5th March 2016, 7:30 p.m.
St. Michael's Parish Church
Julia Wade legacy Concert
Tickets: Full £14, Under 26 £5
MOZART: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
VIVALDI: Concerto for two violins in A minor RV 522
BRITTEN: Simple Symphony
ARVO PÄRT: Fratres
TCHAIKOVSKY: Serenade for Strings
Re-defining the string orchestra, Scottish Ensemble inspires audiences in the UK and beyond with vibrant performances which are powerful, challenging and rewarding experiences. Known both in the UK and internationally for its versatility and ambitious programming, Scottish Ensemble reaches out to create rich partnerships across boundaries of genre, geography and musical style.
Founded in 1969 and based in Glasgow, Scottish Ensemble is the UK’s only professional string orchestra, built around a core of 12 outstanding string players who perform together under Artistic Director Jonathan Morton. SE’s distinctive programming style habitually blends music from different ages, offering new perspectives and making unexpected connections. Performing standing up, the individual players bring an energetic and passionate dynamic to every performance, both in the concert hall and in SE’s comprehensive programme of education and outreach activities.
Julia Wade, a leading light in several local organisations, left a number of legacies when she died in 2012. One of these was for Linlithgow Arts Guild, of which she was founder and latterly Honorary Chairperson, to put on a special concert of Classical Music in the town.
It was during her time as a member of the Town Council in 1968 that Julia was tasked with organising a 2-week cultural event in the town with artist and promoter Richard Demarco. In the process of arranging this she had a conversation with the Director of the Edinburgh festival, Richard Ponsonby, who suggested forming an Arts Guild in the town, and bringing the Scottish National Orchestra to give the first concert. The event came to fruition in 1969 and Julia became the Secretary, then Chairperson and subsequently Honorary President of Linlithgow Arts Guild. Her philosophy of attracting excellent professional artists to perform in the town has resulted in the Arts Guild being one of the largest and most successful music clubs in Scotland, attracting audiences form a wide area for high class events.
Julia’s involvement with other organisations in the town was wide-ranging, from the Twinning Association to the Civic Trust, of which she was also a founder, and St. Michael’s Parish Church of which she was one of the first women elders and Chairperson of the “Society of Friends.
Appropriately, the concert will be held in St. Michael’s Parish Church on Saturday 5th March at 7.30pm. The Arts Guild has selected “Scottish Ensemble” to perform, and the programme of music that Julia would have liked will have a wide appeal even to people who may not often listen to Classical music.
Also founded in 1969, “Scottish Ensemble” is an outstanding Scottish group of 12 string instrumentalists. They play standing up, and are noted for the variety of their programming and excellence of their performances. They appeal to a wide range of audiences of all ages. A previous event by the Group several years ago attracted an audience of more than 400 people in St. Michael’s Church.
The programme of the concert includes popular classical items that form a good introduction to the string orchestra. The vital, call-to-attention opening bars of Mozart’s classic “Nachtmusik” is followed by Vivaldi’s technically impressive battling Baroque violins. Britten’s Simple Symphony is a welcome interlude of pastiche, with movements named after the character of the tradition it honours – from the Boisterous Bourée to the Sentimental Sarabande. Arvo Pärt’s Fratres then provides a moment of shimmering spirituality before sweeping onwards to the meaty, sonorous finale of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings.
Mozart – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Vivaldi: Concerto for two violins RV 522
Britten: Simple Symphony
Arvo Pärt: Fratres
Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings