Heart of England Recorder Orchestra

HERO opened the concert with three movements from Ian Farquhar’s Ukrainian Steppes.  The programme was then deliberately varied and lively in order to maintain the interest of the youngsters in the audience.  There were plenty of seasonal songs and carols performed by the school children, some solo performances by older children and teenagers and a number of pieces played by HERO. 

The very talented sisters, Laura and Rebecca Heath, performed Junicanari by Zannhausen and Fish ‘n’ Chips by Alan Bullard and showed everyone just how versatile the recorder can be.  Andantino, a young ensemble from Coventry, played traditional baroque pieces, but also White Christmas by Irving Berlin.  To lighten the atmosphere still further, the orchestra played Glen Shannon’s Fipple Dance – a movement written primarily in 5/4 which requires players to make ‘clucking’ and ‘tch-ing’ sounds at various points throughout the piece.  This varied assortment of music, together with a brief educational session demonstrating the different sizes of recorder, from sopranino to contra bass, does indeed seem to have ensured that the younger members of the audience remained alert.  Following the concert, reports were heard that a boy who had taken along his Nintendo DS hardly needed to play with it as he found the concert so interesting.

The concert finished with all the children joining the orchestra and other performers to play Good King Wenceslas.

Not every piece played was perfect, but for me, that did not matter.  The most important aspect of this concert was to inform and inspire the children to play the recorder.  Additionally, it should have proved to parents and children alike that the recorder is indeed a versatile instrument and that the discordant squeaks of a young learner are to be encouraged! 

The Oakville Singers (Conductor - Ivan Oliver) and HERO (Conductor - Colin Touchin)

The Christmas season was officially started at St Godwald’s Church with a pleasant array of music from two contrasting, but complimenting, ensembles.  The Oakville Singers performed choral classics such as Rutters For the Beauty of the Earth and Stanford’s Bluebird to a high standard, full of emotion with a strong sense of ensemble.  Just as delightful was Charles Wood’s Hail Gladdening Light, a very different piece full of rich harmonies and texture which really made the spine tingle, even with the fireworks from outside. 

HERO’s premiere of Raymond Head’s Recollections of Sun and Water was performed confidently, as with Luigini’s Ballet Egyptien and Steve Marshall’s arrangement of Four Medieval Tunes.  Variations on Good King Wenceslas by Runswick supplied the seasonal request.  The orchestra did play well but it is fair to suggest that the ensemble was a little top heavy, and towards the end of the performance tuning was a little interesting to say the least.

To complete the evenings presentation the two groups joined forces for some Bach chorals and Zion Hears the Watchmen’s Voices arranged by Rutter and Touchin.

It was a pleasant evening and Ivan Oliver described it as ‘thoroughly enjoyed by the choir’.  However, HERO does have room for improvement and I believe that this season, following the return of Touchin, could provide a different story by the summer.

Amie Hutchinson 

            Thick fog may have covered Coventry and the surrounding areas, but over thirty players braved their way through from as far as Essex to the Heart of England Recorder Orchestra’s annual Playing Day.  Tea, coffee, biscuits and HERO regulars were ready to greet visitors on arrival before four challenging sessions, expertly led by HERO's resident conductor, Colin Touchin.

            A warm-up of Paul Clark’s arrangement of Rimsky Korsakov’s Dance of the Tumblers not only got the fingers moving, but also enforced brain power to switch on in preparation for Triptych by Paul Richards.  This recent work contained complex rhythmical time signatures and changes, with no mercy given by Colin, especially in the Scherzo.  However, the NYRO CD with a recent recording of this piece was available to purchase, should we want to hear what it’s supposed to sound like. 

            After more tea and biscuits came Feuer und Eis.  One of the favourites of the day, Dietrich Schnabel’s piece combined 4/4 - 9/8 rhythms and jolly ‘um-pah’ sections, complete with chicken wings from the descants.  Visitors were then treated to a sneak preview of Raymond Head’s Look the Sun! and Living Water.  Steve Reich and John Adams spring to mind on hearing this composition, even though it does not seem like minimalism on the separate parts.  This was also a useful practice for HERO as they premiere this piece on December 1^st in Bromsgrove. 

            A light hearted Charleston by Hans Hütten completed the morning sessions.

            Victor Fortin’s Liebanauer Tänze started the afternoon, with particular attention being paid to the second movement.  Here Colin was able to show and emphasise the importance and effect of soli and tutti sections.  Stan Davis’ arrangement of Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeria was great fun to play, especially for myself as I managed to get my hands on the only Contrabass in the room.

            More tea, but this time with cakes, provided the last rest before Bach’s Sinfonia from the Christmas Oratorio Part II.  The ever continuing crotchet-quaver is made so much easier at larghetto when you sway.

            The final piece of the day was joyous to play, when you didn’t lose your place for laughing at the genius of it.  Steve Marshall’s arrangement of Phillip R Buttalls Orchestral composition stroke arrangement of The Lone Ar-ranger has over fifty name that tune references, from Sibelius and Handel to Camptown Races and the Floral Dance, embedded in the William Tell Overture.  Early evening fireworks provided the 1812 finale.

            The fog had cleared and dusk was falling over Coventry, but HERO’s 2007 Playing Day had been declared a success.  When asked how he felt about the day Colin said we all did well. ‘The standard of concentration and performance all day was very gratifying - a delightful day’.  

Amie Hutchinson