Winchmore String Orchestra: Concert in aid of Achalasia Action

 

Winchmore String Orchestra Newsletter Spring 2025

A MUSICAL SMORGASBORD

Vikings, fjords, flying swans, reindeer, saunas, Santa, sleighbells in the snow.

These are some of the things that come to mind when the word “Nordic” is mentioned. Most of them don’t have an obvious musical connection, but there is a rich history of music in the Nordic world which deserves to be better known and our next concert will give a flavour of it. We’ll even describe it as a musical “smorgasbord”, the Nordic buffet-style meal prepared for celebratory occasions which also has a place in our vocabulary.

Head of the table, so to speak, will be Jean SIBELIUS, who was not only Finland’s pre­eminent composer but undoubtedly the best-known in the whole Nordic area. His huge output includes seven hefty symphonies – eight if a choral symphonic work is counted – and numerous tone poems, but our concert will offer a selection of shorter pieces that show off his distinctive style – the grand Andante festivo, the haunting Valse Triste and an atmospheric Impromptu originally written for piano.

Another leading light of Nordic music to shine in the programme is Edvard GRIEG, a Norwegian of Scottish descent, whose suites compiled from his incidental music to the drama Peer Gynt have enduring appeal. Our programme contains two items from these suites, as well as two Nordic Melodies. One of these boasts a “cow-keeper’s tune” – in the form of an elegant waltz. There is also an adaptation by the DANISH STRING QUARTET of a folk song called Five sheep, four goats – nothing to do, by the way, with the cow-keeper.

The concert opens with a Divertimento by a Finnish composer widely regarded as the natural successor to Sibelius, Einojuhani RAUTAVAARA, and ends with the entertaining

Serenade for String Orchestra by the Swedish composer Dag WIRÉN.

Our multi-skilled soloist, Peter Desmond, will appear in two items, once with a trumpet and once with a cousin of the trumpet, a flugelhorn.

The interval raffle will be in support of Achalasia Action. Come and share our buffet on

SATURDAY 5 APRIL 2025 at 7.30 pm at

SOUTHGATE METHODIST CHURCH, the Bourne, N14 GRS

TICKETS at the door £12 (£10 in advance). Free for children accompanied by adults.