Worcester Classical Guitar Society
The Guitar Society promotes ensemble playing for guitarists of all ages and abilities. We have a Guitar Orchestra, a Youth Guitar Orchestra (WYGO) and the long-standing Worcester Guitar Quartet. We also encourage other ensembles and solo playing.
New members are very welcome - just follow the rehearsals link below and join us at St. George's
Read on for all the news on artists, concerts and other random ramblings that may be of interest.
We also have some guitar music videos for you to enjoy.
Barbourne June 7th
Salwarpe June 20th
Land, Sea & Sky
WCGS Concerts June
This year the Guitar Society will be holding two concerts with the theme Land, Sea & Sky. The concerts will feature the Worcester Classical Guitar Society, The Worcester Guitar Quartet, plus solos and duets.
The first concert will be at our normal venue of St. George’s Church Hall in Barbourne, Worcester. It will take place at 2:30 pm, on June 7th, with an interval and break for refreshments in the garden.
The second event will be at Salwarpe Village Hall on June 20th at 7:30 pm
Watch this space for more information.
Concert at King’s Heath
June 25th., 8 pm
Hare & Hounds June 25th
Alexandra Whittingham & Stephanie Jones
Having recently completed a tour of Canada and the USA, Alexandra Whittingham is travelling again, this time on a UK tour with duo partner Stephanie Jones. On June 25th the duo will play at the Art Nouveau listed pub, the Hare & Hounds at King’s Heath in Birmingham.
Sergio Assad hailed Stephanie Jones as having "A magical sound with the deepest musical expression” The duo will play duets and will take it in turn to play solos.
The link below takes you to the “ThroughtheNoise” website and this performance is labelled NoiseNight 220 - perhaps appropriate for the venue that hosted UB40’s first gig in 1979.
Book Tickets HERE
The duo plays Sergio Assad’s “Invitation" HERE
Handmade Guitars
Steve Toon
Gloucester Based Luthier
During our recent recital given by Eleanor Kelly, she was playing a guitar made by Steve Toon, who has a workshop in Gloucester, making Classical and Jazz guitars. Eleanor Kelly’s guitar had a beautiful tone and excellent sustain throughout the register. It did justice to Ms Kelly’s sensitive playing and her love for the music - all written by female composers.
We were lucky enough to have Steve Toon present at our recital and he was good enough to have a chat with many of the Guitar Society members during the interval. We hope to put on an event soon featuring Steve showing his guitars and talking about his work. Possibly also with local Worcester luthier Mark Arnott, who was also present at the Eleanor Kelly recital.
For the moment we have a link below to Steve Toon’s website which features an interesting video of Steve talking about his work, plus there are videos of guitarists playing Steve’s guitars - including Eleanor Kelly, in case you missed her recital or would just like to hear her music again.
Finally the Classical Guitar Academy has a preloved Steve Toon concert guitar for sale - the video clip below has an interesting introduction and a coouple of pieces played on the guitar to give you an idea of the sound of the instrument. Worth a look.
Steve Toon Website HERE
Guitar Review HERE
New Album
Guitar Springtime
Thibaut Garcia
Thibaut Garcia is a gifted Franco-Spanish guitarist, born in Toulouse in 1994, who began playing the guitar at just seven years old. He has won many international guitar competitions, was a BBC New Generation Artist in 2017, making his Wigmore Hall debut the same year.
With a running time of 2 hrs 40 mins, this wide ranging album will keep you entertained during the Spring evenings. It features composers from Albeniz to Visee via Piazzolla and Dowland; music from the well known to the less played pieces. There are collaborations with countertenor Philippe Jaroussky, mezzo soprano Marianne Crebassa, trumpeter Lucienne Renaudin and cellist Edgar Moreau. Then there’s works with the Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, including Rodrigo’s Concerto de Aranjuez.
Many frequently pieces are included; Recuerdos de la Alhambra, Julia Florida, some music from films, Cavatina for example. However Thibaut Garcia brings his own talent and expression to the music, which is varied, interesting and entertaining.
We have a link below to the Presto Music website where you can sample the tracks. Note that not all tracks on the CD are available on the digital download. Perversely, we have been unable to find anywhere selling the physical CD.
Presto Music Website HERE
Gnossienne No. 1
Xufei Yang
Music From Erik Satie
Xufei Yang has a new album due for release on April 27th, featuring the music of Erik Satie. She has also released singles, including her rendition of Gnossienne No. 1. Follow the link below to the relevant page on Xufei’s website. You will have the opportunity to listen on varous streaming platforms, plus YouTube Music.
Gnossienne No. 1 HERE
Lulo Reinhardt
and
Yuliya Lonskaya
Lulo Reinhardt
With Yuliya Lonskaya
Alexandra Whittingham has recently been on tour in the US and Canada as part of International Guitar Night, we thought it would be interesting to take a look at one of the artists accompanying her on this tour.
Lulo Reinhardt was born in Koblenz on the 12.10.1961 and, like his Uncles Dawelie Reinhardt and Schnuckenack Reinhardt, comes from the famous Reinhardt family.
Lulo Reinhardt was raised in the Sinti tradition where Django Reinhardt’s music played a massive part.
As well as several solo and ensemble projects in the gypsy jazz vein, Lulo has collaborated with Yuliya Lonskaya in a “Gypsy meets Classic” album. They have also played many live concerts together. We attach a YouTube video of the duo playing “Keep Up” , recorded at the Loster Eberbach, a former Cistercian monastery - also known for the filming of some of the interior scenes of “The Name of The Rose"
“Keep Up" Video HERE
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