or more functional, aspects of the scientific environment. Bringing together piano works including pieces by John Cage, Tarik O’Regan and Philip Glass, the experience involves drawing out the aesthetics of the laboratory environment and the scientific process, aspects which are often overlooked or ignored.
The project, in collaboration with Dr Dan Lloyd in Biosciences, will be unfurled next spring.
Rock Choir in Colyer-Fergusson: a staff member takes part
We were delighted to welcome members of Rock Choir from Canterbury, Ashford, Deal, Folkestone and Thanet to give three sell-out concerts in Colyer-Fergusson last weekend, skilfully and energetically conducted by Kent alumnus, Jonathan Grosberg. Myfanwy Williams, Administrative Assistant to the Estates department, was taking part. A member of the former Estates Team Choir, here she reflects on her weekend singing in the concert-hall.
I couldn’t believe my good fortune when I got the chance to perform with Canterbury Rock Choir in Colyer-Fergusson Hall! When I joined the Estates Department I minuted the monthly project board meetings for the Colyer-Fergusson building at a time when the project was nearing its completion.
I knew that the choir had chosen a venue with outstanding acoustics which would show us off to best advantage, and it did not disappoint. Family and friends loved the performances and so did I – every minute of it! The choir sounded its absolute best and I’m still buzzing from the excitement of it all! I don’t play a musical instrument, I’m not musical but I can sing in tune and love singing. To get the chance to perform in the hall was absolutely marvellous.
A WonderVille time: new WonderVille Festival comes to Canterbury next month
A brand-new festival is set to burst to life in Canterbury next month, as Jubilee Farm in Elham Valley welcomes the WonderVille Festival.
Saturday 30 July will see WonderVille bringing live music, including Tankus the Henge (fresh from their appearance on the Greenpeace Stage at Glastonbury last week), as well as a host of craft activities, interactive workshops, a mouth-watering collection of Kentish independent food stalls, handcrafted local beer, a curious cocktail cabin and more. Kent’s literary festival, Wise Words, will be there too with its Bell Ten Village and Poetry stage, where you can encounter poetry, film, and lantern-making. There’s a family-feel too, with face-painting, games, head-dress-making and other activities for younger visitors at the Kids Corner, and a delectable array of sweets and treats for small and big kids alike! All set in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Rhodes Minnis.
FInd out what’s happening at WonderVille here, or follow the build-up to the festival on their Twittter stream here. The very best of luck to Canterbury’s newest festival – prepare for a ‘wonderville’ time when it all takes place on 30th July!