Another lovely year of playing music together! I want to thank the recorder group so much for their dedication and concentration, especially when we were preparing for the Meet and Mingle concert. I worked them hard! Music is a performing art, so it is terrific to be able to play at a concert. We all look forward to next year and some new music! Janet Douglas
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As always, we are enjoying playing and working hard on a wide range of music. We have music from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, a piece by Haydn, folk songs from Europe, from the USA, from Australia. Some of this is new music, some of it is old favourites we love playing. The latter gives us some relief from intense concentration on the new! Music — our constant companion.
Janet Douglas The sun was shining outside the window on a cold winter’s morning, so we decided to play “Sumer is Icumen In”. Both the wintry sun and the music reminded us of the four beautiful seasons that we have. Vivaldi knew that! As we played “Ah Robin, Gentle Robin”, it was lovely to see the birds hopping round outside. One of the great inspirations for music has been the natural world. Both our group sense and the tricky rhythms were coming together really well as we celebrated the power of music. Janet Douglas
In June the U3A Recorder Players met without their leader and guide Janet, so had to work on their timing themselves. Then they were caught out by wretched “Anna” – anacrusis, a leading note at the end of a bar, which can bring complications when only one part has an anacrusis, and the other players need to count. Each of the group took turns choosing what to play. At our second session there was a distinct shearing theme, with “Click go the Shears”, “Spring Time it Brings on the Shearing”, and “Waltzing Matilda” all coming up as favourites. We wandered from the woolsheds onto the Black Hills of Dakota, before tackling an influx of G and C sharps, and E and D flats. The levels of mastery varied but the enjoyment was universal. We ventured back to the 16th Century with “Ah Robin Gentle Robin”, by William Cornysh, and wondered if Robin was a bird or a chap. (Having now looked it up, "Ah, Robin, gentle Robin, Tell me how thy leman doth, and thou shalt know of mine. My lady is unkind..." – it would appear to be some guy having a misogynist whinge to a bird.) After that we deserved some coffee, and even found some sunshine. The Recorder Players are very much missing their leader Janet, and send sympathies to Tim, with best wishes for a good recovery.
Andi Stevenson We have been working diligently to maintain a steady beat with the group. Given that we are playing some pieces that have some challenging rhythmic issues, a good deal of concentration has been required. I thank the group for their hard work. There is a reward, though. You experience a great feeling of togetherness, which is so special. There is now evidence that our hearts can start to beat at the same rate when we are really synchronised. Throughout all the hard work we still find time to talk and laugh!
Janet Douglas With Janet away, the Recorder Players each chose some favourites to the group to play. We also tried out "Ah Robin Gentle Robin" by William Cornish, written around 500 years ago for Soprano, Alto and Tenor. It took a couple of goes to get the hang of, and by the third time sounded very sweet. Tomoko played a blinder as the only Soprano player present; Rae and Andi being on Alto, Pat and Sally on Tenor. Others players were engaged elsewhere, Judy being off playing Croquet in Albury instead of Recorder in Benalla. Poor “Maggie” got a little butchered, until we got into the swing with the timing and that tricky anacrusis, then she sounded as gorgeous as she should. “Under the Linden Tree” was very rewarding. Apparently there is a Linden Tree in Swanpool, and we ought go serenade it. Important Notice; the Benalla U3A Recorder Group seeks more Soprano players! Also called the Descant, this is the size recorder you might have played in school. The Soprano is the smallest commonly-used Recorder, although it is pipped by the titchy Sopranino, and apparently there one even smaller called a Garklein. Larger than the Soprano is the Alto, or Treble, which Rae, Andi and Kazuko play. Then there is the Tenor, giving a really beautiful deeper note, which Pat, Sally and often Janet perform on. Janet has a Bass Recorder for when the music calls for it, but we do not have any of the larger varieties of Bass. Please contact Janet on 0427 080 351 if you are interested, or pop in to our class - 2nd and 4th Wednesday mornings from 10 am to 11.30 am - check calendar on the home page for date details.
Andi Stevenson It is so good to be back playing together this year. We have quite a range of music on which we are working, in terms of both style and difficulty! The other day, we had a good reminder of how playing music teaches us valuable life lessons. I asked for an “old favourite” and “Mice Running Around” was the suggestion. This tune used to bring on a collective groan and we would have a laugh, as it is a rather difficult piece. However, after a great deal of dedicated practice, involving persistence and concentration, it now sounds really terrific and is great fun to play. This works for many things in life. Well done to all!
Janet Douglas The U3A Recorder Group working on a version of "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" with a lot of interesting accidentals for the Alto (treble) and Tenor players. Andi Stevenson
We are enjoying playing a wide range of music, from over the last one thousand years. Quite a timeline!
We have chosen some of our favourites to play at the U3A end-of-year concert in a few weeks, so we are working hard towards that. I thank the group for their concentration. We certainly earn our coffee when we finish playing! Janet Douglas This month the recorder group played at a concert organised by Benalla Rose City Band, which was showcasing local music. I couldn’t be there as I was already committed to playing at another concert. The group did a wonderful job of getting prepared, including scheduling an extra rehearsaL A good deal of thought is needed to bring it all together for a live performance. I received some lovely feedback about the concert, so congratulations to them all!
Janet Douglas Practising for the September 10th concert at the Town Hall!
The group has been working hard this month in preparation for taking part in a concert on September 10th at Benalla Town Hall. The Benalla Concert Band very kindly offered us a place in their concert, which was terrific of them. Sadly, I have a concert at the same time, but the group has taken it on board and is very keen to go ahead with it.
Good on them! Janet Douglas In June the U3A Recorder Group met without our leader, Janet, and played old favourites and beautiful harmonies. A couple of pieces proved challenging, and we lacked Janet to facilitate repair. "Keel Row", a lively Scottish tune, and "Salvatoris Hodie", from the 13th century and with slightly alien timing, both need some practise and polish. Andi Stevenson At our last session this month, the group was introduced to music’s very good friend “anacrusis”, (or Ana Crusis, as we like to think of her). She is a strong presence in music, as she is there when there is only a partial bar at the start of the piece. This happens frequently, so she is very well-known and the group were pleased to meet her. This helps to reinforce the wonderful social aspect of playing together.
Janet Douglas We are enjoying a wide range of music — folk songs from around the world, music from over hundreds of years, a number of tunes with a summer theme, which have fitted well with our Indian summer weather. There are always some challenging bits, but there is also a great sense of wellbeing and achievement when it all comes together beautifully. Janet Douglas An atmospheric photo of Recorder Group convenor Janet Douglas titled ‘Janet Explains’, sent in by Andi Stevenson.
Andi also sent in “a quote from our last session, being Pat's observation on the version of Walzting Matilda we were to tackle”: "That's the most interesting conglomeration of notes I've ever seen! Thank you, Andi. In our first session this month, we explored the hemiola, which is a conjunction of two different rhythmic patterns. We got the feel of this by doing some Spanish clapping, which is a lot of fun but quite tricky, especially at speed.
Sadly, I missed our second session for the month as I finally got Covid, but the group met as usual and enjoyed playing music together. This is what it’s all about! Janet Douglas A new year and new music to explore! All very exciting, with some challenges thrown into the mix. There are some high notes to get under control and some trickier rhythms to navigate while still staying together. The music varies from Renaissance recorder music to European and Australian folk music and anything in-between. 'At our first Recorder Group, Janet gave us some theory' Andi It’s great to be playing together again!
Janet Douglas Photograph: Kerryn Emery
We have been doing some concentrated practice in preparation for our performance at November’s Meet ’n Mingle. Music is one of the performing arts, so many thanks for the opportunity.
At our last session, we played in the hall, to help us to get used to the very different acoustics. These will change again when there are lots of people in the room! All part of the deal. Thanks to all the players for their hard work. Janet Douglas I was away last month, but the group, bless them, kept meeting and working on the large array of music that we have. I thank them for their dedication and enthusiasm. I really enjoyed listening to the results of all their hard work.
We would all like to thank Janine Washusen, who has been playing with us for quite a long time. She is about to move to Bairnsdale, after selling the farm in Warrenbayne. Janine has, over time, donated both instruments and music to the group, and this has been very kind and helpful. We wish her all the best for this next stage of her life. Thank you, Janine. Janet Douglas Over the last couple of months’ we have been playing some pieces that have more complicated arrangements, especially rhythmically. This presents extra challenges for a group of players, but it is so rewarding when it all comes together beautifully. It involves careful listening and great awareness of the whole group. Great life skills to be practising!
Well done and thank you to all the hard-working players. Janet We are thoroughly enjoying playing a wide range of music from the 13th Century to the present day. It certainly gives a really good idea of how music, being a language, is constantly changing, like all languages. We have extended our range of instruments, so that we regularly have descant, alto and tenor recorders, with a bass recorder about to be added to the mix. Very exciting! “‘How the alto players keep track of their lines in a four-part piece demanding a bit of concentration.’ Andi Stevenson I thank the enthusiasm and commitment of all the players.
Janet Douglas What a joy it has been to be back playing together again! Hopefully this year we will be able to meet much more regularly. Music is so good for our entire being. No wonder we have been involved in music-making since prehistoric times. Many thanks to Andi for putting down her recorder to take some photos. Janet Douglas |
About the Recorder GroupMusic has always been incredibly important to human beings. It is the only activity we have pursued since ancient times that is not related to sheer survival. Neuroscience is just discovering how beneficial it is for the brain. Playing a musical instrument is the only act we know of that uses all of the brain at once. Being involved in a musical group also boosts our immune system. Music is so good for our brains, our hearts and our souls, Convenor/ Contact DetailsJanet Douglas
5767 2257 0427 080 351 Meeting TimesU3A Meeting Room 1
2nd & 4th Wednesdays 10 am to 12 noon. The group may also meet for additional practice sessions on an as needs basis. Archives
November 2024
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