January
29th 2005 - Tippett & Friends - A Centenary Tribute
Sir
Michael Tippett, world famous composer, lived and worked in Oxted for over 20
years. He was closely associated with The Barn Theatre during that time. Our evening,
to celebrate the centenary of his birth, will be a musical portrait about his
time spent here - his work and that of others who visited him here or whose music
strongly influenced him including pieces by Vaughan Williams, Holst, Britten,
Corelli and Purcell.
January
31st 2004 - A concert including Leigh's Concertino for Harpsichord and Strings
a Symposium by Johan Katz and The Seasons by Vivaldi
About
Us
The Barn Sinfionetta
is dedicated to the regular performance of beautiful music played by professional
musicians in a relaxed atmosphere
The
chamber orchestra repertoire is very rich indeed. To fully explore this magnificent
music, it is our intention to remain just that - a chamber orchestra, adding only
a few winds as we progress. Furthermore, where-ever possible our soloists will
be drawn from within our own ranks.
All
too often audiences are told what to listen to and musicians are told what they
will play. We welcome input from all. We are not only dedicated to include much
neglected masterpieces in our programming, but wish to include music musicians
want to play and you, our audience, want to hear.
We
feel our area is ready to support this innovative effort.
Special
thanks go to Rachael Maher and Samantha Rowe whose dedication and enthusiasm helped
make the orchestra a reality. Our thanks go also to the Barn Theatre and Bruce
Reed for their unflinching support.
Johan
Michael Katz Music Director
Press Release
OXTED HAS AN EXCITING NEW
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA.
A
new chamber orchestra has been formed in our area. It is called The Barn Sinfionetta.
The professional group of musicians will be conducted by Music Director, Johan
Michael Katz who has lived in Oxted for nearly 20 years.
Dedicated
to the performance of beautiful classical music in a relaxed atmosphere, the group's
next concerts will be on October 24th and December 5th in the Barn Theatre, Bluehouse
Lane, Oxted at 19:45. The programs will include works by Mozart, Bach, Bloch and
Barber. Performances are planned at regular intervals throughout the season next
year.
The Barn Bande
is starting out with 18 string players but plans to add some winds before long.
"Since the repertoire available to a true chamber orchestra is so abundant we
will always remain relatively small" says Johan. "Another feature is that we hope
to draw many of our soloists from our own ranks. Rachael Maher, Concertmaster
and Samantha Rowe principal cellist will both solo in the October concert. We
would like to see local musicians associated with The Barn Bande as well."
These days players and audiences
have very little input into what is played. We welcome suggestions from both for
our future planning.
"We
feel this area has a real niche for our innovative approach." continues Johan
who was born in the Netherlands but educated at New England Conservatory in the
USA. His teachers included Walter Susskind and Noam Sheriff (conducting) and Zara
Nelsova (cello). "With my background and enthusiasm we hope to achieve just the
correct mix of neglected masterpieces and better known works in our programs.
The key to our selections will be player and audience appeal".
In
the past Johan has formed the Ann Arbor Chamber Symphony in Michigan and the ISA
Brass in Boston and has conducted in the UK, Switzerland and the USA.
THE
BARN BANDE at the Barn Theatre, Oxted 24th October 2002
The
first performance by a new orchestra was obviously going to be a very special
occasion for Oxted and there was keen anticipation in the audience at the Barn
Theatre, to hear them play for the first time. A very attractive girl, carrying
a violin, came onto the stage, followed by another and still more until all 13
young ladies, some with violins, others with ‘cellos and finally a bass, filled
the stage. Unobtrusively 2 men with violins and one with a viola filled what little
space was left and all welcomed their Music Director, Johan Katz.
The
Leader was Rachael Maher, a fine soloist in her own right, as she later demonstrated
in a performance of Bach’s Violin Concerto in A Minor. An experienced performer,
she is also the Undergraduate Administrator at the Royal College of Music.
In the first
part of the concert there were also works by Mozart and by Legrenzi, (1626-1690)
a composer who is mainly known for his creative advancement of instrumental style.
The musicians
were more confident with the Mozart, the wonderful sweeping sound of 18 strings
making this a concert to remember.
Katz
is not a flamboyant conductor, he almost seemed to be coaxing the music from his
players Their response showed the great rapport he has built up since he first
started to gather these enthusiasts round him last May.
Although
Hindemith’s Music for Mourning, gave Samamtha Rowe an opportunity as a ‘cello
soloist, which she did with great skill, the four movements, written on the death
of King George V, seemed overlong.
Vivaldi’s
Concerto a Quatro in A Major made a good opening to the second part, but Bloch’s
Concerto Grosso No 1 did not really give the pianist, Michael Barlow, a chance
to be heard. Although this is classed as piece for string orchestra with piano
obbligato, he was barely evident with eighteen string players at full strength
in front of him. He is a composer, organist, accompanist, choral conductor and
writer and the concert would have benefited from a piece giving more emphasis
to the piano. A wonderful evening of classical music, in a theatre having excellent
acoustics, and we look forward to the next concert of the “Barn Bande” on 26th
November with music by Vivaldi, Grieg, Handel and Corelli.
Derrick
Graham