2025 Season
Tuesday 3rd June 19:00
Shaw House, Church Rd, Shaw, Newbury RG14 2DR
Recital by 2025 Visiting Artist, Classic FM Rising Star, Aaron Akugbo and Ryan Corbett
Honegger Intrada
Händel Messiah: But who may abide
Purcell Dido’s Lament
Sibelius Valse Triste
Ropartz Andante et Allegro
Hovhannes Sonata for Trumpet and Organ
Price Sympathy
Price Sunset
Piazzolla Café 1930
Bach/Vivaldi D major Concerto
Wednesday 4th June 19:30
St. James' the Less Church, Pangbourne RG8 7AX
Beethoven String Quartet in C Minor op.18 no.4
Composed between 1798 and 1800, this quartet is one of the most dramatic and emotionally charged of Beethoven’s early works. The key of C minor—associated with intensity and struggle in Beethoven’s music—imbues the piece with a fiery, stormy character. The opening Allegro ma non tanto sets the tone with urgent rhythmic drive and dynamic contrasts. A more lyrical Andante scherzoso quasi allegretto provides contrast, with playful elegance and subtle wit. The Menuetto is unusually dark and forceful for a dance movement, while the final Allegro bursts with energy, ending the quartet on a spirited and slightly mischievous note. Though still influenced by Haydn and Mozart, Beethoven’s bold voice is clearly emerging—marked by emotional depth, structural innovation, and a sense of dramatic narrative.
Onyeso rituals on canvas
Rituals on Canvas is based on Warrington Colescott’s 1954 screenprint ‘Hecatomb for Hector’. The work depicts
a frenetc ritual practiced by the ancient Greek in the service of their deities. "Hecatomb" refers to the sacrifice
of one-hundred cattle to the gods, in the case of this artwork, Hector, the great Trojan prince/warrior and founder of Troy. The music intends to reflect both the religious and social elements of such an event, as well as referencing various other rituals that have been depicted via music. Much like Colescott’s image, the music takes a ‘rough around the edges’ approach in a bid to showcase not only the gory nature of the event, but also the celebrations that surrounded the event. The soloist adopts many roles throughout the concerto, from reveler to priest and the ensemble serves a similar role, with various solos and interruptions that disrupt and change the direction of the music.
Mozart Clarinet Quintet in A Major K.581
Composed in 1789 for the virtuoso clarinettist Anton Stadler, Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet is one of the first and greatest masterpieces for clarinet and string quartet. Often called the “Stadler Quintet,” it showcases the warmth, lyricism, and expressive range of the clarinet, a relatively new instrument at the time.
The opening Allegro is graceful and lyrical, followed by a serene Larghetto, with the clarinet singing over muted strings. The Menuetto includes two contrasting trios—one rustic, the other more refined. The finale is a playful theme and variations, highlighting Mozart’s wit and the clarinet’s versatility.
This work exemplifies Mozart's genius for chamber music: elegant, expressive, and perfectly balanced.
Friday 6th June 19:00
St. James' the Less Church, Pangbourne RG8 7AX
Champagne and Candlelight
Ravel Introduction and Allegro
Maurice Ravel composed Introduction and Allegro in 1905, during a period of rivalry between harp manufacturers Érard and Pleyel. Érard commissioned the work to demonstrate the capabilities of their new double-action pedal harp, shortly after Pleyel had commissioned Debussy’s Danse sacrée et danse profane. Ravel wrote the piece quickly—reportedly in just over a week—for harp, flute, clarinet, and string quartet. Despite its short gestation, the work is carefully constructed, blending elements of chamber and orchestral writing. It highlights the harp’s expressive and technical range while maintaining balance among the ensemble, and it remains a central work in the harp chamber repertoire.
Onyeso Galivant Canticles
‘Galavant Canticles’ reflects the energetic and joyful spirit of a wandering traveler. Originally intended to pay homage
to Maurice Ravel’s Introduction & Allegro of the same instrumentation, the piece ended up taking an entirely different
direction. The work is based entirely on one motif that is introduced in the opening two bars; a motif that goes on to
be used to reflect various scenes as the traveler wanders through a range of landscapes and locations, from idyllic sunlit countryside to unsettling alleys and taverns. The work was commissioned and written for the Berkshire Chamber Music Festival 2025.
Do Fluttering
I saw two small red butterflies in our concrete garden in Manchester.
Debussy Danses Sacrée et Profane
Claude Debussy composed Danse sacrée et danse profane in 1904, commissioned by the Pleyel company to promote their newly developed chromatic harp. At the time, harp makers were in close competition, with Pleyel’s chromatic model vying for attention against Érard’s pedal harp. Debussy’s work, written for harp and string orchestra, reflects this context by exploring the instrument’s tonal possibilities in a restrained and elegant style. The two movements contrast in character: the Danse sacrée evokes a calm, modal antiquity, while the Danse profane introduces a more flowing, lyrical quality. Together, they remain central to the harp repertoire and its modern development.
Rimsky-Korsakov Sheherazade
Composed in 1888, Scheherazade is a dazzling orchestral suite inspired by One Thousand and One Nights, the collection of Middle Eastern folk tales. Rimsky-Korsakov’s vivid storytelling and masterful orchestration bring to life the legendary Scheherazade, who tells captivating stories each night to delay her execution by a vengeful Sultan. The music unfolds in four movements, each evoking exotic scenes of adventure, romance, and peril on the high seas. The sinuous solo violin represents Scheherazade herself, weaving her tales with elegance and suspense. Rich in color, rhythm, and melody, this work remains a brilliant showcase of the Romantic imagination.
This arrangement of Sheherazade is written as a companion to Ravel's Introduction and Allegro.
Sunday 8th June 15:00
St Mary's Church, Winkfield, Windsor SL4 4SF
Beethoven String Quartet in C Minor op.18 no.4
Composed between 1798 and 1800, this quartet is one of the most dramatic and emotionally charged of Beethoven’s early works. The key of C minor—associated with intensity and struggle in Beethoven’s music—imbues the piece with a fiery, stormy character. The opening Allegro ma non tanto sets the tone with urgent rhythmic drive and dynamic contrasts. A more lyrical Andante scherzoso quasi allegretto provides contrast, with playful elegance and subtle wit. The Menuetto is unusually dark and forceful for a dance movement, while the final Allegro bursts with energy, ending the quartet on a spirited and slightly mischievous note. Though still influenced by Haydn and Mozart, Beethoven’s bold voice is clearly emerging—marked by emotional depth, structural innovation, and a sense of dramatic narrative.
Onyeso rituals on canvas
Rituals on Canvas is based on Warrington Colescott’s 1954 screenprint ‘Hecatomb for Hector’. The work depicts
a frenetc ritual practiced by the ancient Greek in the service of their deities. "Hecatomb" refers to the sacrifice
of one-hundred cattle to the gods, in the case of this artwork, Hector, the great Trojan prince/warrior and founder of Troy. The music intends to reflect both the religious and social elements of such an event, as well as referencing various other rituals that have been depicted via music. Much like Colescott’s image, the music takes a ‘rough around the edges’ approach in a bid to showcase not only the gory nature of the event, but also the celebrations that surrounded the event. The soloist adopts many roles throughout the concerto, from reveler to priest and the ensemble serves a similar role, with various solos and interruptions that disrupt and change the direction of the music.
Mozart Clarinet Quintet in A Major K.581
Composed in 1789 for the virtuoso clarinettist Anton Stadler, Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet is one of the first and greatest masterpieces for clarinet and string quartet. Often called the “Stadler Quintet,” it showcases the warmth, lyricism, and expressive range of the clarinet, a relatively new instrument at the time.
The opening Allegro is graceful and lyrical, followed by a serene Larghetto, with the clarinet singing over muted strings. The Menuetto includes two contrasting trios—one rustic, the other more refined. The finale is a playful theme and variations, highlighting Mozart’s wit and the clarinet’s versatility.
This work exemplifies Mozart's genius for chamber music: elegant, expressive, and perfectly balanced.
Tickets are available here.
