Mahler the conductor

The music writer MICHAEL JAMESON, always a popular speaker at SRMS meetings, opens our new season with a talk about the conducting career of Gustav Mahler - better known during his lifetime as a conductor rather than as a composer. An extra charge of £1 is payable for this meeting.

Note that our next meeting is on the following Friday

Alkan - a very eccentric Frenchman

JOHN COTTRELL, Chairman of the Forest Recorded Music Club, will give us a brief look into the world of a composer who, in his day, was famous, had a prodigious technique, was respected and admired by Chopin and Liszt (among others), but who shunned the limelight and spent a large part of his adult life in obscurity.

Vaughan Williams

TERRY BARFOOT is Senior Lecturer in Music at South Downs College and a regular SRMS presenter. A member of the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society, Terry will be demonstrating his enthusiasm for this great English composer. An extra charge of £1 is payable for this meeting.

The life and music of Hugo Alfvén

Following his presentation last year on Kurt Atterberg, JIM NICOL continues his Swedish theme with a programme devoted to Hugo Alfvén. Alfvén is probably best known in the UK for his Swedish Rhapsody No 1, but he also wrote five symphonies, vocal music, chamber music, etc.

President's night

For well over 30 years we have been privileged to have a regular annual presentation by our distinguished President, Professor DAVID BROWN. We never know in advance what musical theme he will pursue, but we are always certain of a stimulating and entertaining evening. 

Entente cordiale

SRMS Secretary DAVID CHEALE will present an eclectic choice of French music from the 16th to the 20th century, including orchestral, chamber and piano pieces. Composers such as Debussy, Fauré and Poulenc will feature, in addition to lesser known names.

Crossing the border

We are delighted to welcome Professor DAVID NICHOLLS of Southampton University's Music Department on his first visit to our society. His programme is subtitled 'Interactions between Art Music and "Other" Musics in America'. Professor Nichols, who is an expert on American music, plans to include pieces by Eichheim, Copland, Cowell, Harrison, Ives, Gershwin, and Bernstein. Not to be missed.

Note that our next meeting is on the following Friday

Christmas Social Evening

Once again, this social event follows the pattern of an ‘American Supper’ (i.e. everyone brings a contribution to the food and drink) combined with an entertaining Musical Quiz compiled by SRMS Chairman Roy Gage. It is guaranteed to bring the year to a very enjoyable conclusion.

A musical kaleidoscope

The title of this year's programme from HAROLD BAGUST has been concocted in an attempt to disguise the fact that Harold has no idea yet what music he will select. Past experience suggests that composers of the Second Viennese School are unlikely to be included. Schubert, on the other hand, is almost a dead cert.

Orpheus Britannicus

For his first presentation to the society, PETER MORICE plans a tour through half a millennium of British music - mostly but not exclusively vocal. It will cover the religious and the profane and range from the sublime to, occasionally, the ridiculous. 

Diaghilev - impresario extraordinaire

MICHAEL HARLEY, a member of the Bournemouth Gramophone Society, will be treating us to a programme in memory of Sergei Diaghilev - the hugely influential ballet impresario who worked with many of the leading composers and artists of his day.

Eric Coates - master of light music

RON BLEACH, Secretary of the Bristol RMS, knew the composer and was at school with his son Austin. It was Dame Ethel Smyth who once said to Coates, "Oh, You're the man who writes tunes". There will be quite a number of tunes to be heard this evening.

The name's the same

Two famous Italian composers, Paisiello and Rossini, chose the same story for their operas, "The Barber of Seville", and both were great successes. ALBERT-LAURITZ RASMUSSEN will attempt to illustrate the differences between the two works. 

It's elemental!

From the beginnings of time, man has been obsessed with the elements of earth, water, air and fire - perhaps because of the profound influence each has had, and still has, on his evolution. With some occasionally flexible interpretations, BRYAN VAUGHAN's programme will explore some of the great music inspired by everything from the violent and terrifying storms generated by earthquakes to the warm serenity of a summer’s day in Bradford - or maybe Paris!

Martinu in Paris / Mahler in Prague

JIRINA MILLER plans to offer us some melodic symphonic movements from Mahler's most rewarding relationship with Prague's Czechs and Germans, as an outstanding conductor and composer in that most musical of cities. Also, some magical moments from Martinu's musicianship in Paris amidst the fresh syncopations and vibrant rhythms absorbed and atmospherically captured in his ballets, jazz scores and inspirational compositions - reflecting the dynamic achievements of the world of sport and aviation.

Three national heroes

SRMS Vice President PETER POWELL will be focusing on composers who gained a reputation as national heroes in their respective countries. The music of Elgar, Greig and Schumann is likely to be featured this evening. 

An alphabet of composers, Part II

Last year, SRMS Treasurer DAVID ANDERSON started to work his way through a list of composers with surnames beginning with every letter of the alphabet. This year's programme will start with the letter 'H'.

Mainly Weber

In her first SRMS programme, MICHELLE GREEN will be sharing her enthusiasm for the composer, conductor, pianist and critic Carl Maria von Weber (pictured on page 16). Other composers inspired by Weber's music are also likely to be featured.

Desert island discs

With due acknowledgment to the late Roy Plomley, SRMS Chairman ROY GAGE plans to present a personal choice of music that he feels might bring back many fond memories should he ever find himself a castaway.

Contrasts, continued...

Continuing the model he followed last year, GRAHAM BALMAIN plans to play well-known pieces by a number of composers, contrasting each piece with a less lightweight work from the same composer. The first half of the programme might include some gentle puzzles and surprises.       

Mighty Handful - the legacy

DAVID PEARCE'S story paused in 1910 with Rimsky-Korsakov’s young student, Igor Stravinsky, igniting the musical world with a handful of Fireworks and his ballet music, Firebird. The conservatories in St Petersburg and Moscow were now well established, while Belyayev’s philanthropy had helped create a proper publishing system and performing series. In this final part of his trilogy, David will examine the Russian greats of the 20th Century, the influence upon them of the early nationalists and how they all survived the Soviet era.

Black classical musicians

ANNAMARIE EWING combines classical recorder performance skills with an interest in musicians of African and Caribbean origin, such as Joseph Boulogne (a.k.a. Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges) and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. With rare exceptions, these black musicians, who chose to play music in the Western classical tradition, have received little recognition - a failure that Annamarie is now doing her best to rectify. 

An evening with Derek Goodger

The President of the Southampton Choral Society, DEREK GOODGER, has been one of our regular presenters for many years. Derek is a professional musician and a very entertaining speaker. His enthusiasm always makes this meeting a highlight of our season.

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Annual General Meeting

All members are asked to make their best efforts to attend the Annual General Meeting. Important decisions are made and votes taken which can fundamentally affect the future operation of the Society.

Note that our next meeting is on the following Friday

Members’ Social Evening

7:00 pm at ‘Amberley’, 192 Weston Lane, Woolston.
To end the season, SRMS Vice-President PETER POWELL invites all members to his home to enjoy an evening of music, wine and food (Peter will provide the first two of these, but members are asked to bring the food). There is a free public car park on the opposite side of the road. Please note the start time, which is earlier than our normal meetings.