Author: psychicalwaysa53a93fa7b

Twenty five members of the Club met at Graham and Margaret’s lovely house and gardens in the countryside to the north of Bristol. Apart from a brief shower (when the marquees proved invaluable) the weather was perfect. The beautiful Bechstein was put through its paces with music ranging from Bach to Piazzolla and much in-between. With the French doors open the music wafted out into the garden. Folowing the ‘formal’ playing sessions members enjoyed a buffet meal at outside tables. Once again Graham and Margaret proved themselves excellent and kind hosts and we are very grateful to them.

Performer	Composer	Piece
Simon S	Eric Coates	Last Love
Mark	Rachmaninoff	Etude-Tableaux in G minor, op. 33 no. 5
Brian	Soloviev-Sedoy arr. Cliburn	Moscow Nights
	Rachmaninoff	Prelude in D major, op. 23 no. 4
Richard	Chopin	Polonaise in Ab major, op. 53
Charles	Bach	Fugue in Ab major (WTC Bk II)
Kathryn	Albeniz	El Puerto from Iberia (No. 2 Bk I)
Steve B	Gershwin	Somebody Love Me & Who Cares
Ernest (playing his own LH arrangements of both pieces)	Rubinstein	Melody in F op. 3 no. 1
	Shostakovich	2nd mvt from Piano Concerto no. 2
Simon H	Piazzolla	Milonga Del Angel
	Chopin	Mazurka in A minor, op. 67 no. 4
Peter	Zequinha Abreu	Tico Tico
Peter & Barbara (saxaphone)	Jerome Kern	All The Things You Are & Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
Boyang	Paul de Senneville	Mariage d’Amour (Marriage of Love)
Simon S	Scott Joplin	Solace
Jan	Bach	Gavotte in G minor (English Suite no. 3)

Around twenty five of us met at Simon and Jill’s for over four hours of music and food. The newly restored Bösendorfer was put through its paces and hugely enjoyed. Many thanks to Malcolm McKeand of Falmouth for his many weeks of hard work and superb craftsmanship which were much appreciated! Ernest will be receiving his birthday telegram from the King in a couple of months and a very special part of the afternoon was his playing of his own arrangements for left hand of pieces by Rubinstein and Shostakovich for which he received a standing ovation! Chopin featured especially strongly with performances of his Fantasy, G minor Ballade, a nocturne and mazurka. There was also music from China and Japan. Members were able to enjoy their meals at tables in the garden and listen to the music wafting out. Despite it being the hottest day of the year so far the usual high standard of music making appeared to be unaffected.

Playlist

Performer	Composer	Piece
Nancy	Ravel	Menuet from Sonatine
Peter	Beethoven	Bagatelle op. 119 no. 4 – Andante Cantabile
Boyang	Joe Hisaishi	Summer (from Kikujio’s Summer)
Mark	Mozart	2nd mvt Sonata in A minor K 310
Kathryn	Rachmaninoff	Prelude in G# minor, op. 32 no. 12
Ruth	Schubert	1st mvt Sonata in A minor op. post. 164 D537
Kay	Debussy	Rêverie
Anne	Tchaikovsky	October (from The Seasons)
Steve W	Debussy	Rêverie
Steve B	Chopin	Nocturne in C# minor, op. 27 no. 1
Cheryl	Francis Lai	Theme from Emmanuelle 2
Brian	Scarlatti	Sonata K69
	J B Lully	Gavotte in D minor
Jonathan	Zequina de Abreu	Tico-Tico
Simon S	Chopin	Fantasy in F minor, op. 49
Jan	Bach	Gavotte from English Suite in G minor
Ernest (playing his own LH arrangements of both pieces)	Rubinstein	Melody in F op. 3 no. 1
	Shostakovich	2nd mvt from Piano Concerto no. 2
Juliana	Rachmaninoff	Moments Musicaux in E minor op. 16 no. 4
	Chopin	Ballade in G minor op. 23
	Hailying Li (arr.)	Flute and Drum at Sunset (Chinese ancient song)
Simon H	Chopin	Mazurka in A minor, op. 67 no. 4

There are last minute places available at the Stowe Summer School for Pianists – just 10 weeks away. Join some of your Bristol Piano Club members there along with 60 others from all round the world. There are great tutors, you take part in three masterclasses with the options to perform in student concerts as well. Superb accommodation in the grounds of the old palace of the Duke of Buckingham. You will meet some very inspiring people and experience some amazing piano playing. Plus an opportunity to play on some Steinway grands.

http://www.pianosummerschool.co.uk

On a sunny afternoon fifteen of us gathered at Brian and Dorette’s Henleaze house for an afternoon of music on their two uprights (Broadwood and Bechstein). We do not have many opportunities for two piano playing in the Club and we are very grateful to Jean and Brian for providing suitable music, including one piece for eight hands! Following the formal playing we retired to the well-tended garden for food and drink whilst informal music-making continued in the background. We welcomed a new member – Boyang Yu, and Boyang bravely played for us on his first visit.

Once again, many thanks to Brian and Dorette for their fabulous hosting of a very enjoyable event.

Bristol Piano Club May 2025
Performer	Composer	Piece
Brian	Chopin	Nocturne in C# minor, op. 27 no. 1
Chris	Bach	Allemande from French Suite no. 4
Steve W	Satie	Gnossienne no. 5
Simon S	Berg	Sonata op. 1
Jean A	Scriabin	Poeme in F# op. 32 no. 1
Nancy	Schumann	Humoreske (extract) op. 20
Peter	Mozart	Sonata in Eb, K282, Adagio
Richard	Beethoven	Sonata in C (Waldstein), op. 53, 1st mvt
Boyang	Beethoven	Sonata in C# minor (Moonlight), op. 27, 1st mvt
Kay	Bach	Minuet I and II, Partita in Bb
Brian	Chopin	Nocturne in Db major, op. 27 no. 2
Nancy & Jean	Vaughan Williams	Fantasy on Greensleeves (2 pianos)
Brian, Nancy, Peter & Simon	Moszkowski	Spanish Dance no. 1 (2 pianos, 8 hands)
	William Gillock	Champagne Toccata (2 pianos)
Nancy & Brian	Rachmaninoff	Suite no. 2, Waltz (2 pianos)

Following Storm Bert in November, around 15 of us made it to Jan’s in Hengrove despite Storm Darraghs best efforts. We were rewarded with a warm welcome from Jan and brother Jonathan. The log fire, Christmas lights and decorations and a superb buffet were much appreciated! There was almost continuous music-making on Jan’s excellent Danemann grand for the four and a half hour duration of the meetings. The incomplete playlist gives a flavour of what went on.

Performer	Composer	Piece
Simon H	R Schumann	Kinderszenen no. 1
	C Schumann	Prelude no. 3
Brian W	Leroy Anderson	Forgotten Dreams
Simon S	Malmeck/ Signorelli	Park Avenue Fantasy
	B Mayerl	Marigold
		Shallow Waters
Mark W	J S Bach	Sarabande from French Suite no. 5
Richard W	F F Chopin	Waltz in Ab, op 69 no. 1
Leonora M (piano) and Chris UW(euphonium)	P Lovatt-Cooper	Donegal Bay
Chris UW	Guastavino	Cantilena no. 1
Len M		Melancholy Tango
Jean W	W Niemann	Evening in Seville
Ann G (partnered occasionally) with Brian		Misc. Christmas Songs

Bristol Piano Club meeting November 2024.