Instrumental Music

Meeting Details

What we do

We are a small, and somewhat diverse, group, meeting informally to explore chamber music together at a very amateur level. Current instruments are violin, two clarinets, flute, cello and piano. We should make it clear we are not a group for beginners, learning to play instruments. Our general standard is about Grade 4 to 5. We would welcome new members prepared to play at this level, and in particular could accommodate an oboe, viola or another violin, although if the group increased in size by more than one or two we would need to find new accommodation.

We have no formal tuition but try to listen to one another and so improve our ensemble playing. Our (small) repertoire ranges from Monteverdi and Teleman to Scott Joplin (arranged by one of our members) and we are also privileged to have "A Staveley Suite", a piece in four movements specially composed for the group in 2004 by the late Alan Paynes, a member of South Lakes U3A.

We normally join with other groups to contribute to an informal "concert" at the April monthly meeting of the South Lakes U3A.

You can listen to group members performing the Staveley Suite via the Gallery page.

Reports

November 2009:
The Instrumental Music Group has decided to meet weekly from 1.30 to 3.30p.m. on Monday afternoons, with immediate effect, instead of Tuesday mornings. We have recently acquired a new member, a viola player, so the strings are gradually fighting back against the wind players.

Philip Wraight

March 2009:
There is little to add to my last report. We have six members and continue to explore our repertoire enthusiastically. We are looking forward to the U3A concert on 15th April.

Philip Wraight

October 2008:
We continue to work on pieces old and (for us) new. The old include Monteverdi (Toccata, Madrigal and Romance) a Teleman quartet and Mozart’s Adagio and Rondo, originally written for glass harmonica and wind/string quartet. The new are an ambitious arrangement by Bob Johnston of Mahler's 4th symphony and Beethoven's quintet for piano and wind quartet. We look forward to joining the Ruth Gordon Singers for carols prior to Christmas.

Philip Wraight