April 2026 Meeting

Leo and Paul’s kitchen/ music salon was at peak capacity yesterday afternoon for an amazing afternoon of piano music on their magnificent Yamaha grand. We welcomed Kim to the Club for a trial meeting and are pleased to announce she will be joining. Thanks to everyone who brought food and drink to the buffet and, most of all to Leo and Paul for being such warm and generous hosts!

Bristol Piano Club Playlist April 2026
PerformerComposerPiece
Simon SAlban BergSonata op. 1
Eric CoatesGreen Hills of Somerset & The Sleepy Lagoon
Anne KMozartFantasia in D minor
FieldNocturne no. 16
KathrynChopinBarcarolle, op. 60
RichardTchaikovskyApril from The Seasons
Jean WWild/ Gershwin‘Somebody Loves Me’ from Seven Virtuoso Etudes after Gershwin
KayFauréAndante Moderato, no. 5 from Eight Short Pieces, op. 84
Simon HGibran AlcocerIdea no. 10
JS BachSarabande from Partita in C minor
Nicky M (Nickie Hart)Nicola Melanie Manning‘Charlotte’s Web’ & ‘Soulful Echoes’
BoyangPachelbelCanon in D

Presented by Keynsham Concerts

https://www.nurrylee.com

https://cineduolondon.co.uk

Programme:

Solo Piano

Rachmaninoff Prelude in G minor

Chopin Andante Spinate and Grande Polonaise Brilliante Op.22

Hamelin en Avril a Paris

Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue

Piano and Violin

Zimmer Pirates of Caribbean Arr. Bramwell

Shore Lord of the Rings

Horner Avatar Arr. Bramwell

Powell How to Train your Dragon Arr. Bramwell

Djawadi Game of Thrones Arr. Bramwell

Tickets available at

https://buytickets.at/keynshamconcerts1/2142260

£20 & £1.25 booking fee

Or from Leonora, Simon and Chris. Tickets also available at the door on the evening of the concert.

Bar Available.

Club Meeting, March 2026

The meeting of the Bristol Piano Club was a lovely musical occasion. We welcomed potential new member Nicky who delighted us with a couple of her own compositions! Musical performances ranged from Handel and Bach through Beethoven and Chopin to Gershwin and Bartok – to name but a few! Followed by congenial conversation and tasty savoury and sweet dishes – to the accompaniment of an entertaining selection of on-the-spur duet pieces.

We look forward to the April meeting at Leo and Paul’s in Keynsham.

Bristol Piano Club March 2026
PerformerComposerPiece
PeterJ S BachTwo-part Invention no. 13 in A minor
PiazzollaMilonga del Angel
JulieDussekRondo from Sonatina in Eb Op. 19/20
AnneAlanna CrouchNocturne
DiabelliSonatina Op. 151 no. 4
BrianChopinWaltz in Ab major, Op. 69 no. 1
NatalieChopinWaltz in B minor, Op. 69 no. 2
SteveGershwin‘Do It Again’
JeanBartokDances in Bulgarian Rhythm nos. 1 – 3
NickyNicola Melanie Manning (Nickie Hart)Fond Farewell and Summer Meadow
RichardBeethovenSonata Op. 10 no. 2 F major
ChrisHandelSuite in D minor, Allemande and Courante, HWV 437
Simon HMartha MierRed Rose Rendezvous
 Charles TebbsAirships

Fully restored 1980’s Steinway A grand piano

One of the UK’s foremost piano technicians and restorers (a friend of our chairman) expects to have a 1980’s Steinway model ‘A’ grand piano ready and available for sale in about a year’s time. It will be ‘as new’ mechanically. The piano is 6′ 2 ” long. Not sure what the price will be but it will certainly be a lot less than new. If you think you could be interested contact Simon Scott for more details (or use the contact address on the website).

February 2026 Meeting

Fifteen of us made it to Leo and Paul’s for an afternoon and early evening of music and fellowship. Leo’s six foot Yamaha grand (tuned for the occasion by Simon H) was in sparkling form and much enjoyed. A huge variety of music was performed and congratulations to Julie for playing to us so beautifully for the first time.

PerformerComposerPiece
Leo and ChrisPaul Lovatt CooperWith His First Breath
JulieStephen StoraceAndante from Sonata no. 2 in G
DussekRondo from Sonatina in G
Margaret and GrahamChaminadePastorale
GrahamChopinNocturne No. 1 in Bb minor, op. 9 no. 1
AnneFranz Xaver MozartPolonaise Melancholic
GranadosEva and Walter
FranKorngold arr. Yunchan LimDie Schönste nacht
BrianFauréBarcarolle No. 1 in A minor
Simon SFauréNocturne No. 6 in Db major
JonathanBachPrelude and Fugue in Eb major, No. 7, Bk 11
Simon HMartha MierMisty Night Blues
RavelPrelude
Yann TiersonAmelie (Tribute to Len Miller)
RichardGriegPoetic Tone Pictures, op. 3, nos 1 – 3
JanBachLittle Prelude in D major

Two places left in residential course for advanced pianists, Le Maillard, Edon, Charente, France, May 2026. Tutors  Ann Martin-Davis and Helen Leek.

…. looking to 2026 – we have participants coming from New York and from Hong Kong and we have a new gîte, just opposite the Marie in our beautiful village of Edon. This is currently having a complete refurbishment and will offer four spacious en-suite guest rooms in addition to our beautiful accommodation at the Presbytery.

The number of pianist participants will continue to be limited to seven – this is the magic number that enables everyone to play on a daily basis to either Helen or myself and which keeps our courses bespoke and personal.

There has been a small increase in the fee for next year by £100 in order to reflect the increase in food costs and travel for our guest performers. Course fees for participants will be set at £1700 and partners are welcomed at £425.

Once you arrive at Le Maillard everything is paid for which includes accommodation, food, wine, two private lessons, trips out, restaurant dinners, yoga, concerts and, new for next year, ‘conversation cafe’ with Sofie (not our Daschund, although her French is coming along) but our new resident French teacher in the village.

We are accepting deposits of £850 for participants and £200 for partners and will need this to secure your place.


We look forward to welcoming you in 2026!

January 2026 Meeting

With seasonal illnesses affecting not a few of us, a select group of seven met at Jan and Jonathan’s for our first meeting of the new year. We enjoyed the real warmth of their welcome and the log fires after the cold and wet outside. We remembered Len Miller who died last week and some of the music was played in tribute to him. Our thoughts are with Marion and Jack at this very sad time.

Despite our limited numbers there was a lot of music played on the Danemann grand and the meeting lasted over four hours. A great start to 2026 and our thanks again to Jan and Jonathan for being such wonderful hosts.

Playlist – January 2026
PerformerComposerPiece
Simon SFauréNocturne in Db, op. 63
Ernest FischerA Little Piece of Lace (Foxtrot)
Eric CoatesLast Love
Trad. arr Harold PotterTwo Guitars
BrianJoseph KosmaAutumn Leaves
Arr. Pete ChurchillAbide with Me (in memory of Len Miller)
Pam WedgwoodForgotten Dreams, Wild Poppies & Flinders St
RichardChopinStudy in E major, op. 10, no. 3
JonathanFauréRomance sans Paroles, op. 17 no. 3
CoplandNo. 2 from Four Piano Blues
JanJ S BachGigue from English Suite No. 2 in A minor
JeanEarl WildThe Man I Love No. 3 from Seven Virtuoso Etudes after Gershwin
Panrace RoyerL’Aimable
J S BachChromatic Fantasy

Club Christmas Activities

Matthew and Leo organised a Club afternoon at Southmead Hospital on Saturday November 29th. We played on the Bluthner baby grand in the atrium from 1 to 5 pm and patients, visitors and staff were treated to a huge variety of music from Christmas themed duets to baroque and 20th century and much in between. And we had Sarah playing her cello and Chris brought his tuba, wow! A sizable and appreciative audience had built up by the time we finally had to pack up and leave. I am sure we will be back for more performances next year.

The Club Christmas party was held at Jan and Jonathan’s just over a week later and around twenty five of us enjoyed more Christmas music as well as a superb buffet. A huge thanks to Jan and Jonathan for their work in preparing and hosting – very much appreciated!!

November meeting

Twenty of us gathered in the Henleaze Trinity URC for the Club AGM (to be reported on later) followed by the normal play and socialise meeting. We enjoyed the mellow sounds from the Yamaha C3 with a variety of piano music from the 19th to the 21th century. Plus some delicious home baking.

Bristol Piano Club November 2025
PerformerComposerPiece
MatthewJoby TalbotCloud Watching
JulianaBeethovenSonata in D minor, op. 31, no. 17, 2nd mvt
ChrisJohnny Mercer & Henry ManciniMoon River
RJColdplay, Aikii, Ed Sheeran misc.A Sky Full of Stars, Viva La Vida, Wake Me Up, Shape of You
Simon HCharles TebbsAirships
Anne KGriegAir from Holberg Suite
Steve BCarraraNo Time to Die
BoyangD J OkawariFlower Dance
JeanBartokNo. 1 from Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm
RichardCuiWaltz in E minor, op. 32
Simon SAncliffeSorrento

October Meeting at Jan & Jonathan’s

BPC members had a lovely afternoon of piano music at Jan’s house as always. Several of us had been to the Nurry Lee masterclass the previous weekend so we were keen to share our thoughts and demonstrate our improvements!

Bristol Piano Club October 2025
PerformerComposerPiece
Peter HScarlattiSonata in D major K 96
RichardBrahmsIntermezzo op. 119 no. 1
Anne KBoëlyValse Romantique op. 13 no. 15
TchaikovskyOctober from The Seasons
Simon HJules MassenetMelodie no. 5 from op. 10
JonathanAstor PiazzollaExtasis Tango
GranadosSpanish Dance
Chris UWHandelAllemande from Suite in D minor
JanBachGavotte I from English Suite III