The philosophy of music: or the music of philosophy ?
My second article for the University’s employability blog, aside from using a cringe-worthily punning title, focuses on careers followed by musically-involved alumni of the University, and the various types of employment paths they have pursued.
Read the article online here.
Drum-roll please….our new Autumn music events details are now online!
Kicking off in October with the Marici Saxes, the Lunchtime Concert series also sees music from Covent Garden Voices and the KD Jazz and Dance Orchestra. The Brodsky Quartet returns with a concert celebrating the musical anniversaries of Wagner, Verdi and Britten, and there’s also Britten from the award-winning Kent College Choristers in Friday Afternoons. We are very excited that the Doyenne of Wagner, Dame Anne Evans, will be giving a singing masterclass and also appearing ‘In Conversation’ to talk about her career on the stage in November.
The University Chamber Choir will celebrate the beginning of the Advent season at Blean Church, and the December concert with the Chorus and Orchestra includes Vivaldi’s ever-popular Gloria alongside Respighi , Verdi and Cimarosa.
Our informal series of foyer-gigs, Watch This Space, will burst into life again on the foyer-stage, starting with live jazz in October, and the University Big Band will be providing some seasonal entertainment to round off what promises to be a very busy term.
We’re pleased to welcome the Canterbury Festival, who will be bringing the English première of a new opera by Sally Beamish in a double-bill with Britten’s Curlew River, and pianist Mikhail Rudy exploring Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Other visitors to the Colyer-Fergusson concert-hall include John Harle and the Festival Chamber Orchestra, Ashford Choral Society, Simon Langton Girls’ Choir and Caritas Chamber Choir.
See for yourself online here; you can also download the new brochure (PDF) here.
This year, the Canterbury Festival celebrates its thirtieth birthday from 19th October to the 2nd November with its usual dizzying array of music, theatre, comedy, literature, lectures and family events, and tops its usual pot pourri by bringing the travelling dance-hall, the Spiegeltent, to the county cricket ground as well.
Highlights to watch out for this year include:
The Speigeltent itself will host Sunday morning events, morning concerts, and Knee Deep, an acrobatic display from Casus.
We wish the Festival a happy thirtieth birthday – may there be many more…
I’m pleased to reveal that an interview with Yours Truly and the Director of Music, Susan Wanless, appears in the latest pages of The Teacher Training Journal.
Click here to read the interview.
If Summer Music Week isn’t enough for you next week, then brace yourself for the ultimate battle of the sexes, as the Music Theatre Society’s final showcase, Boys VS Girls, arrives at The Gulbenkian!
On Monday 10 June, the MT Society will round out another successful year with songs from Footloose, Grease, Oklahoma! and more.
Tickets are a mere snip at £8 (concessions £6), and the evening promises to be a fitting finale to the society’s year. More details here; see the event’s Facebook page here.
Exactly one hundred years ago tonight, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring was premiered at the Theatre du Chatelet, conducted by Pierre Monteux.
Here’s part of ‘Riot at the Rite;’ a BBC dramatisation of events surrounding that first, notorious performance, with Stravinsky in a rage at the orchestral rehearsal.
Keep up with the build-up to, as well as events throughout, Summer Music week on its dedicated Twitter account, @UKCSummerMusic.
Events run from Monday 3 – Sunday 9 June, and include lunchtime concerts, live jazz, the Big Band Gala, a choral concert, culminating in the annual Music Society Sunday concert with Chorus, Orchestra, Concert Band and Chamber Choir.
Free events throughout the week include gigs on the foyer-stage. Find out more online here.
Ahead of the Music Theatre Society’s production of Rent which starts this Wednesday, I talked with the show’s Musical Director, Jake Bhanji.
DH: What’s your involvement with the show this year? And what does that mean?
JB: I’m the Musical Director for Rent which means I work with the band, preparing and perfecting the vast accompanying music for the show and come performance time, conduct and play the keyboard. I rehearse the band twice a week, and also work closely with our brilliant vocal director, Steph, and awesome director, Alick, in ensuring amendments in the music and the cues are noted. Now at this later stage, we’re working on bringing the band and the cast together, so the cast can get used to the music, and the band used to the singing.
DH: And what are the challenges of working on this show?
Jonathan Larson certainly knows how to keep the musicians on our toes! The shear amount of music, filled with changes in time signatures, keys, tempo, and much more as been a challenge, but we’ve met them well, and I’m immensely proud of the band for coping with it all! Despite its complexity, the music is still great and both the band and the cast love it.
DH: So what have you most enjoyed working on?
To be honest, there is so much to choose from, so it is really difficult to choose just one I’ve enjoyed. Well, Out tonight is definitely a favourite! As well as the big opening number Rent’ it really brings the whole show to life, kicking it off with a bang, which just keeps getting better! Speaking with the band, I know unanimously La Vie Boheme is definitely one that we all leave rehearsals still singing!
DH And you’re in the Gulbenkian this year, rather than your usual haunt, the Whitstable Playhouse ?
Yes, it is great to use the fantastic facilities that we have here on campus. The Gulbenkian offers brilliant theatre space, and I’m really looking forward to getting in there, and putting it all together, it’s like the final part to the puzzle. Speaking of facilities, the music department here, has been brilliant putting up with our band rehearsals and loaning out equipment. It’s been so beneficial to make use of the new sound proof band room, pianos and drums, without which would really make our band redundant.
DH: Why, thank you: glad to help! Can you give us a hint as to what we’re in for on the night ?
JB: You’re in for a night full of rockin’ music; virtuosic singing, acting and dance, and a story that’ll make you want to get up and start singing and dancing with the cast! Not to mention a treat for both the guys and girls, trust me! And a show that you’ll never forget!
The production runs this week, from Wednesday to Friday. at the Gulbenkian Theatre: details and tickets online here.
