Baroque at Brewood Hall

When I discovered that my friend Eddie Jones is Director of 'Warwickshire Baroque', we decided that Brewood Hall would be an suitable venue for a concert. The idea of a charity concert emerged, to support relief work in Myanmar following Cyclone Nargis.

Following a fair amount of preparation, the concert was held on 23rd December 2008. The impressive line-up featured a spinet, cello, viola and four violins.

Old lady, seeking directions from a New Yorker: "Young man, how do I get to Carnegie Hall?"
"Ya gotta practice, ma'am, ya gotta practice".

I was reminded of this old joke mid-afternoon when the musicians arrived and immediately set up to practice the pieces to be performed, only leaving time for a rather hurried meal at the 'Admiral Rodney' before the concert. The published programme is shown below:-

Warwickshire Baroque (Director: E. Jones) present a Concert of Baroque Pieces in the Historic Surroundings of Brewood Hall on Tuesday, 23rd December 2008. Guests are welcome to take their seats from 7.00 p.m. The Concert will start at 7.30 p.m.

Programme

1. Symphonia in G by J.F. Fasch (1688-1758).
2. Concerto In E minor by A. Vivaldi (1678-1741).
3. Arrival of Queen of Sheba by G. F. Handel (1685-1759).

During the Interval of around 30 minutes, Guests will be offered a Glass of Wine and a seasonal Mince Pie.

4. Canon in D major by J. Pachelbel (1653-1706).
5. La Putain (Die Dirne) by G. P. Telemann (1681-1767).
6. Christmas Concerto by A. Corelli (1653-1713).

The Performers

Eddie Jones - 1st violins
John Walton - 1st violins
Tim Bugg - 2nd violins
Monika Walton - 2nd violins
Trevor Maunder - viola
Luke Fowler - cello
Sheila Koch - spinet

About Warwickshire Baroque

Warwickshire Baroque aim to play music of the Baroque time in a sensitive and authentic style. Many of the band play with authentic instruments, and/or with baroque bows. Most of the players perform regularly in other Warwickshire orchestras. Members come from all walks of life, with a sprinkling of teachers, university professors, retired folk and a variety of others all united in a love of music. Concerts are given several times a year, regularly at St. Leonard’s Church in Ryton on Dunsmore, and also at St. Peter ad Vincula in Hampton Lucy and Nuneaton.

Eddie Jones is Deputy Area Manager for Warwickshire County Music Service based in Rugby. As well as teaching the violin for many years in Warwickshire, he has conducted Coventry Savoy Opera Society, the Bedworth Orchestra, the North Warwickshire Chamber Orchestra, Rugby Rococo Players, and Warwickshire Baroque. As a violinist, Eddie regularly plays chamber music with friends, and has also played electric violin with local folk rock bands!

Eddie introduced each piece with some background information. The running order was slightly changed and other short pieces and carols were inserted. It was a magical evening. I suppose the incredients are the venue, the musicians, the music and the guests. We seemed to achieve just the right mix. Brewood Hall always manages to be a welcoming place, effortlessly adapting itself to whatever is going on. I hadn't met any of the performers before, other than the Director, Eddie Jones. Having known Eddie (who, amongst his other interests, plays folk in Black Parrot Seaside) for some years, I had no doubts that the performance would be excellent. Baroque music has always appealed to me but a number of the guests were not familiar with the style so I wasn't quite sure how the programme would be received. I needn't have worried - the most common remark from guests afterwards was "When are you doing it again?"

Video appears by permission of Warwickshire Baroque.

Pictures of the Practice and the Concert itself.