www.ncem.co.uk

GAMES IN THE PARK

To celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the annual Beverley & East Riding Early Music Festivalin 2012, there was a free day of songs and musical games for all the family at Toll GavelUnited Church in Beverley on Saturday 26 May. The sun shone as local people enjoyedtaking part and watching the array of different activities.Starting on the streets, flash mob dancers fromHull City Council’s Youth Centres joinedcommunity musician Donna Smith for a high-energy body percussion piece, which led thecrowds into the Church.

Young children gathered to sing songs and playclapping and skipping games with musicians SamDunkley and Donna Smith. Onlookers werejoined by Vivien Ellis and violinist Giles Lewin ofthe early music group Alva, who taught theyoungsters ‘An Acre of Land’, an old traditionalsong from Beverley collected by the YorkshireGarland Group which gathers local songs fromaround Yorkshire.

Back in the streets the participants of therecorder workshop, which took place at theGuildhall with Piers Adams, followed their leaderin a ‘Pied Piper style’ procession through thestreets of Beverley to entice shoppers to theirmini-concert. Even the Cuban street bandbuskers stopped playing for the recorder playersand clapped enthusiastically! The musicians gave ahighly polished performance of dance andcontemporary music. The group included a five-year old boy and his grandmother who arelearning to play the recorder together and astudent who travelled from Dundee especially forthis event!

Next to perform was Castaway Goole AccessibleMusic Theatre’s Dance Group. This organisationprovides performing, leisure and trainingopportunities for adults and young people withlearning and physical disabilities. Under thedirection of Anna Webb, they performed theirown piece called ‘Meeting Place’ inspired by thechoreographer Pina Bausch.

The final performance of the day was by the EastRiding Youth Dance County Company, featuringsix of the region's most talented young dancers,working in a range of contemporary and streetdance styles.

Director, Delma Tomlin, said it had been afantastic event and a wonderful way to celebratesuch an important cultural Festival. She added: “Itwas great to see so many people turn up, frombabies to grandparents, enjoying their music-makingtogether.

“This event not only celebrated the Festival’s Jubileebut also the forthcoming excitement of the CulturalOlympics. The Games we have all played and lovedshare remarkable connections with cultures aroundthe world and, like music, have a unifying effect onus all.”

This event was part of Games in the Park, a NewWorld event and part of imove, a CulturalOlympiad Programme in Yorkshire. New Worlds is a partnership between the NCEM; Alchemy;

Bradford’s Department of Culture, Tourism andSport; Harewood House; National MediaMuseum, Bradford and the Northern School ofContemporary Dance. It was also supported byMusic4U – the Humber Region Youth MusicAction Zone.

intunea chance for you to get involved!

ISSUE 10

s um

mer

201

2

Join us as we bring the excitement of theBrazilian Carnival to York on Sunday 17 Junefrom 10.30am to 3.30pm at the NCEM.

Heralding the South American theme of the2012 York Early Music Festival and celebratingwith the University of York's Festival of Ideas,we will be joined by the fantastic percussionistClaudio Kron from Brazil who will transportus to Latin America through a series ofworkshops exploring Brazilian arts and culture.There will be percussion music, samba danceand capoeira with live performances fromClaudio and his band and the University ofYork St John Samba Band. This workshop costs£10 and is suitable for 9 – 14 year olds andbooking forms can be downloaded fromwww.ncem.co.uk/carnival2012

BRAZILIANCARNIVAL DAY!

Phot

o: E

ddie

Rol

man

is

The NCEM Composers Award 2012, presented in partnership withBBC Radio 3 and The Tallis Scholars, has been won by Alex Woolf (16)in the under 18 years category and by Benjamin Rowarth (20) in the19 to 25 years category.

NCEM COMPOSERSAWARD 2012 WINNERS

Lux Aeterna by Alex Woolf and Where Is ThyGod? by Benjamin Rowarth was premièred byThe Tallis Scholars in Durham Cathedral as partof its Diamond Jubilee Celebrations on Saturday2 June 2012. This concert will be broadcast onBBC Radio 3’s Early Music Show on Sunday1 July 2012.

Young composers, resident in the UK, wereinvited to write a new piece of between threeto four minutes' duration specifically with TheTallis Scholars in mind, taking as their startingpoint the In Nomine theme from John Taverner'sMissa Gloria Tibi Trinitas. Seven finalists wereselected and their pieces were then performedas part of a public concert by The Ebor Singers,directed by Paul Gameson, which took place atthe NCEM in May. The concert was given infront of a panel of judges comprising ChrisWines, Senior Music Producer, BBC Radio 3;Peter Phillips, Director of The Tallis Scholars andDelma Tomlin, Director of the National Centrefor Early Music.

Delma Tomlin said: "We have been thrilled withnot only the standard of entries, but the range anddiversity of ideas around the given theme. It hasbeen inspiring to see our youngest entrantso far, 12 year old Aidan Tulloch,compete on the same platform ascomposers twice his age and towitness the obvious enthusiasmamongst all finalists to worktogether."

Peter Phillips, Director of The Tallis Scholars,added: "With The Tallis Scholars I have created aninstrument which has a very distinctive sound. Ican't think of anything more useful than to put thishighly trained instrument at the disposal of theseinspiring young composers and am hugelyappreciative that they have written so well for us. Ifind it thrilling to perform works by a 16 year oldand a 20 year old and really hope this Award willencourage them to develop their styles and writefor many different kinds of ensembles."

All the finalists’ compositions were recorded by music technology students fromthe Department of Electronics at the Universityof York and can be heard atwww.ncem.co.uk/composersaward2012

L to R: Benjamin Rowarth, Peter Phillips, Director of The Tallis Scholars and Alex Woolf

“I am fantasticallygrateful to the NCEM forproviding this opportunityand to Christopher Foxand The Ebor Singers who were incredibly helpful – I wouldn’t havewon without them!”Benjamin Rowarth

Phot

o: E

ddie

Rol

man

is

“I feel really privileged tobe part of such anesteemed Award”Alex Woolf

ANTHEM FOR A CHILD

Musicians from the Indonesian SambaSundaQuintet extended their stay in York to work with a group of BA Hon first year music students fromYork St John University in February. The group,who are part of the Making Tracks series whoperformed at the NCEM, ran a practical workshopto give the students a greater understanding of adifferent musical style.

SambaSunda brings together a dazzling array ofinstruments including kacapi (a boat-shaped zither),violin, suling (a bamboo flute) and kendang drums,to create a new kind of Gamelan orchestra. Theyare known for fusing urban rhythms with theancient instruments and tones of the Indonesianmusic. Chris Bartram, Senior Lecturer in Music,York St John University, said that the students hada wonderful time.

Chris added ”As well as being given an explanationof the essentials of the music and instruments, theywere able to try out the instruments and music forthemselves, and also to have a go at theSundanese dancing. As a practical, experientialworkshop, this was simply invaluable as part of mystudents’ development and education.”

This workshop was aimed at first year studentsstudying music and taking part in a module entitled‘drumming’. The module is an exploration ofrhythm and percussion, from its roots at thebeginning of human consciousness, via the music ofvarious world musical traditions, through to thedevelopment of percussion music in Westernclassical, contemporary and popular musictraditions.

SAMBASUNDA WORKSHOP WITHYORK ST JOHN STUDENTS

Anthem for a Child is the OAE's new flagshipeducation project. Working across the countryin nine locations from Devon to York, the OAEworked with over 5000 primary pupils, 300secondary students and 200 universitystudents. The project engaged young people inmusical activity and also left a lasting legacy ofenthusiasm and excitement for music andmusic-making, 'passing on the baton' in sound.

As part of this national programme of events,three different age groups in York had theunique opportunity to work with – and beinspired by – the OAE in a series ofworkshops, coaching days and concertstailored just for them. Events began in theautumn with a training session by CherryForbes, Education Director of the OAE, forteachers from Bootham Junior, Dringhouses,Dunnington and Heworth primary schools.

They were joined by students from the MusicEducation Group at the University of York,who supported the OAE team with theirteaching work in schools. Teachers werepresented with an extensive Teacher Pack, fullof information about the orchestra and itsinstruments, resources for teaching the‘Anthem’ music, and ideas and suggestions foradditional projects and activities.

The OAE also led lively workshops with theschool children and on Tuesday 27 March, theirwork culminated in an afternoon concert forthe participating schools in the Sir Jack LyonsConcert Hall at the University of York. It was afantastic event with 250 school children singingtogether, led by composer James Redwoodwho performed with the children his twonewly-commissioned pieces - a fanfare‘Twangling Instruments’ and ‘My Cry’, a song

which celebrates the power of each individualsinger and their combined power as a choir.The children also found out more about theOAE and the types of instruments they playedand witnessed some musical challenges andbattles!

Celebrations continued throughout the day asthe OAE joined forces with the University ofYork Baroque Ensemble and Chamber Choirfor a concert at the NCEM to mark the end ofthis project. It was particularly significant toend in York, as four of the OAE’s membershad studied music at the University of York,under the renowned musicologist, JohnPaynter.

The NCEM and the University of York haveworked in partnership with the Orchestra ofthe Age of Enlightenment (OAE) to bring anexciting project to young people in York.

Photo: Andy Devine

Phot

os: M

artin

Sch

eure

gger

latest news

For further information about any of the activities, events or resources mentioned in this Newsletter please contact the NCEM on 01904 632220 or email education@ncem.co.ukTo book tickets for events, please contact the Box Office on 01904 658338 or visit www.ncem.co.ukNational Centre for Early Music, St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York YO1 9TL

All details are correct at the time of going to press. Promoted by York Early Music Foundation Registered Charity No. 1068331D

esig

n w

ww

.Red

Bons

ai.c

o.uk

017

5931

9471

The NCEM, which has co-ordinated Music4U –the Humber Region Action Zone – since 2001,has been successful in its recent bid to YouthMusic to become one of 23 Music InclusionModules across the country, offering music-making opportunities for young people inchallenging circumstances.

The project runs from September 2012 for 18months and the NCEM is one of six partnersworking alongside Councils in the East Riding ofYorkshire, North Lincolnshire, North EastLincolnshire, Hull and York. This initiative is alsosupported by the Leeds College of Music, theUniversity of York’s Music Education Group andthe Community Music MA Course.

Over the next few years there will be a widerange of innovative and creative music projectsoffered across these five authority regions.More details will be available soon atwww.ncem.co.uk/music4u

SUCCESSFUL YOUTH MUSIC BID

In June they travel to London to take part in amassed concert alongside the Orchestra of the Ageof Enlightenment, the culmination of the nationalproject, Anthem for a Child. As part of theprogramme, the Minster Minstrels will beperforming an arrangement of Arcangelo Corelli’svariations on La Follia, Opus 5. Every sectionhighlights the sound of a different instrument, givingplayers the challenge of a solo ‘spot’ within theensemble. Last month the Minster Minstrels had theprivilege of working with members of the OAE atthe NCEM and benefited greatly from theirexpertise and experience.

Back in York there are two concerts this summer –the first at the York Youth Music Festival (Fri 30 June,7.30pm) at the York Barbican followed by a concertin the York Early Music Festival (Sat 7 July, 3pm) atthe NCEM with a programme entitled ‘A Teaming of

Timbres’. Musical Director of the Minster Minstrels,Heather Moger added: “In our study of early musicthis term we have been exploring timbre and itsinfluence on composition across the centuries, andrecently welcomed lutenist Elena Cicinskaite fromthe University of York to one of our rehearsals.Elena talked to us about the characteristics of herinstrument and gave us a short recitaldemonstrating the use of divisions in Renaissancemusic.”

If you are interested in joining the Minster Minstrelsand would like to find out more, please either ring01904 632220 or email education@ncem.co.uk

The Minster Minstrels is run as a partnershipbetween the National Centre for Early Music andthe City of York Council’s York Arts Academy withsupport from the Mayfield Valley Arts Trust.

MINSTER MINSTRELSOUT & ABOUT

The Minster Minstrels have been busy preparing music forconcert engagements this summer both at home and away.

AN AIR OFMYSTERY:MUSICAL PLAYIN A WEEK

If you enjoy acting, making music and listening tothrilling stories from the past, join us for a weekof fun and creativity from Monday 13 – Friday 17August 2012.

This year’s play is set in the Tudor period. 1570: Young musicians arrive at Elizabeth’s court,eager to perform for the queen. They are met byFrancis Walsingham, who promises the youngpeople an audience with Queen Elizabeth if theyfirst work for him. Before long, the young peoplefind themselves embroiled in a world of secretsand espionage, where their very lives are indanger. 2012: During the wettest half term ever,the children of the Baxter family are shipped offto spend the week in their eccentric great aunt’santique shop. There they discover a piece ofmusic that has lain hidden for centuries, fromwhich unfolds a perilous mystery.

The Musical Play in a Week is suitable for 9 – 14year olds. No previous experience is required.The sessions take place at the NCEM from 10am – 4pm daily culminating in a performancefor friends and family on Friday 17 August at7pm. The fee is £100 per child. Downloadapplication forms at www.ncem.co.uk/mp2012

Phot

o: K

ippa

Mat

thew

s

Phot

o: Jo

Hug

hes