#MfEMonday – 6th December 2021

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMondays are Music for Everyone’s weekly emails designed to keep you up to date with MfE events & to circulate interesting finds, special features, and motivational moments for your Mondays! We are aiming to send out something new each week.

#MfEMonday – 29th November 2021

29th November 2021 Music for Everyone

About 6 months ago, MfE was contacted by the Nottingham Young Musician of the Year Competition chair to see if we would be willing to give a performance opportunity to the winner of the competition’s voice class. We are always delighted to be able to support young musicians and so we obviously said ‘yes’!

Benjamin Staniforth, an 18yr old baritone from Nottingham, was the winner of the class and on Sunday 21 November, Angela Kay and Rachel Parkes went along to the Djanogly Recital Hall to listen to the Grand Final concert where the winners of each individual class (piano, voice, strings, woodwind and brass) performed to see, after adjudication, who would be crowned the Nottingham Young Musician of the Year 2021. We were delighted when Benjamin was announced as that winner!

Benjamin is delighted to be paired with MfE and we are very much looking forward to him singing at one of our forthcoming concerts.

As we enter the season of advent, we thought we should let you know what festive musical treats MFE has on offer over the coming weeks.

Countdown to Christmas – December 5th, Kingswood Methodist Church, Wollaton NG8 1GR
Our youth groups hold their annual Christmas concert at 3:30pm. Lots of festive music complete with mince pies!

Vocals – December 11th, 1:30pm Nottingham Trent University, Clifton NG11 8NS
A fun Saturday afternoon workshop for primary aged children singing Christmas songs and fun seasonal music including hits from the well-known film, A Muppets Christmas Carol and Roald Dahl’s entertaining version of Cinderella!

Christmas is Coming! – December 12th, 3:30pm Albert Hall, North Circus St, Nottingham NG1 5AA
A traditional afternoon Christmas concert for all the family, with well-known carols and seasonal songs featuring the Nottingham Chamber Singers, Nottingham Community Voices, Vocals Youth Choir & New Classical Players.

A Mystical Christmas – December 18th, 7:30pm St Mary the Virgin Church, Bunny NG11 6QT
Nottingham Chamber Singers present a programme of atmospheric choral music and exquisite projected images.

Tickets for all events can be booked via our website – www.music-for-everyone.org We hope to see you at one of our Christmas events over the next few weeks.

The Advent season focuses on expectation and is an anticipation of Christ’s birth in the season leading up to Christmas. Many people celebrate the season of advent with a wreath.

The Advent wreath first appeared in Germany in 1839. A Lutheran minister working at a mission for children created a wreath out of the wheel of a cart. He placed twenty small red candles and four large white candles inside the ring. The red candles were lit on weekdays and the four white candles were lit on Sundays.

The most common Advent candle tradition, however, involves four candles. A new candle is lit on each of the four Sundays before Christmas. Each candle represents something different, although traditions vary. The four candles traditionally represent hope, faith, joy, and peace.

Perhaps you might like to have a go at making your own advent wreath this Christmas? Here’s a simple how to guide –

What you’ll need

12’’ wire wreath frame
Soft greenery garland
Purple poinsettia flower
Advent candle set
4 candle holders
White Christmas ribbon
Greenery ties
Glue gun

First, take your garland and wrap it around your wire wreath until it is completely covered. Use your hot glue to hold it in place.

Next, you’ll take your white ribbon and wrap it around until you’ve found your desired placement. Secure it with a small dab of hot glue.

Using a little bit of floral wire or greenery ties, space out the candle holders as evenly in place as possible and secure in place.

Fill in empty areas of your wreath with your purple poinsettia flowers and use a little bit of hot glue to hold them in place.

Add your candles and voila, you’ve made a super simple advent wreath. we all have and to receive a thank you card from our members.

And finally, if you’re still not sure what advent means, watch this two-minute explanation – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC0FGQLBp7w

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

29/11/2021

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/18414

#MfEMonday – 15th November 2021

15th November 2021 Music for Everyone

Yesterday saw the grand concert for the Big Youth Music Experience players who worked so hard last weekend in their band and strings workshops! Family and friends came to watch the performance of five different groups, all culminating in a spectacular joint item of Chariots of Fire, especially arranged for the occasion. More photos to follow soon!

Supporting MfE is now even easier!

We recently wrote to you about our new Supporters’ Scheme. It is now possible to set up a regular, monthly direct debit payment by following this link and selecting ‘I’d like to give regularly’.

Direct debits are easy to set up and can be changed or cancelled at any point. A monthly donation can be for as little as £2 per month (the cost of one Open Voices session), it’s up to you! Regular donations are great for charities – they provide a predictable income throughout the year which allows for better financial planning and can also protect charities in times of uncertainty or emergency. As a regular donor, you will have the feel-good factor of knowing that your donation continues to support our work throughout the year.

Yesterday was Remembrance Sunday and many of you will have heard the Last Post which forms part of the Remembrance Day ceremonies around the world.

The sound of a lone bugler playing the Last Post has become one of the most distinctive sounds in the world. Eerie and evocative, it exists beyond all the usual barriers of nation, religion, race and class, charged with the memory of generations of the fallen. But it wasn’t always like this.

The Last Post was first published in the 1790s, just one of dozens of bugle calls sounded in British Army camps. As soldiers of that time didn’t have wristwatches the various bugle calls were used to tell them when to get up, when to have their meals, when to fetch the post and all other things throughout the day.

The soldier’s day started with the call of Reveille, and came to a close with the First Post. This indicated that the duty officer was commencing his inspection of the sentry-posts around the camp. At the end there would be sounded the Last Post, signalling that the final sentry post had been inspected and that the camp was now secure for the night.

During the 1850s a different role began to emerge and the Last Post was used when a soldier died in a foreign land and a lone bugler would sound the Last Post over the grave. The symbolism was simple and highly effective. The Last Post now signalled the end not merely of the day but of this earthly life.

Battle of the Bugles! See how buglers battle it out to find the best bugler in The Rifles regiment: https://youtu.be/2CqDZxZoQwg

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

15/11/2021

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMonday – 8th November 2021

8th November 2021 Music for Everyone

The Big Youth Music Experience playing workshops took place this weekend at Bluecoat Academy, Wollaton. Over 100 young woodwind, brass, percussion and string players met over the 2 days, with wind bands on Saturday and strings on Sunday, for a rehearsal day to prepare for the concert next Sunday, which we’re all looking forward to!

Here are a few pictures from the weekend, more to come next week from the concert!

Here in the office, we’re busy sorting out music for the next Blow the Dust course to be held at the Albert Hall on Saturday 08 January. It looks like James Moross’s Big Country is going to be an ‘earworm’ for the next few months! If you’re thinking about signing up but haven’t quite decided, have a listen to this and see if we can’t tempt you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVGehYZ-tYU

Schubert Sushi? Sounds strange, but someone has been making the greatest composers out of rice balls! See if you can tell who they are here: https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/classical-composers-as-rice-balls/

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

08/11/2021

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMondays – 1st November 2021

1st November 2021 Music for Everyone

We hope you have all had a good half term break. We don’t have much to report this week except to say we’re looking forward to seeing you all at the various groups and rehearsals coming up.

Rehearsals are back again for Daytime Voices, Daytime Orchestras, Open Voices and the youth bands this week – see you there!

With Halloween still fresh in our minds, we take a look at what elements makes a spine-tingling horror film score. Shrieking violins? The ghostly wobble of a theremin? The skeletal sounds of a xylophone? These six fangtastic soundtracks have got it all! So, go and get yourself some popcorn and a cushion to hide behind….

Psycho: Bernard Herrman.

Who can forget those iconic violin stabs – made all the more terrifying by matching the action on screen?

Rosemary’s Baby: Krzysztof Komeda

Komeda set a beautiful but creepy lullaby waltz at the heart of this score. The message here seemed to be: the nicer something seems, the scarier it will turn out to be…

The Exorcist: Mike Oldfield

Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells,” became one of cinema’s most iconic horror movie soundtracks and a smash hit in its own right. Oldfield later joked: “I’m the godfather of scary movie music.”

The Omen: Jerry Goldsmith

As 1970s horror fests go, The Omen was right up there for chill factor and earned Jerry Goldsmith the only scoring Oscar of his illustrious career. The lead track features the ominous chant, “Sanguis bibimus, corpus edimus, tolle corpus Satani,” or, “We drink the blood, we eat the flesh, raise the body of Satan.” Yuck.

Jaws: John Williams

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water….. Williams produced a soundtrack that gave a whole generation a fear of sharks and sparks an immediate sense of panic whenever it is played. Williams explained he wanted the song to be “grinding away at you, just as a shark would do, instinctual, relentless, unstoppable”.

Right, you can come out from behind the sofa now!

Following on from last week’s homemade instruments, and keeping up with the Halloween theme, check out this talented man making music with pumpkins!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbNcQX9PtWo

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

01/11/2021

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMondays – 25th October 2021

25th October 2021 Music for Everyone

MfE are thrilled to be working in partnership with Inspire Nottinghamshire Music Hub on a new project as we expand the Health & Well-being programmes. (Click to find out more about other projects!)

The Lullaby Bank is for babies aged 0 – 9 months with an emphasis on post-natal well-being and bonding for mothers. There are currently 2 sessions running each week at Beeston Library (Tues am) and West Bridgford Library (Thurs am), singing lullabies from around the world. It is free to attend, but booking is essential as places are limited. The 10-week course will be running after Christmas too – booking will be open soon – if you know a mum with a new baby, invite them along! https://www.music-for-everyone.org/health-well-being/the-lullaby-bank/

Also, ONLINE BOOKING IS NOW OPEN for the adult singing and playing courses in January 2022!

Blow the Dust – 8^th January, orchestral workshop day for adult instrumentalists. Find out more and book online here: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/blow-the-dust-off-your-instrument-3/

Nottingham Festival Chorus: Opera course weekend and concert – 29^th/30^th Jan & 5^th Feb, conducted by Angela Kay and featuring soloists Ellie Martin and Rachel Parkes: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/nfc-course-weekend/

With October being Black History Month, we take a look at one of the leading composers around the turn of the twentieth century – Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

His best known work, a trilogy of cantatas known as The Song of Hiawatha, is based on poems of the same name by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, which relate to the adventures of a Native American hero called Hiawatha and his love Minnehaha. Coleridge-Taylor made the connection between Native Americans and African Americans by modelling the main theme of the Hiawatha Overture on the spiritual song ‘Nobody knows the Trouble I’ve seen’ – see if you can hear it here: https://youtu.be/pkqaSqwHlsw

His legacy would be The Song of Hiawatha as one of the most performed choral works until the 2^nd World War – rivalled only by Handel’s Messiah and Mendelssohn’s Elijah.

Following his sudden death in 1912, a memorial concert was held for Coleridge-Taylor with proceeds going to his young family. After it was discovered just how little he had profited from the success of his works, many were appalled and the outrage led to the establishment of the Performing Rights Society.

Here’s a great half term activity you can try – make your own paper flute! All you need is a piece of card/paper, tape, scissors and a ruler. We made one in the office and can confirm it works! Let us know how you get on. Click this link and follow the instructions! How to make a paper flute
Here’s our MfE paper flute, for inspiration!

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

25/10/2021

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMondays – 18th October 2021

18th October 2021 Music for Everyone

Saturday saw 150 people gathering at Nottingham’s Albert Hall for our Autumn Singing Workshop and Concert. This was the first event for the Nottingham Festival Chorus since January 2020 which was originally planned to take place in June. However, despite the postponement, it was a fantastic occasion, the chorus in fine voice with rousing renditions of Vaughan William’s Let All the World in Every Corner Sing and Holst’s Psalm 148 accompanied by Henry Parkes on the organ along with the strings of the Nottingham Classical Players. Other music included three anthems by John Rutter and excerpts from Henry Purcell’s Ode to Queen Mary with Sarah Trevers, Rachel Parkes, Angela Kay and Greg Treloar singing the solo arias.

The concert programme also contained two organ solos, Elgar’s Chanson du Matin played by the strings and two items by the Nottingham Chamber Singers. All in all, a great day!

Here are some moments our photographer managed to capture.

As the daily temperatures begin to fall and the autumn colours appear on the trees, we thought you might like some music inspired by the change of season to listen to –

Autumn Music – Jennifer Higdon – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA8zWzGuDjg

Autumn (from Die Jahreszeiten) – Joseph Haydn – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHYBac1B6_g

Autumn (from The Seasons) – Aexander Glazunov – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg6dZScORQk

Autumn Leaves – Joseph Kosma – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9-6lnnUeT4

Performing music is often a very serious business but the duo of violinist Alexsey Igudesman and pianist Hyung-ki Joo prove that classical musicians often have a sense of humour too…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKZITB_r8t0

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

18/10/2021

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMondays – 11th October 2021

11th October 202111th October 2021 Music for Everyone

Well, it’s officially Autumn, and alongside Strictly Come Dancing, the Great British Bake-Off has once again hit our screens. Naturally this has caused a frisson of cake-related banter in the MfE office, and last week, resulted in a ‘Bake-Off’ style challenge of our own…

‘Cake week’ saw some of the staff take on the musical theme of Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, and we can reveal that the results were varied and stunning, both visually and taste-wise. Our very own Paul Hollywood, (aka Chair of trustees, John Hess) took on the difficult task of judging the six entries, and crowned Kirstie Hind star-baker, with her entry encompassing not one, but all four of the seasons in a showstopping 3D masterpiece.

The staff went above and beyond to recreate the exciting and tense atmosphere of the Bake-off tent in our office, with bunting, a gingham tablecloth, and the cheery strains of the Bake-off theme-tune on endless repeat throughout.

Along the way on our baking journey we found out some interesting facts about Vivaldi. Did you know that he suffered from ‘strettezza di petto’ (tightness of the chest) or, as is more commonly known now, Asthma? Well, Robin’s ‘wintry lemon-drizzle’ cake was inspired by the immune boosting properties of fresh lemon juice, that Vivaldi may have been prescribed as a source of vitamin C and natural decongestant. It’s not known whether his condition was life-limiting, or if he used it as a ruse to get out of the celibate life of being a priest, (his excuse being that the incense was affecting his breathing and so a church was not the optimal place of work)! It is rumoured however, that he died of an internal infection, and some suspect it could have been an asthma attack. We won’t ever know for sure, but we do know that he died in poverty, with very little attention paid to his fine works until many centuries after they were written, even his now perennially celebrated Four Seasons.

This segues us nicely on to some work that Rachel (our assistant artistic director and head of health and wellbeing projects) is undertaking right now in ‘Singing for Lung Health’. Research shows that using breathing exercises and singing simple songs can drastically improve the lives and wellbeing of people who suffer with chronic lung conditions or disorders such as asthma, COPD and Cystic Fibrosis. We hope to bring more news of exciting projects in this field over the coming months, but rest assured, if you are singing with one of our daytime groups, or coming along to our singing workshops (such as this Saturday 16th at the Albert Hall), then it is already doing you the power of good…. but then you already knew that didn’t you?! We look forward to seeing many of you there.

Which reminds me – BOOKWISE will have a stall at next Saturday’s Singing Workshop at the Albert Hall of fiction, thrillers, CD’s, Song books, Piano Voice and Guitar and some Music Books. For those attending the course, they would be very happy to receive donations of any paperback fiction.

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

11/10/2021

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMondays – 4th October 2021

4th October 20214th October 2021 Music for Everyone

Coming soon, our Big Youth Music Experience! Saturday 6th November (Wind band workshop) Sunday 7th November (Strings workshop) with a joint concert on Sunday 14th November at the Albert Hall, Nottingham!

If you know any young instrumentalists who might enjoy playing in an ensemble there is still time to sign up, music packs are coming out this week! Follow the link for full details: https://www.music-for-everyone.org/event/big-youth-music-experience/

If, like us, you’ve been enjoying glitz and glam of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, you may like to discover more about the fabulous musicians who bring the show to life.

Dave Arch and his orchestra are the musical backbone of Strictly Come Dancing, arranging and learning up to 14 songs a week for the celebrity dance show. Rarely seen on-screen, the 20-piece band have to master everything from orchestral suites to body-popping R&B! They only get together for a rehearsal on the Friday evening and then spend a very long day rehearsing with the dancers on the Saturday before the live show.

Follow this link to find out what goes on behind the scenes: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20811167

So how much do you know about the dances on Strictly? Take our quiz to find out… https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/49604374

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

04/10/2021

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF

#MfEMondays – Paralympics closing ceremonies

13th September 2021 Music for Everyone

With the Paralympics coming to a close, this month we take a look back at music and musicians at the Paralympics.

Who remembers this performance by Paraorchestra at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympics?! Paraorchestra is the world’s only large-scale virtuoso ensemble of professional disabled and non-disabled musicians. Inspirational stuff!

Yesterday, the Swing Band and Flute Choir kicked off the return of our adult music groups – this week sees the return of the Daytime Voices – Southwell, West Bridgford, Wollaton and Sherwood and also our Daytime Orchestras, in Loughborough and Nottingham.

Next week, the OPEN VOICES will be meeting again after months of online rehearsals, looking forward to seeing everyone again!

Interesting violin fact! Did you know a single violin is made from over 70 individual pieces of wood. Most violins have a hollow wooden body, and are mostly glued together. To this day, instruments from the so-called Golden Age of violin making, especially those made by Stradivari are the most sought-after instruments by both collectors and performers. The most common types of wood to use are spruce, willow, maple, ebony and rosewood.

Have a good week!

Your friends at MfE.

13/09/2021

www.music-for-everyone.org | 0115 9589312

10 Goose Gate | Hockley | NG1 1FF