It was delightful; a rare treat, one of those concerts that make you glad still to be around.
We look forward to hearing about any future St Martin's concerts.
Stuart and Monika Rising
A super concert directed by former King’s Singer, Jeremy Jackman. The floral theme was an association with the St Martin's Flower Festival which took place over the same weekend.
Jeremy Jackman has an international reputation as one of Britain's finest choral directors. As a singer, he was a member of the Tallis Scholars and the Kings Singers, and has made countless broadcasts and recordings. The choir regularly gives celebrity concerts with international stars such as Emma Kirkby and Peter Skellern; they have broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and have made successful European concert tours.
A “Come And Sing” workshop and concert of Vivaldi’s famous Gloria, and his not-so-famous but equally wonderful Magnificat. The programme also included arias with obbligato Viola d’Amore and two concertos.
Vivaldi Magnificat RV 611
Vivaldi Opera Arias
Vivaldi Laudate Dominum
Vivaldi Concerto for viola d’amore
Bach Organ Concerto after Vivaldi
Vivaldi Gloria RV589
The concert includes instrumentalists, the St Martin’s and St Mary’s benefice choir and soloists:
Briget Howarth, soprano
Grace Wain, soprano
Sally van der Sterren, alto
Leon King, viola d’amore
"Old songs refurbished, broken consorts mended, interrupted cadences completed, no job too small etc"
Cantiones Renovatae presented a delightful and varied programme of early music with an array of instruments including viol, lute, recorders, organ and harpsichord as well as Richard Lindsay's brilliant countertenor voice.
In short - a most enjoyable concert
Richard Lindsay (countertenor and recorders)
Margaret Westlake (viols and recorders)
Stewart McCoy (lutes and viols)
Kathleen Berg (organ and harpsichord)
- Virgin and ChildEleanor Turner, Harp
Kate Osborne and Nicola Wiggin, flutes
A celebration of the Virgin and Child, through the music of Hildegard of Bingen, Gavin Bryars, Helmut Walcha, Giseppe Verdi, Zoltan Kodaly, Hector Berlioz, Howard Goodall, Malcom Sargent, Suzanne Palmer-Holton.
The highlight of the concert was Howard Goodall's beautiful new song-cycle, Winter Lullabies, for which the singers were joined by harpist, Eleanor Turner.
Final year students from Birmingham Conservatoire returned to present another enjoyable and virtuosic concert. This was a lively concert, with well considered programming and carried off with skill and sensitivity by the young musicians. A thoroughly enjoyable evening.
A regular favourite in the area for 120 years, Stamford Brass gave an eclectic concert under the baton of guest director Ray White.
Notable solos by Robert Rennard, Paul Shafie, Andy Pickles, and Leigh Evans.
Kenneth Court hails from Birkenhead, where he studied under Dr Caleb Jarvis at the Matthey School of Music, and later with Dr J Roland Middleton at Chester Cathedral.
Dr David Whittle, BMus PhD, is Director of Music at Leicester Grammar School and is active as an organ recitalist, accompanist, arranger and composer. He studied at Nottingham University, and was Head Chorister at Peterborough Cathedral.
This concert is built around Obrecht's Missa de Sancto Martino, which was written in the 15th Century, contemporaneously with the building of St Martin’s Church in Stamford. It also includes his dramatic 6-part setting of the Salve Regina.
The Petrucci Ensemble was formed in 2003 in Cambridge, emerging from the rich choral tradition of Cambridge University and guided by two world-leading authorities on their chosen repertoire: Dr Christopher Page on polyphony and Dr Mary Berry on chant. The experienced singers that make up the ensemble have also sung with such other choirs as the Tallis Scholars, the Cambridge Taverner Choir, the Joyful Company of Singers, and the Corydon Singers.
A programme of English choral music from the 13th century to the present day including pieces specially written for the Choir. St Martin's has an acoustic that particularly suits unaccompanied voices.
The Kingfisher Chorale was formed in 1992 by a talented group of singers and has appeared on BBC2 and BBC radio. The Choir has undertaken a number of premieres and many of the choir, who join by invitation, are soloists in their own right.
The concert included the Requiem and additional organ and choral music by Mozart
The combined forces of Peterborough Youth and childrens' choirs in a vibrant concert of fresh young voices.
The first concert under the new directors, Areti Lymperopoulou (youth) and Peter Stobart (children) was a delight and very well received by the audience.
With Eleanor Turner Harp, Amy Turner Oboe Programme included:
Amy Turner gave a delightful and sensitive solo performance of a series of transformations on the oboe.
Eleanor Turner, HarpThese brilliant, award-winning young players gave a wonderfully engaging concert.
The eclectic programme ranged from Bach to Gershwin, included Ravi Shankar's Sonata No1 for Cello and Harp, and ranged from the sublime (Saint-Saens 'Swan') to the ridiculous (Hubert Leonard's 'Donkey and the Driver').
Thoroughly entertaining!
Director by Adrian JolliffeA programme of "rare and beautiful music", including High Tide on the Coast of Lincolnshire" by Eric Thiman. The varied programme held interest, and the quality of singing superb from this small choir of mixed voices.
A series of 50 minute concerts on successive Wednesdays
A recital of English organ music by Kenneth Court
String and piano music by members of the Stamford International Music Festival
Wednesday 9 August String and piano music by members of the Stamford International Music Festival
Organ recital by Christopher Gower with Sylvia Gower Soprano
With Christopher Brown Organ, Nicola Wiggin and Rory Fitzpatrick, flutes.A French theme, including works by de la Halle , Couperin, Delibes and Poulenc took us on an 800-year tour of French music.
The group of 16 talented female singers really use the acoustic at St Martin 's to wonderful effect. The Couperin Mass, with organ played by Fergus gave a wonderful sense of 17th Century French Church music, while the Poulenc brought us firmly into the 20th Century.
A very enjoyable event, greatly enhanced by the participation of organist David Lovell-Brown, as well as the four superb solosits.
Fiato wind quintet and Bridget Kerrison (soprano)
Students from Birmingham Conservatoire presented a lively and varied programme.
Eleanor Turner, Harp with St Martin's Singers, directed by Fergus Black.
One of England's best young harp players, 16 talented female singers, an experienced musical director and a programme of 20th century music - this was a heady mix for a Christmas concert.
Was it the tunefulness of the Rutter carol, the intensity of the Pro Nobis by Clucas, the virtuosity of Eleanor Turner playing the Damase or the sheer variety in the Britten that made it so special? It's hard to say, but the clarity of the singing and the combination with the harp were stunning.
Solo parts were taken by Anna Belson, Tina Morrell, Karen Philpott, Sarah Brown and Sophie Tate.
A member of the audience commented 'this is a new sound for Stamford'. How right. This concert was a gem.
John Pye 22 Dec 2005
Choral workshop and concert performanceRadio Three broadcaster and one of the country's leading choral conductors, Jeremy Summerly, directed a well-known and favourite Requiem. Soloists were Moira Johnston and Richard Collins, with Alec Hone playing the organ.
Singers gained a new insight into the Fauré requiem during the intensive workshop in the afternoon and Jeremy conjured a performance of remarkable quality and sensitivity. The choir, about 50 in number was ideally suited to the acoustic at St Martin's and was well balanced with the organ.
The programme commenced with Holst's setting of Psalm 86, which contrasted with the Fauré. It is scored for full choir (first split Alto and Tenor, or Soprano and Bass), with a Tenor Soloist and a Semichorus of higher voices.The tenor solo was sung by Adrian Wall.
A memorable concert, with technical brilliance and sensitive interpretation that held the total attention of a large and appreciative audience.
The Sacconi String Quartet was formed at London's Royal College of Music in 2001 and is now acknowledged as one of the finest young string quartets in the country.
Haydn op 20 no 6 in A major from the "Sun Quartets"
Haydn op 50 no 1 in B flat from the "Prussian Quartets"
Haydn op 76 no 5 in D major
The concert was jointly promoted as part of the Lincoln and Lincolnshire International Chamber Music Festival, and the South Kesteven series Music in Quiet Places.
This organ recital contained quite a few surprises. Given by Fergus Black, resident organist, and soprano Anna Belson, the programme, with the enigmatic title ‘Shattered Refraction and Ethereal Beauty’, featured works by many modern composers, including the dramatic Annum per Annum by Arvo Part, where the organ could be heard to be doing some unusual tricks, in this case, creating a diminuendo by being turned off!
Novelty aside, this concert entertained and informed, with a fresh sound, in which the organ seemed to acquire a different personality to its usual churchy self – perhaps most of all in the pieces for soprano and organ where the ‘voices’ combined in a very attractive way. A memorable concert with many highlights, moments of high drama, quiet reflection, and even, at times, ethereal beauty.
Joy Pye
11.08.05
Take a fine old church bathed in sunlight, an expectant audience, and six talented singers whose aim is to delight and entertain, and the stage is set for a memorable evening.
Such was the case at St Martin’s Church, Stamford, when The Sixtones, a group of six singers from Lincoln Cathedral presented a tightly focused programme concentrating on 16C Renaissance polyphony and 20C classical pops. Featuring the ‘greats’ of both periods – Palestrina, Byrd, and Tallis, Gershwin, Beatles, and Abba, amongst a whole host of others of equal charm, the musical offering throughout contained variety, spontaneity, and a controlled exuberance which was most engaging. My personal ‘take home’ was a setting of The Lamentations of Jeremiah by Osbert Parsley which, despite its title, was full of glistening harmonies above a firm and resonant bass – truly music for the soul.
Joy Pye 17 July 2005
The group consisted of Aric Prentice, John Gull, Keith Haliday, Will Burn, Graham Chapman and Will Harrison.
For more information about West Gallery Music, see the informative web site Gallery Music maintained by Sue Glover.
Another informative source is the official web site of the West Gallery Music Association
The William East Quire, in 18th Century costume and directed by Sue Glover gave a fascinating and entertaining insight into "West Gallery Music", the church-music tradition established in the 1700s.
The concert included audience participation and the second half was an abbreviated Evensong including music from the period.
Saturday 26 February 2005 - Handel's MessiahSt Martin ’s Church, Stamford, hosted an impressive musical event, when a large and enthusiastic group of singers came together under the firm guidance of conductor Paul White, to rehearse and deliver what turned out to be a very successful and robust performance of Handel’s Messiah.
The chorus was fortunate in having the support of organist David Lovell-Brown, as well as four superb solosits– Moira Johnston, Soprano, Aric Prentice, Alto, Keith Halliday, Tenor, and Richard Collins, Baritone, who each contributed enormously to the success and enjoyment of the evening. The highlight of the performance for the choir was undoubtedly the exciting Hallelujah Chorus, but the final ‘Amen’ also allowed the choir to achieve a very satisfying resonance which certainly had the rafters ringing!
Joy Pye 27.02.05
Inclement weather did not deter the appreciative audience who braved the cold to hear Ciaccona play music by J S Bach last Sunday evening at St Martin's Church, Stamford . The internationally acclaimed musicians - James Johnstone , Harpsichord, Katy Bircher, Flute, and Kati Debretzeni, Violin, presented a wonderfully entertaining and informative programme exploring the sonata form. Using period instruments, their particular sound - rounded but "clean" - drew every detail and nuance from Bach's expansive melodic lines, resulting in performances of quite stunning virtuosity and warmth. To be a member of the audience was, indeed, a rare privilege.
Joy Pye 22.11.04
Sat 2 October 2004 - Moira Johnston and Christine Stevenson St Martin’s Church, Stamford, once again provided the venue for four highly talented musicians playing and singing baroque music in which Henry Purcell, an English composer, took centre stage.
Accompanied by John Keys, harpsichord, two sopranos Christine Stevenson and Moira Johnston delighted and charmed their audience with the opening duet 'Two daughters of this Aged Stream' from the masque King Arthur, and continued to enthrall to the last item on the programme, 'Sound the Trumpet' from Come Ye Sons of Art. More familiar items from this hugely entertaining programme included Albinoni's Adagio played by oboist Peter Beaumont accompanied by John Keys, and the sublimely beautiful solo items from Handel's Messiah 'He shall feed his flock' and 'Come unto Him'.
The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly Purcell's little known gem 'Dive Custos', when the collective sigh from the audience as the last notes faded was proof, if any were needed, of the uplifting power of this music.
Sat 3 July 2004 - Madrigals, Motets and Cole Porter A small but discerning audience were treated to a presentation of some of the best known madrigals and motets ever written by English composers of the 16 century, the long lines of the music resonating to perfection in this magnificent space.
Led by Matthew O’Malley of Barnack, this youthful ensemble carried through a demanding programme devoted to deploying the expressive power of the human voice. Ending on a more modern note with songs by The Beatles and George Gershwin, the final item was the exquisite ‘Lay a Garland ’ an early Victorian masterpiece by Robert Pearsall.
This was a memorable 'come and sing' event conducted by Paul White, with David Lovell-Brown, Organ, Ian Stafford, Tenor and Marius Carney, Bass.
Music at St Martins is a series of musical events that utilise the wonderful acoustic of St Martin's Church, Stamford. All profits will be used towards the repair and maintenance of the building.
Accessible website design by John Pye. This website complies with internationally recognised guidelines laid down by the World Wide Web Consortium for accessibility and interoperability. © 2003 to 2006 John Pye
