Page 12 - Frittenden Parish Mag - December 2021

Historical Society Music Notes

Medieval and For December our local musicians all plan James David and Prokofiev arr. Wallace. Tickets
to be back with the usual popular seasonal
from https://www.maidstonewindsymphony.org
or at the door
concerts. Performances took place as planned
Renaissance in November so let us hope that the dreaded Sat Dec 18th, 7.30pm at St Peter’s Church,
virus doesn’t cause problems this month. As we
Button Lane, Bearsted, Maidstone, ME15 8NJ,
go to press some concerts do not have all details
The Christmas concert of Bearsted Choral Society
Musical Instruments available – if anything interests you do follow up will feature carols, festive songs and readings,
the sources indicated because by the time you
with audience participation. Tickets from https://
read this the information will be available. And
don’t forget your local church carol services as www.bearstedchoral.org.uk.
advertised – always the opportunity for a good Also on Dec 18th, 6.00pm at Sutton Valence
Our October talk was given by Michael Shawm (like a long recorder, which evolved into sing. Then here is my December selection: School Chapel, Sutton Valence Choral Society
Withers, a conductor and Musical Director the Oboe) and then the Bagpipes and explained present a carol concert. For details call 01622
of Heber Opera, and an expert on historical that this particular combination of instruments Sat Dec 4th, 4.00pm at All Saints’ Church, Mill St., 861313.
musical instruments with a large collection is still found in European folk music today. Maidstone ME15 6YE, Maidstone Choral Union
which he brought for us to see. The bagpipes are found in every country in the will hold an afternoon Christmas concert which For those looking for stop-at-home music, two
world, with the sole exception of Iceland which will include Wassail by Alexander L’Estrange items on TV to look out for when timings
Michael illustrated his talk with scenes from somehow managed to escape them. and Carols for choir and Audience. Tickets become available:
medieval and Renaissance paintings and from mcuconertmansager@gmail.com or choir
sculptures depicting the instruments of the day, Another woodwind instrument, the Crumhorn, members or at the door. Gareth Malone’s Christmas Concert – the
and then went on to play selected pieces of music looked like an upside-down curved umbrella choirmaster visits two hospitals to recruit for
from the period on the appropriate instruments. handle. They were very difficult to make, having Tues 7th & Wed 8th Dec., Maidstone Singers hold a special Christmas concert – BBC 2 TV in
His wife sang and accompanied him for many first to soften the hollow tube of wood, then pack their annual Christmas Celebrations at St Martin’s December, time tbc
of them. It was a rare opportunity to listen to it tightly with sand before fitting it into a curved Church, Maidstone. For latest information and Christmas with the Kanneh-Masons – As well
and experience music dating back to the 11th C frame without the wood splitting or pinching details see http://www.themaidstonesingers.org.uk/ as performing in their local studio the 7 siblings
played on the particular instruments for which it closed. Sat Dec 11th,7.30pm at All Saints’ Church, Mill practice at home together. – BBC 2 TV in
was written. St., Maidstone ME15 6YE, Maidstone Wind December, time tbc
When it was realised that the longer the wind
He began with stringed instruments played instrument, the deeper the notes it would play, Symphony return with a concert entitled “Ring in
the new” which includes works by Fergus Carol,
with a bow and took us from the 11th to 16th they were made ever longer to the point where Brian Hardy
centuries by way of the Rebec; Crowd; Medieval the player had to stand on a box simply to reach
Violin; Fiddle; and Renaissance Violin. While the mouthpiece. However, by introducing a
the Rebec was pear-shaped, hollowed out u-bend, the instrument could be reduced in
of wood with a rounded back and no neck size while still achieving low notes. The Racket,
distinction, the Fiddle had a flat back and a introduced in the 16th C, had an amazing nine
separate neck (see photo) and evolved into u-bends, said to equal the length of the human
the violin in the mid-16th C. Two fiddles were large intestine. It was superseded by the bassoon NECK KNEE BACK PAIN SPORTS
salvaged from the Mary Rose, a very rare find. just a century later. INJURIES SPRAINS & STRAINS
Michael also talked about plucked string The final instrument played by Michael was the
instruments such as Harps and Lyres, dating recorder, which dates back to the 13th C - the High Street, Staplehurst, TN12 0AD
back to 2000 and 1400 BC respectively, as well as traditional educational instrument of torture.
Lutes and Psalteries. 01580 892266
Michael delivered a fascinating talk and gave us
He then moved on to wind instruments. Bone an excellent performance as well. SUE SMITH. Grad.Dip.Phys., MCSP. HCPC.
flutes have been found which date back 40,000 Serving the community for over 25 years.
years, made from animal bones or, for example, a Sue Betts
swan’s slender long wing bone. Michael played a

12 Frittenden Parish Magazine December 2021 / January 2022 Frittenden Parish Magazine December 2021 / January 2022 13