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Holst The Planets [1986-02-01]

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Holst: Suite 'The Planets'
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Year:
1986
Date:
February 1st, 1986
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T

1985/86 SEASON

HUTSON POOLE AND CO
SOLICITORS
A FRIENDLY LOCAL FIRM PROVIDING A
COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE TO PRIVATE AND
CORPORATE CLIENTS
Company

Town Planning

Tax

Conveyancing

Commercial

Litigation and Family Matters

Office hours: 9 am — 5 pm Mon. - Fri. but
we can adapt to suit your needs

UTTON PLACE

Built between 1520 and 1530 by Sir Richard Weston, Sutton Place is one of the finest examples of
the English Renaissance Period. The Mansion now contains a magnificent collection of works of art
of all periods.

A series of Concerts are held throughout the year, offering guests an opportunity to hear both internationally acclaimed and younger talented artists, within the unique setting and atmosphere of
Sutton Place. All tickets prices include Dinner and Wine for evening events, or Tea for afternoon
events.

[ AUTUMN SERIES 1985|

Gala Evening with GEORGE MALCOLM, harpsichord. Saturday 16 November
Ticket price includes Champagne Reception, Dinner and Firework Display.
Sunday Afternoon Series
Concert Series
SERPENT TRIO,
LONDON
QUARTET
STRING
BRODSKY

Wednesday 2 October and 6 November
KENNETH VAN BARTHOLD
Wednesday 23 October, using a
Clementi forte piano
Wednesday 4 December, using an

Erard grand piano

6 October
13 October
3 November
24 November
1 December

BARRY DOUGLAS, piano,
KRZYSZTOF SMIETANA,
SCHUBERT ENSEMBLE,
PATRICIA ROZARIO
Christmas _ Concert

with

the

PHILIP

JONES BRASS ENSEMBLE, 17 & 18 December

Contact Sutton Place for details of Concerts in 1986.
For further information and reservations contact: The Bookings Manager
Tel. Guildford (0483) 504455, 10am-5pm, Weekdays.

The Sutton Place Heritage Trust, Sutton Place, Guildford, Surrey, GU4 7QV.

This concert is featured in Embassy Hotels Ltd
Leisure Learning Weekends.

Principal Conductor of the Goldsmiths Choral Union

in London.

GUILDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL

Brian Wright conducts most of the major British
including
the
Royal
Philharmonic
Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra and the

CONCERTS 1985/86

orchestras,

CIVIC HALL, GUILDFORD

London
Philharmonic
Orchestra.
He
toured
Switzerland and Belgium with the BBC Symphony
Orchestra and conducted the final Royal Festival Hall

SATURDAY 1 FEBRUARY 1986
at 7.45. p.m.

concert of their 50th Anniversary season. The Daily
Telegraph wrote: “Brian Wright’s conducting had such

Guildford
Philharmonic
Orchestra

authority and “elan” that one wondered as on other

occasions this season, why he could not be appointed
the BBC’s chief conductor”.

Associate LLeaders: HUGH BEAN

JOHN LUDLOW

BRIAN WRIGHT

Conductor
PAUL COKER

Pianoforte
LADIES OF THE PHILHARMONIC CHOIR

Conductor

Promenade Concert debut in 1978 with a performance

Christopher Mabley

of Liszt’s ‘Christus’ and won particular praise for

Vernon Handley, who was engaged to conduct this
evening’s concert, is indisposed. The Guildford
Philharmonic Orchestra and Guildford Borough
Council are very grateful to Brian Wright who has
undertaken this concert at short notice.

This concert is promoted by Guildford Borough Council with financial
support from the South East Arts Association.

Brian Wright

Brian

Wright

studied

Broadcasts for the BBC include performances with
the Bournemouth Symphony and Sinfonietta, Royal
Liverpool Philharmonic, Ulster, BBC Symphony,
BBC Welsh Symphony, BBC Concert Orchestras and
Musicians of London. He made his Henry Wood

conducting

in

London

and
Munich and with Jascha Horenstein. He also trained
as a tenor, before turning to full-time conducting, and

has gained a considerable reputation in Great Britain

both as symphonic and choral conductor.

After winning conducting prizes in Milan and London

in 1975, he spent a year as Assistant Conductor to

Andre Previn with the London Symphony Orchestra.

In 1976 he was appointed conductor of the BBC
Symphony Chorus, which led to extensive broadcasting with all the BBC orchestras. He is currently

Berlioz’s ‘Grande Messe des Morts’ in 1982. Last
season, in a series of ten concerts with the Royal

Liverpool

Philharmonic Orchestra,
Robert Simpson’s 7th Symphony.

he

premiered

Brian Wright is particularly noted for his interpretations and control of large musical structures and forces

and has received outstanding critical notices in
repertoire from Bach to Penderecki. The Times wrote:

“Brian Wright proved himself a fervant and scrupulous
Lisztian. I count this performance among the most
thrilling of my musical discoveries in the past two
decades”.

Brian Wright has worked with the Orchestra on several
occasions. Earlier this year he conducted the Orchestra

and Philharmonic Choir (in collaboration with the
Goldsmiths Choral Union) in a performance of Verdi’s

Requiem at the Royal Festival Hall. He also stepped
in for Vernon Handley at very short notice in May this
year to Conduct Walton’s Belshazzart’s Feast.

Paul Coker

Paul Coker was born in London in 1959. He began
playing the piano at the age of five and when he was

nine he won a place at the Yehudi Menuhin School

where he studied for eight years. His teachers were
Louis Kentner and Yu Chun Yee.

Overture ‘Don Giovanni’
Mozart 1736 — 1791

After the success of Figaro, Mozart was commissioned
in 1787 to write another opera to be produced in that
Autumn. He went to the librettist of Figaro, Da Ponte,
who immediately suggested the idea of Don Juan. It
was a strange suggestion because the writer himself
was a mixture of a priest and a Don Juan and it is
interesting to note that in the opera although Don
Juan pursues love, he has little success and, at times,
even seems ridiculous. It is just possible that no less
a person than Casanova had a hand in the libretto for
he was writing his memoirs at the time and some
sketches in his handwriting have come to light. Mozart,
in fulfilling his commission, would have been surprised
had anybody told him that the opera would be
considered by succeeding generations of public and
critics alike as one of the greatest ever written.
Piano Concerto No.3 in C Minor, op.37
Beethoven 1770-1827
Allegro con brio
Largo

Rondo

He has played throughout the United Kingdom and
at most of the leading festivals. His concerts have
included several London recitals. Abroad, he has
performed in France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium
and Holland, the USA and Canada and also in India.
In 1980 he won a scholarship from the English
Speaking Union in London to study at Tanglewood,
near Boston, where he won the Jackson Master Award
for his playing.

Paul Coker has played with the English Chamber
Orchestra, the Philharmonia, and the Halle Orchestra,
and in 1983 he made his London debut at the Barbican
with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He has played
a concerto on Dutch Television and recently played
the Grieg concerto at twenty four hours notice with
the Belgian National Symphony Orchestra. In
December 1983 he was invited to appear as soloist in
two concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
in Berlin.

Since 1980 Paul Coker has been playing regularly with
Yehudi Menuhin and they have given over one
hundred recitals together in many cities touring
Europe, the United States and Canada, and the Far
East.

Plans for the coming year include concerts in Belgium,
Switzerland, France and Poland, and performances in
the USA of the Liszt E-flat major concerto with the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

We are grateful to Paul Coker for taking over this
concert at short notice, owing to the indisposition of
Karen Briscoe.

The Third Piano Concerto was written when
Beethoven was thirty years old and is considered the
first of the masterpieces of his prolific second period’.
Although it was mainly composed in 1800, it was not
performed until 1803. Beethoven wrote to the
publishers: ‘Musical policy necessitates keeping the
best concertos to one’s self for a while’. At the first
performance, the piano part (for it was the custom for
a soloist to play from an open score) was not written
down in full and an Austrian nobleman, who was to
turn the pages for Beethoven, wrote that he saw
‘almost nothing but empty leaves with here and there
a few hieroglyphics for clues’. Whenever he reached
the end of an ‘invisible’ passage, Beethoven gave his
friend a nod so that he could turn a page. The first
movement opens with an orchestral tutti. Beethoven
extends this tutti so as to introduce a second main
theme (clarinet and violins) but when the soloist enters
he establishes that it is the first theme that is to be
taken up and used. Though the movement starts like
that of a symphony, after the appearance of the soloist
the piano dominates it. The quiet opening of the
second movement in E major is such a daring contrast
to the vigorous C minor of the Allegro that one is
tempted to think of Haydn, whose extraordinary key
relationships like this must have inspired Beethoven
more than once. It is a beautifully poised and personal
Largo, and the introduction of seemingly simple scales

towards the end of the movement creates a very

definite contrast to the straightforward unfolding of
the tune at the beginning.

The Rondo is scintillating, and Beethoven emphasises
its onward rush by occasionally stopping the orchestra
altogether and allowing the soloist to pause in
capricious scales, as if to catch breath before starting
the glorious chase all over again. There are two main
ideas in the movement: an accented one in the minor

which, according to how it is played, can sound very

JUPITER

gay and light or rather petulant and bitter, and an

Broad tunes and spacious harmony bring a sense of

undoubtedly light-hearted descent in E flat major. A

worldly fulfilment.

presto in C major brings one of Beethoven’s most
popular works to an exhilarating end.

SATURN
Shifting harmony and relentless plodding shatter the
sense of well-being and yet give at the end Holst’s
“vision of fulfilment”.

INTERVAL

Ticketes for the concert on 16th February are on sale

in the foyer during the Interval — also Guildford
Philharmonic Orchestra key rings and Herb bags.

URANUS
The second scherzo and lightest hearted of the Planets
— a relief movement, hinting brilliantly at mystery in
the final bars.
NEPTUNE
5 beats in a bar again but now with semitonal harmony
and the added mystery of the hidden wordless choir.

Suite ‘The Planets’
Holst 1874 — 1934

The music does not stop, it simply goes out of our
hearing.

Mars, the Bringer of War

Venus, the Bringer of Peace
Mercury, the Winged Messenger

Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity
Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age

Sunday 9 February 1986 at 3.p.m.
Leas CIiff Hall, Folkstone.

Uranus, the Magician

Overture ‘The Marriage of Figaro’

Mozart

Neptune, the Mystic

Piano Concerto No 3 in C minor

Beethoven

The Planets Suite

Holst

It was Holst’s interest in astrology that inspired him
to write “The Planets”. Mars was sketched before the

Brian Wright

Conductor

first World War, which makes it stunningly prophetic

Paul Coker

Pianoforte

rather than descriptive, but most of the work was
composed during that war at his home in Thaxted and
at St.

Tickets 0303 57388

Paul’s School, London. Although a private

performance was held in 1918, it was two years after
the armistice that the work was given in its entirety

Sunday 16 February 1986 at 3.p.m.

for the first time in London. It has become Holst’s

Civic Hall, Guildford.

most popular work and brought him a success which

Symphony No 82 in C (The Bear)

Haydn

Trumpet Concerto in E flat

Haydn

Symphony No 7 in A

Beethoven

due to his fierce integrity, he deliberately declined to
repeat.

One of the most exportable works ever written by an
Englishman, its sheer brilliance masks Holst’s higher
purpose, for it is not just a set of orchestral essays.

Holst himself wrote, “These pieces were suggested by
the astrological significance of the planets; there is no
programme music in them, neither have they any

connection with the deities of classical mythology
bearing the same name. If any guide to the music is

Volker Wangenheim

Conductor

Michael Laird

Trumpet

Tickets: £5.50., £4.50., £3.70., £3.10., £2.50.
non choral concerts only.

Available from Civic Hall Box Office Tel: 67314

and A & N Travel Tel: 68171

required, the sub-title to each piece will be found
sufficient, especially if it be used in the broad sense.
For instance, Jupiter brings jollity in the ordinary
sense, and also the more ceremonial type of rejoicing
associated with religious or national festivities. Saturn
brings not only physical decay, but also a vision of

Friday 21 February 1986 at 8.p.m.

United Reformed Church, Portsmouth Road,
Guildford.

CHRISTOPHER MABLEY

fulfilment. Mercury is a symbol of the mind.”

ORGAN RECITAL

MARS

Presented by the Guildford Philharmonic Society

Insistent 5 beats in a bar with ghastly surging triads:
simple devices used with terrifying effect.

£1.75 non members (includes refreshments)

VENUS
4 in a bar and 3 in a bar economically soothe the
listener after the terror of the first movement.
MERCURY

3 beats against 2 beats and occasional one key against
another to unsettle the listener again.

Admission by programme £1.25 members

From Mr. John Cheeseman, 24 The Lindens,

Great Austins, Farnham, GU9 8LA or from
the Society’s stand this evening.

%7

GUILDFORD

232

CHAMBER CHOIR

Flutes:

Bass Trombone:

Henry Messent

Martin Nicholls

Deborah Davies
Tuba:

Piccolo:

Guest Conductor: David Hill

Simon Hunt

with

Alto Flute:

The Emmanuel Quartet
and Jeremy Unwin, Treble
Saturday 1st March
at 8.00pm
Programme includes

Mendelssohn

Hear my prayer

Beethoven

String quartet Op.No.4

Philip Moore

Three prayers of
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Tenor Tuba:

Ann Greene
Paul Opie

Percussion:
John Cave
Nigel Charmon
Steven Lees
George Lawn

Cor Anglais:

Harps:

Deirdre Dods

Rachel Masters

Oboes:

James Brown

Ruth Faber
Bass Oboe:

Janice Knight
Clarinets:
Hale Hambleton

Howells

Take him, earth

Victor Slaymark
Wilfred Goddard

Nicholas Hunka

GUILDFORD PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Anna Meadows

Artistic Adviser — Vernon Handley

Debra Flaxman

First Violins:
Associate Leaders:

Contra Bassoon:

John Ludlow

Sheila Beckensall
Peter Dale
Judith Edwards
Peter Jenkins
Linda McLaren
Barbara Moore

John Meek
John Graham
Frederick Campbell
Julius Bannister
Justin Ward
Robert Winquist
Paul Morris
Leonard Lock

Andrew Thurgood
Second Violins:
Arthur Price
Rosemary Roberts

David Clack

Duncan Hollowood
Ronald Harris
Philip Thorne

Cellos:

Geoffrey Thomas
John Stilwell
Christina Macrae
John Hursey
John Franca
Mark Sheridan

Trumpets:

Michael Hinton
Cliff Haines

Pat Reid
Matthew Hart-Dyke

Basses:

Christopher Guy

Stephen Dinwoodie

Michael Lea

Marilyn Downs

Colin Paris
Jeremy Gordon
Martin Myers
Duncan Allen
Michael Rae

Jane Platt
Adrienne Sturdy
Howard Walsh

Paul Hilliam

Peter Clack
George Woodceck

Trombones:

Ruth Knell

Concerts Assistant:

Horns:

John Kirby

Martin Frewer

Kathleen Atkins

David Chatterton

Andrew Bentley
Ruth Dawson

Peter Fields

Administrator:

Lyn Evans

Peter Newman

Alex Suttie
Matthew Taylor
Susan Thomas

Roger Blair

Colin Courtney
Bassoons:

Violas:

Timpani:

Bass Clarinet:

£3.00 (senior citizens and students £1.50)

Hugh Bean

Celesta:

John Forster

Messe solennelle

Holy Trinity Church Guildford

David Stewart

Katharine Hill

Langlais

Admission by programme, available at the door

Kevin Morgan

Ian White

The audience may be interested to know that the violin
sections are listed in alphabetical order after the first
desk because a system of rotation of desksis adopted in
this orchestra so that all players have the opportunity
of playing in all positions in the section.

Guildford Philharmonic Society
(Charity Registration 288295)

Wilks Head & Eve

The Guildiford Philharmonic Society is the ‘Supporters Club of the
Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra and was originally founded
with the prime object of encouraging not only its members but
also the general public in the awareness of and to attend the
season of concerts in the Civic Hall by the Guildford Philharmonic
Orchestra. It still has this main object but also the Society assists
with the provision of the fiances for considerable extra publicity
for the concert season. The Society is a registered charity and
welcomes the payment of subscriptions by a Deed of Covenant, as
the Society can claim from the Inland Revenue tax at the basic rate
for the time being in force. Payment by this method also ensures
that the subscription is not raised for four years but members also
receive certain benefits in return for a very modest minimum
annual subscription and these facilities include:

INCORPORATING

William Eve & Sons
of Guildford
e

® Priority booking at the beginning of each concert season
® An Additional discount on Subscription Series Tickets
® The Society’s newsletter
® Special Events such as visits to other concert venues, musical
evenings in members’ homes and certain social gatherings
during the season
® The opportunity to attend rehearsals of the Orchestra by
applying to the Orchestra's Office
® New Members to the Society are always welcome and by being
amember you are also helping to ensure the continued success
of the Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra.

Rating & Valuation Consultants
to Local Authorities

The membership rates are as follows:
Annual Subscription (minimum)
Husband and Wife—Joint Subscription (minimum)
Persons under the age of 18 (minimum)
Retirement Pensioner (minimum)

9 Harley Street
London W1N 2AL

£5.00
£8.50
£3.50
£3.50

Ifyou would like to join the Society, Covenant forms are obtainable
from the General Administrator below or you may send a cheque
for your subscription together with your name and address to:

Telephone 01-637-8471

Mr R A Forrow
Flat No 3, 6 Mareschal Road
Guildford Surrey GU2 5JF Tel: Guildford 575274

TELEX 27157 WIHEVE G

SUPPORT YOUR

ORCHESTRA!

IT

NEEDS YOU!!

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artwork, photography, platemaking,
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TELEPHONE GODALMING 6552

Guildford Philharmonic Choir
CHORUS MASTER - SIMON HALSEY

The Choir performs regularly with the fully professional Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra in its annual series
of concerts.

12 October 1985

PROGRAMME FOR 1985/86 SEASON:
Schubert Songs
Guildford Civic Hall

24 November 1985

Handel Dixit Dominus

Guildford Civic Hall

15 December 1985

Carol Concert

Guildford Civic Hall

1 February 1986

Holst’s The Planets Suite

Guildford Civic Hall

Holst’s The Planets Suite
(Ladies Chorus)

Leas Cliff Hall
Folkestone

Britten War Requiem

Warwick

Britten War Requiem

Guildford Cathedral

TippettA Child of Our Time

Guildford Cathedral

Conductor: Simon Halsey

Bach Magnificat
Conductor: Sir David Willcocks
Conductor: Simon Halsey

(Ladies Chorus)
Conductor: Vernon Handley

9 February 1986

Conductor: Vernon Handley

7 March 1986

Conductor: Simon Halsey

8 March 1986

Conductor: Simon Halsey

3 May 1986

Conductor: Sir Charles Groves

The Philharmonic Choir meets on Monday evenings from 7.15
young singers (all voice parts) with good

p.m. The Choir welcomes applications from

sight reading ability.

Enquiries: Administrator, Guildford Philharmonic Choir Office,

The Lodge, Allen House Grounds, Chertsey Street, Guildford, GU1 4HL. Tel: Guildford 573800.
4I

UNIVERSITY
OF SURREY

DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC

Aren’t

This Department has gained for itself an

you llley

enviable reputation for its high quality of
performance. Members of the public are
most welcome at all our concerts —these
take place during term-time every

Wednesday at 1.15 pm and on selected
Sunday evenings.
Further information is obtainable from:The Secretary
Department of Music

University of Surrey
Guildford, Surrey
(Te!l: Guildford 571281)

-J

~

Robert Shaw & Partners
i il

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Andrew D. Macvean, B.Sc. (st.maN) F.R.I.C.S. DIP.CON.
Consultant: Robert O. Shaw, F.R.I.C.S.

3TUNSGATE

COMMERCIAL HOUSE

GUILDFORD. GU13RF

CHAPEL STREET, WOKING. GU21 1BY

(0483) 572915

(04862) 61026

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We wish Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra, Choir,

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Society and audiences an inspiring and enjoyable season

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If you think that this system could be of assistance to you or your family then call
David Thew on

GUILDFORD 505050
who will be happy to talk to you about HELP ON HAND

Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford GU2 5BB

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Sports
Centre

For sauna, solarium,

squash, swimming, keep
fit and much more! Tel:

G. 571651/3 or 505027
after 5 pm and
weekends.

Bedford Road

free. Tel: G. 505050 or

503406 after 5pm and

entertainment — plus
facilities to hire for your

mll
London Road
:

.

Philharmonic

Orchestra

503497.

the present day. Open

Mon-Sat 11am - 5pm.

Parks, gardens and open

spaces throughout the
borough for all tastes
and interests. Tel: G.
505050 ext. 3501 for full
details and to book

outdoor sports facilities.

Open air heated

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The top professional

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Tel: G. 573800.

Sports Hall

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throughout the year.

155 High Street

dating from prehistory to

Parks &
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Varied art exhibitions

Guildford
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May to September 11am
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For full details of these and other places and events, contact:

Tourist Information Centre, Civic Hall, Guildford. Tel: G. 67314.
(Open 9.30am - 5pm Mon - Fri; 9.30 - 4.30pm Sat. Closed 12.30 -

1.30pm Mon - Sat.)

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