Rehearsals are always open to the public and are free.
Concert Programme 2023
Thursday July 20th at 7.00 pm
Florent Schmitt Sonatine en Trio for Flute, Clarinet and Piano, Op. 85
Hummel Quintet in E flat major for Piano and Strings, Op. 87
Dvořák String Sextet in A major, Op. 48
Our first concert contains two works from the 19th century and the Schmitt Trio from 1934. The Trio by Florent Schmitt is charming and tuneful, in the tradition of Poulenc and Françaix. The Piano Quintet written in 1802 by Mozart’s star pupil, Johann Nepomuk Hummel, is virtuosic and melodious in equal measure. Dvořák’s glorious String Sextet, from much later in the century, is full of rhythmic energy and Bohemian folk tunes.
Friday July 21st at 7.00 pm
Weber Trio in G minor for Flute, Cello and Piano, Op. 63
Gordon Jacob Quintet in G minor for Clarinet and Strings
Brahms Quintet in F minor for Piano and Strings, Op. 34
This is a programme featuring a variety of instrumentation. The concert opens with Weber’s Flute Trio which, though in a minor key, is full of sunshine and light-hearted charm. The rarely performed Clarinet Quintet by Gordon Jacob was composed during the Second World War and is a powerful, virtuosic and fascinating work. We finish with Brahms’s famous, romantic Piano Quintet which shows the composer at the height of his powers.
Saturday July 22th: Coffee Concert at 11.30 am
“From the Sublime to the Ridiculous”
An entertaining and varied programme in which The Gaudier Ensemble will introduce and perform works for various instruments. The musicians have delved into their cupboards to find little gems of beauty, virtuosity or plain silliness which don’t easily fit into their more conventional concerts.
The programme will include:
Bach/Gounod “Ave Maria” for Flute and Strings
Bruch Trios for Clarinet, Viola and Piano (from Op. 83)
Debussy “Syrinx” for Solo Flute
Teddy Bor “Bach at the Double” for Strings
Kovács “Sholem-alekhem”: Klezmer music for Clarinet, String Quartet and Double Bass
Saturday July 22nd: at 7.00pm
Boccherini Quintet in D major for String Quartet and Double Bass, Op. 39, No.3
Dvořák Quartet in D major for Piano and Strings, Op. 23
Beethoven Septet in E flat for Strings and Winds, Op. 20
Three popular gems from the 18th and 19th centuries. Boccherini was a prolific composer, and this unusual quintet with double bass shows off his technical and inventive genius. This delightful piano quartet by Dvořák was first performed in 1880, and contains many melodies evoking the haunting simplicity of folk-song. Beethoven’s Septet has been a Festival favourite since 1991, with its youthful spirit and energy, blending grandeur with informality.
Sunday July 23rd: Lunchtime concert at 12.00 noon
Mozart Quartet in D major for Flute and Strings, K285
Mozart Quintet in E flat for Horn and Strings, K407
Mozart Concerto in A major for Piano and Strings, K414
The perfect Sunday morning escape! All of Mozart’s flute quartets are delightful. The D major work is tuneful, and sparkles with 18th century charm. The Horn Quintet and Piano Concerto are both full of pathos and bravura, featuring Jonathan Williams and Susan Tomes as the soloists in these works.
Sunday July 23rd at 6.00 pm
(Please note the earlier time)
Devienne Quartet in D major for Flute and Strings, Op.66, No.3
Mozart Quintet in A major for Clarinet and Strings, K581
Schubert Quintet in A major, “The Trout”, for Piano and Strings, D667
François Devienne, born in 1759, was a French flautist and bassoonist. His many compositions made an important contribution to the development of repertoire for wind instruments. We close the Festival with two chamber music masterpieces widely regarded as amongst the most beautiful works ever written.
From our Archive of Concert Programmes and Booking leaflets
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