Normal Service Resumed

For most of last year it was almost impossible to hold any concerts in Church.
The organ was in pieces being cleaned and overhauled.

There were pipes in bundles filling the north aisle

There was a splendid, temporary, digital organ occupying floor space and blocking access to the grand piano.

So in 2014 we had just one concert, using the electronic instrument .

Now the organ is back together and looking and sounding wonderful. Newly polished and repaired case work and regilded pipework shining on the outside.  On the inside it is free from dust and dead moths and bats, and has gained some sparkling new pipe work and a new blower. The old blower motor was installed in 1941!

Now we are ready to bring Cannington Music back to life again and we are formulating a programme for the coming months.  A list will be published soon but to start things off I shall be playing the organ in a concert during the Church's flower festival this month.  We are most grateful for the generous financial support of Viridor and this event is by way of publicly thanking them.

The Parish Church of S Mary the Virgin, Cannington

A Concert by Michael Martin

7.30pm Friday 22 May 2015

£7.00, at the door only, including a glass of wine.

It is a programme of English Music for an English Organ.  "Organ Recital" can put some people off and sound a bit stuffy so this will be  a Concert with music from 5 centuries, at least, from William Byrd to Queen. From Purcell to Elgar.  I hope there will be something for everyone.
So why not come and see!!

I will post the programme here soon.

If you would to be kept in touch about other concerts here the easiest way, for you and for me, is to submit your email address in the space at the top of this post and you will be told each time I post here.  Or go the Cannington Music facebook page and LIKE it.

I hope we see you!

CHRISTMAS IS COMING - THE J SINGERS

Christmas is coming

The J Singers

director, and harp, Elaine Thorneycroft-Gibb

with Gibby Swain flute

Saturday 14^th December 2013, 7.30pm

An evening of Seasonal Music, for choir and soloists, flute and harp

and singing from the audience

one of a series of concerts to raise money for the organ renovation fund.

Admission , at the door only, £7.00 including a glass of wine

Cannington.Music@gmail.com

PROGRAMME FOR SAINT CECILIA CONCERT

It is possible you might like to know what to expect on Friday evening.

I shall play piano, organ and, maybe, a sampled sound harpsichord (if I can get it to work!)  And you have been warned -  I shall sing a little. And so shall you. We should have a good time and raise some more money for the organ. In case you tire of my warbling and yours we shall have a few moments pleasure while Mary Morgan sings a Britten song.

Sir William Walton 1902 - 1983

Prelude 'The Spitfire" 1942

Elegy. No2 of Three Pieces for organ. From film Richard 3 1955

William Byrd 1540 -1623

A Voluntarie from My Ladye Nevells Booke 1591

Thomas Tallis 1505 - 23 November 1585

Hymn Tallis’s Canon Glory to thee my God this night

words Bishop Ken 1674

Henry Purcell. 1659 died 21 November 1695

Ground in e.

Hymn. Westminster Abbey Christ is made the sure foundation

Sir Arthur Sullivan 1842 died 22 Nov 1900

He is an Englishman. HMS Pinafore

Willow, tit willow. Mikado

Hymn  Lux Eoi, Alleluia, hearts to heaven & voices raise,

Jeremiah Clarke. 1674 - 1707

Trumpet tune

Hymn  St. Magnus The head that once was crowned with thorns,

The interval

Eric Coates. 1886 - 1957

By the sleepy lagoon.

Hymn Dambusters March  God is our strength and refuge,

John Ireland 1879 - 1962

Months Mind 1935

Hymn My song is love unknown words 1664 Samuel Crossman 

Michael Martin 1939

Not a three piece suite. A little medley based on B.A.C.H. 2005

Toccata, Maybe it’s a minuet, Adagio, BACH misbehavin

Peter Maxwell Davies 1934

Farewell to Stromness from The Yellow Cake Revue 1980

Purcell

Round O zt684

Britten Britten. 22 November 1913 4 December 1976

The Birds 1929 words Hilaire Belloc sung by Mary Morgan

Prelude to "They walk alone" 1938

The Salley gardens 1943 words William Butler Yeats

Voluntary on "Tallis's Lamentation" 1940

hymn God moves in a mysterious way. arrangement from St Nicholas 1948

A CONCERT FOR SAINT CECILIA'S DAY

The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Cannington

Cannington Music

A Concert for St Cecilia's Day

Friday 22^nd November 2013, 7.30pm

An evening of a wide variety of British music for keyboard instruments and voice – including the audience. Benjamin Britten was born 100 years ago to the day so he will be featured

A sort of Concert crossed with Songs of Praise to raise money for the organ renovation fund.

Michael Martin Director of Music at St Mary’s Church and, it is hoped, a friend or two

Admission , at the door only, £5.00 including a glass of wine

Cannington.Music@gmail.com

The latest on the Organ and the concerts

The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin Cannington

The latest on the Organ

and the concerts

What a simply wonderful concert we had In October! Mary Morgan's singing and Steve Graham's lute playing were a complete delight. We are most grateful to them both that they gave their services. It was a change too to have a concert on a Sunday afternoon with tea and home made cake; how did you like it?.

The afternoon produced £387 for the organ fund which brings the total raised so far this year through the concerts to £1499. With any luck we shall manage £2000 before we finish the season.

If you were in church last Sunday morning (Nov 3) you will have heard the organ playing up. Out of tune, ciphering (that is playing notes not chosen by the organist continually like a bagpipe drone) and missing pedal notes and awful rumblings. It made me happy to be presiding over it all since you will now need no convincing that the work is more than overdue! A timely demonstration.

The paperwork for the faculty is with the Diocese now and we are expecting no problems. If all goes well and we are given permission to proceed we hope the work will start in May and take anything up to 6 months. We are looking into the possibility of obtaining the use of an electronic organ whilst the work is carried out. But, if not, we have a fine piano to use. Watch this space.

There are two concerts to go this year.

Shortly, on St Cecilia's Day 22 November at 7.30pm I am arranging an evening of British music, using piano and organ. It will be largely me but with a friend or two, and with singing from you. A sort of concert crossed with Songs of Praise. The tickets are really cheap at £5 and you get a glass of wine. So please come in droves; if 100 of you did we should raise £500 in one evening!

The season ends on Saturday 14^th December 7.30pm with The J Singers presenting Christmas is Coming. Festive fun.

Comments and suggestions are always welcome. Michael Martin, Director of Music musicman@bitshop25.freeserve.co.uk

OCTOBER CONCERT

The next event is, by way of a change, on a Sunday afternoon.

Ayres & Graces.

4.00pm Sunday 20th October 2013

I have been looking forward to this concert for a long time.

Mary Morgan , soprano and Steve Graham, lute are to give a recital of 16C and 17C music.

Mary is well known in Cannington . An American , she moved to England some years ago.  

She teaches singing in several Somerset schools and colleges and sings professionally in many European countries.

As well as magically playing his lutes Steve is a jazz enthusiast and fine cornet player and band leader.

They will be presenting music by John Dowland, Thomas Campion, William Lawes, Philip Rossiter, Michael Cavendish and Henry Purcell. Instead of a glass of wine in the interval you will have afternoon tea. Very civilised?

We are in for a real treat.

The concert starts at 4.00pm and it will cost you £8.00, payable at the door

All profits will go to the fund for restoring the church organ

PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR

As many of you are aware, we are undertaking, next year, a long overdue renovation of the church organ. Needless to say it is an expensive venture and all our concerts this year are dedicated to raising money for this. We have four more events for you this season.

The first, quite soon now, on Sunday October 20, is an experiment to see how you would like an afternoon concert for a change. As I promised, Mary Morgan , soprano, is returning, this time with Steve Graham and his lute, for a concert of 16thC and 17thC English music entitled Ayres & Graces. Mary will sing works by John Dowland,Thomas Campion, William Lawes, Philip Rossiter, Michael Cavendish and Henry Purcell. Instead of a glass of wine you will have afternoon tea. Very civilised?

The second will take place , as long planned, on St Cecilia's Day, November 22. It is also , of course, the 100th birthday of the great English composer Benjamin Britten. Cecilia is the Patron Saint of music and musicians and it is an honourable English tradition to mark the day with special music. Purcell, Handel and many others wrote for the celebrations. This time we will have a different sort of concert, a mix of a recital and Songs of Praise. I will play British music on piano and organ, and you will sing. A cheap entry of £5 to encourage lots of you to come and, yes, you will get a glass of wine.

A few weeks later on Saturday 14th December we once again welcome The J Singers, the well known local choir. They have kindly agreed to help us in our fundraising efforts. The occasion is Christmas is coming; a feast of carols and Christmas music and harp and flute playing. There will be a chance for you to sing.

That only leaves one thing more to which to look forward; our annual service of readings and Christmas music, Carols by candlelight on the Sunday in Christmas week, December 29th at 6.00pm. The church choir will, as usual, be augmented by guest singers and instrumentalists.