Author: psychicalwaysa53a93fa7b

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
Performer	Composer	Piece
Peter	J S Bach	Two-part Invention no. 13 in A minor
	Piazzolla	Milonga del Angel
Julie	Dussek	Rondo from Sonatina in Eb Op. 19/20
Anne	Alanna Crouch	Nocturne
	Diabelli	Sonatina Op. 151 no. 4
Brian	Chopin	Waltz in Ab major, Op. 69 no. 1
Natalie	Chopin	Waltz in B minor, Op. 69 no. 2
Steve	Gershwin	‘Do It Again’
Jean	Bartok	Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm nos. 1 – 3
Nicky	Nicola Melanie Manning (Nickie Hart)	Fond Farewell and Summer Meadow
Richard	Beethoven	Sonata Op. 10 no. 2 F major
Chris	Handel	Suite in D minor, Allemande and Courante, HWV 437
Simon H	Martha Mier	Red Rose Rendezvous
	Charles Tebbs	Airships

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).

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.

Performer	Composer	Piece
Leo and Chris	Paul Lovatt Cooper	With His First Breath
Julie	Stephen Storace	Andante from Sonata no. 2 in G
	Dussek	Rondo from Sonatina in G
Margaret and Graham	Chaminade	Pastorale
Graham	Chopin	Nocturne No. 1 in Bb minor, op. 9 no. 1
Anne	Franz Xaver Mozart	Polonaise Melancholic
	Granados	Eva and Walter
Fran	Korngold arr. Yunchan Lim	Die Schönste nacht
Brian	Fauré	Barcarolle No. 1 in A minor
Simon S	Fauré	Nocturne No. 6 in Db major
Jonathan	Bach	Prelude and Fugue in Eb major, No. 7, Bk 11
Simon H	Martha Mier	Misty Night Blues
	Ravel	Prelude
	Yann Tierson	Amelie (Tribute to Len Miller)
Richard	Grieg	Poetic Tone Pictures, op. 3, nos 1 – 3
Jan	Bach	Little Prelude in D major

Courses in France

…. 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!

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
Performer	Composer	Piece
Simon S	Fauré	Nocturne in Db, op. 63
	Ernest Fischer	A Little Piece of Lace (Foxtrot)
	Eric Coates	Last Love
	Trad. arr Harold Potter	Two Guitars
Brian	Joseph Kosma	Autumn Leaves
	Arr. Pete Churchill	Abide with Me (in memory of Len Miller)
	Pam Wedgwood	Forgotten Dreams, Wild Poppies & Flinders St
Richard	Chopin	Study in E major, op. 10, no. 3
Jonathan	Fauré	Romance sans Paroles, op. 17 no. 3
	Copland	No. 2 from Four Piano Blues
Jan	J S Bach	Gigue from English Suite No. 2 in A minor
Jean	Earl Wild	The Man I Love No. 3 from Seven Virtuoso Etudes after Gershwin
	Panrace Royer	L’Aimable
	J S Bach	Chromatic Fantasy

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!!

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 19^th to the 21^th century. Plus some delicious home baking.

Bristol Piano Club November 2025
Performer	Composer	Piece
Matthew	Joby Talbot	Cloud Watching
Juliana	Beethoven	Sonata in D minor, op. 31, no. 17, 2nd mvt
Chris	Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini	Moon River
RJ	Coldplay, Aikii, Ed Sheeran misc.	A Sky Full of Stars, Viva La Vida, Wake Me Up, Shape of You
Simon H	Charles Tebbs	Airships
Anne K	Grieg	Air from Holberg Suite
Steve B	Carrara	No Time to Die
Boyang	D J Okawari	Flower Dance
Jean	Bartok	No. 1 from Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm
Richard	Cui	Waltz in E minor, op. 32
Simon S	Ancliffe	Sorrento

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
Performer	Composer	Piece
Peter H	Scarlatti	Sonata in D major K 96
Richard	Brahms	Intermezzo op. 119 no. 1
Anne K	Boëly	Valse Romantique op. 13 no. 15
	Tchaikovsky	October from The Seasons
Simon H	Jules Massenet	Melodie no. 5 from op. 10
Jonathan	Astor Piazzolla	Extasis Tango
	Granados	Spanish Dance
Chris UW	Handel	Allemande from Suite in D minor
Jan	Bach	Gavotte I from English Suite III

Bristol Piano Club held a Masterclass day run by International Concert Pianist Nurry Lee at Leonora and Paul’s home in Keynsham on Sunday Oct 19th.  https://www.nurrylee.com

A very interesting selection of pieces were played that included an ensemble for piano and euphonium.

Nurry listened intently to all the pieces and gave valuable feedback, so everyone now has plenty of practise to do!

The whole day was most enjoyable, full of shared music, along with expert tuition and mutual support. Not to forget our  shared lunch and social time meeting with friends old and new. 

Playlist:

Natalie  G  Flat Impromptu by Schubert .

Leonora – Paul Lovatt- Cooper – With Hs First Breath – Piano accompaniment for Baritone piece. Leonora (piano) Chris UW (baritone) 

Richard W.-  Brahms –  Intermezzo Op 119.

Jean W. – Bach  – Chromatic Fantasie in D minor.

Fran – York Bowen – Prelude in E flat.

Simon H. Debussy   – Arabesque No 1.

Chris UW  Handel  – Allemande and Courante 2nd and 3rd Movts. from Suite in D minor ABRM grade 7.

Robin  – Chopin  – Polonaise ) Op 26 No 1.

  

Club members gave a two hour recital to residents at the St Monica’s Retirement Home on Cote Lane near the Downs. The recital included a variety of works from the 18th to the 20th centuries, baroque to light. All introduced and performed with aplomb to an enthusiastic audience on the Petrof concert grand recently used by no less an artist than Peter Donohoe. Following excellent feedback from the residents we have been invited back to give another concert next year.

The programme, a photo of (most of) the Club members who played, and the St Monica’s poster are shown below: