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Showing posts from October, 2013

Female composers

I read with interest an article by Diana Ambache in the November issue of Classical Music magazine about the (often sadly lacklustre) profile of female composers past and present. Earlier this year I acquired a Schott publication called Klaviermusik von Komponistinnen - a collection of 24 pieces by both familiar and more obscure female composers from the 18th century to the 1980s. It's a great collection with some absolutely wonderful pieces, including Maria Szymanowska's Nocturne in B flat .   For further information on female composers and their works, Ambache has set up the Ambache Charitable Trust  to promote women composers and support performances of such works; plus the online resource Women of Note  which provides biographical and catalogue details of a range of composers.   

Piano Groups on the radio

Durham Amateur Pianists was featured on Radio 3 Breakfast as part of their incredibly useful  Musical Map last Thursday 18th October. The Musical Map has information on musical groups, events, festivals and more right across the UK.   My compatriots with Ottawa Piano Group held a meeting with a difference last Sunday at Southminster United Church, performing on a 1904 Heintzman grand piano. What a treat! The event was attended and recorded by CBC Radio 91.5 FM. Edited highlights and interviews from the performers aired on CBC Ottawa Morning on Tuesday 22nd October, which is available to listen again online . The clip provides an excellent profile of how piano groups for amateurs function.     

Durham Book Festival and Durham Amateur Pianists

In the spirit of friendly comparison with Ottawa International Writers' Festival, last week M and I went to see a few events at this year's Durham Book Festival . The week started off with an excellent talk at the Gala Theatre on Tuesday 15th October by Dr Lucy Worsley on her new book  A Very British Murder . Humourous and informative, with extra information about her day job and some good questions and comments afterwards (I also found her website, which answered my question, where does Lucy get her coats!?)    Saturday 19th October saw us at Durham Town Hall for 2 events. Stuart Maconie delighted a full house with a  very witty talk about British social history through pop music, themed from but encompassing more than his latest tome, The People's Songs . The following event was entitled 'Discovering the North'. Filmmakers Michael Smith and Maxy Neil Bianco introduced 3 films from their series Another England , exploring the ideas of home and belonging wi