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| Marc Chagall’s East or Memorial Window for Sarah d’Avigdor Goldsmid, at All Saints’ Church, Tudeley By Ian Alexander – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0 |
Music@Malling brings outstanding musicians to historic venues in and around West Malling in Kent. The festival opens tomorrow, Friday 18 September and runs until 27 September, this year featuring the music of Tōru Takemitsu alongside that of Ravel, Debussy, Stravinsky, Messiaen and Miles Davis. Another feature of the festival is the juxtaposition of old and new. New music is set alongside older composers, Dowland to Huw Watkins; Purcell to Deborah Pritchard and Mendelssohn to Radiohead. All performed in historic venues including Malling Abbey – founded in 1090; Pilsdon – a medieval tythe barn; Ightham Mote – an 800 year old manor house; St.Mary’s Church, West Malling built by Gundulf of Rochester in the 11th century. A particular feature is All Saints’ Church, Tudeley with its stunning series of Marc Chagall windows.
The festival opens with pianist Peter Donohoe in Ravel and Debussy, then the following evening James Pearson, artistic director of Ronnie Scott’s, puts a jazz spin on classical pieces from across the festival programme. There is more Ravel from the Sacconi Quartet and they are joined by horn player Ben Goldscheider for a new work by Huw Watkins, and the Fidelio Trio present Ravel’s Piano Trio and Debussy’s La Mer in an arrangement by Sally Beamish alongside Tōru Takemitsu.
The Smith Quartet perform a programme inspired by minimalism with music by Phillip Glass, Gavin Bryars and Arvo Pärt, alongside Stravinsky’s Three Pieces was inspired by the famous music hall star, Little Tich who grew up in Cudham, Kent and performed in many local pubs. Cello and piano duo Cloud Chamber perform music by Gavin Greenaway alongside film music from Takemitsu, Morricone, Hans Zimmer, and more.
The festival’s artistic director, Thomas Kemp directs his ensemble Chamber Domaine in a programme of English music highlighting the influence of early music on composers such as Britten,Tippett, Ades and Warlock, plus the premiere of a piece by Iran-born, UK-based composer Atifeh Einali. Whilst Intesa Duo mix 17th century music with Radiohead, the Beatles, the Killers and more.
Guitarist Craig Ogden plays Tippett’s The Blue Guitar, Takemitsu, Leo Brower and Walton, all alongside the Chagall windows at Tudeley.
Cellist Guy Johnston and pianist Melvyn Tan explore the music of siblings Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn alongside Beethoven and Schubert. Both Mendelssohns’ music features also in a programme from soprano Ruby Hughes, pianist Huw Watkins and violinist Thomas Kemp, alongside Haydn, Schumann, Schubert and Brian Elias. But perhaps the real draw of this concert is that it is in the Drawing Room at Ightam Mote and Watkins will be playing the room’s 1830 Stodart piano.
The singers and lutenist of Dowland’s Foundry commemorate the 400th anniversary of Dowland’s death with a programme of his songs. Period instrument ensemble Apollo’s Cabinet present Apollo’s Jukebox where the audience chooses the music from a menu of 18th century tunes!
The Marian Consort joins Chamber Domaine for a programme mixing sacred music by Arvo Pärt with contemporary voices from Deborah Pritchard and Rosemary Shapes. Thomas Kemp then conducts the London Sinfonietta in a programme putting Takemitsu alongside Debussy, Cage and Webern. And the festival ends with James Pearson leading a tribute to Miles Davis.
Alongside this there is Inside Colour, an immersive exhibition of Music Maps by composer and artist Deborah Pritchard at Ightham Mote, and talks including ones on poetry and music in the 19th Century drawing room, and spying for Queen Elizabeth I.
Outreach includes a series of workshops, informal concerts and playlists for Spadework – a local charity that supports adults with mental and physical disabilities, dementia and mental health issues; Side-by-Side with Chamber Domaine and The Marian Consort; Music@Malling Scratch Orchestra; creating Music Maps at Ightham Mote with local primary and secondary schools.
Full details from Music@Malling’s website.
.jpg?w=160&resize=160,160&ssl=1 "Choral music is flourishing in Taiwan: composer Will Todd on his experiences collaborating with the Soochow University Alumni Choir in Taiwan")
