From St Paul’s church magazine (Daybrook, Arnold)

Concert on Saturday 8^th July

Photo PT Graphics

Summer Serenade

On Saturday 8^th July we were delighted to welcome the Nottingham Wind Ensemble for an evening of music performed under their conductor, David Machell. The NWE have been established for 18 years and are a community wind band of mixed age and ability, performing a wide range of music to suit all tastes and raising money to help community projects in the area.

On this occasion the first part of the varied programme included music from Me and My Girl, the 1^st Movement of Sparke’s Clarinet Concerto and a traditional piece Dick’s Maggot. We were enlightened to the fact that “maggot” in this instance is not a wriggly thing put on a fishing hook but more like a flight of fancy. We were then delighted with the Flute Ensemble playing three pieces – my favourite was David Machell’s Feast of Fluteries.

Unfortunately, my faithful helper, Dorothy Edwards, and I missed Thames Journey, which, I understand, was absolutely wonderful – galling to have missed it but somebody had to set things in motion for the interval refreshments! Perhaps when they come again I shall have the opportunity to hear this piece?

After the interval we heard Mozart’s Serenade for Winds, Delius’ La Calinda and a Welsh Rhapsody by Grundman. The Flute Ensemble then invited us to the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel and our hands were soon a-clapping to their rendering of Irish Washerwoman. The programme concluded with the whole ensemble playing music from the soundtrack of Hollywood films.

It isn’t easy to communicate just how uplifting this evening entertainment proved to be. It never ceases to amaze me that there is so much talent amongst quite ordinary people but who love music so much that they are willing to give their time and energy in order to share with the likes of you and me the joy of music-making.

We are greatly blessed at St Paul’s in that we have a church in which musicians are delighted to perform and it is wonderful to hear the rafters resound with their playing. Evenings like this one confirm to me just how wonderful the music of heaven must be if the music on earth can be such a joy.

Thank you, Nottingham Wind Ensemble for giving us such delight; thank you Windblowers for your sponsorship of this music; thank you Margaret Frogson who so generously arranges for us to be delighted by their music here in our own church.

Oh, incidentally, just in case you were wondering, this performance also raised just over one hundred and seventy five pounds towards church funds – so to all who supported this event, thank you too!