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CONCERT REVIEWS |
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19 JANUARY 2012
 Concert review to follow: |
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15 DECEMBER 2011
Making a special trip across the Channel for the Society’s Christmas concert was JOHANNES FREITAG, from Koblenz, performing for the second time at Weyhill – the first occasion being in February 2008 when the audience was clearly made aware that some Germans do actually have a great sense of humour.
Since his previous visit to the Club, the artiste’s career has deviated and the acting profession now takes precedence! In fact, Johannes has recently been appearing in ‘The Odd Couple’ in a theatre close to his home – playing the curmudgeonly role of Oscar, as performed by Walter Matthau in the film version – although it was his subtle Victor Borge style of comedy that was evident during the evening’s performance
Opening with Irving Berlin’s There’s No Business Like Show Business, Johannes followed on with a couple of marches – Colonel Bogey and The Washington Post – followed by memories of Glenn Miller with Sentimental Journey and Chattanooga Choo Choo, both accompanied by authentic train sounds. The cinema world was represented by the theme from the epic film, Once Upon A Time In The West, before a Classical mood took over – with The Blue Danube (Strauss Jr) and In The Hall Of The Mountain King (Grieg).
Johannes then performed Wunderbar (from Cole Porter’s Kiss Me Kate), before moving on to a Latin American selection, including The Mexican Hat Dance and Amapola. Then, perhaps conscious that the interval was imminent – with sausage rolls and mince pies already prepared – Johannes wound up the first half with the Tom Jones hit, Help Yourself ... or perhaps it was just a coincidence!
The second half opened with Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, a 50s hit for Platters, and On The Street Where You Live, from the musical, My Fair Lady, before the traditional Christmas carol interlude. With the words of each carol displayed on the Club’s large screen, the audience responded heartily and the Christmas theme was extended a little further as Johannes performed Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.
Another film theme was introduced – on this occasion Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines – before the audience was once again invited to sing along, with Land Of Hope And Glory and Rule Britannia. Johannes then took the scene across the ‘Pond’ for New York, New York before moving into a short Cha Cha medley that included Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White.
For his encore, Johannes selected My Way, the second Frank Sinatra hit of the evening, and concluded with Auld Lang Syne to signal the end of the Society’s 2011 concert programme. |
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17 NOVEMBER 2011
The Society’s November concert was dedicated to 'Help for Heroes' and proved to be doubly appropriate in view of its proximity to Remembrance Sunday. A total amount in excess of £400 was raised during the evening and has been assigned to the Charity's Tedworth House Personnel Recovery and Assessment Centre (PRAC) in Tidworth.
Making his debut appearance at Weyhill was DAVE SMITH, from Bolton – a player with an extensive musical background. His past experience includes a period as keyboard player and Musical Director for drummer and bandleader, the late Eric Delaney, during which time he was also MD for such famous stars as Morecambe and Wise, Tony Hancock and Ken Dodd, also appearing in a Royal Command Performance. Amongst his current positions is that of Musical Director for three northern-based tenors who perform together under the name ‘Tenorissimo’.
The evening began with a short introductory film about the Charity, following which Dave opened his contribution with the John Williams theme for the film, ET–Extra Terrestrial. He then introduced a medley in theatre organ style, including such pieces as Cara Mia, Let’s Face The Music, It Had To Be You, Tea for Two and a cleverly-disguised version of The Weyhill March (performed in ballad mode).
April in Paris was performed in Big Band style, followed by the popular Willie Nelson composition, Crazy, combining piano and Hammond organ sounds, and a Klaus Wunderlich Latin American number titled Lotto-Zahlen. Dave’s love of film theme music was demonstrated with the haunting theme from Schindler’s List, complete with piano, violin and oboe. By way of variation, a selection of sports themes were then played – Test Match Special (Soul Limbo), London Marathon (The Trap), Grandstand and Match of the Day (Offside).
As the interval beckoned, Dave introduced a medley of ‘Tenorissimo’ songs – Granada, The Loveliest Night of the Year, Girls Were Made To Love and Kiss, The Drinking Song, Funiculi Funicula, With a Song in my Heart and Amor, Amor, Amor.
After the presentation of a cheque to the Charity, the second half opened with The Rhythm of Life, performed in jazz style, followed by music from Beauty and the Beast and a mambo-style version of Guaglione (a tune that rose to fame in 1995 after it was used for a Guinness advert). Dave then intoduced a selection of music from Strauss, comprising the ever-popular Blue Danube, The Kaiser Waltz, Emperor Waltz, Vienna Waltz and Voices of Spring. A jazz piano version of Blue Moon preceded Nessun Dorma from Puccini’s opera ‘Turandot’ before a complete change of style –aided by some adept and rhythmic pedal work – with Time Is Tight, a 1969 hit for Booker T and the MGs.
Returning to Classical mode, Dave then performed the well-loved Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) before reaching a poignant moment of the evening – a selection titled Armistice, including music associated with Remembrance Sunday, accompanied by another appropriate short film. Almost inevitably, an encore brought the evening to a final crescendo, in the form of Jim Webb’s composition (recorded by Richard Harris) – namely McArthur Park.
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20 OCTOBER 2011
The Society welcomed IAN GRIFFIN, from South Wales, for its October concert. Although he was making his solo debut for the Club, Ian had performed at Weyhill in 2006, as part of a duo, and then at The Lights theatre, Andover in 2008, in a trio! Amongst his many claims to fame, Ian appeared on BBC1 Television 'Young Entertainers' in 1978 when he was voted heat winner by the studio audience. In 1990, he formed his own cabaret show band and in 1998 made recordings for several artistes appearing on ITV’s 'Stars in Their Eyes'.
The first half of the evening featured a number of popular songs and instrumentals from the 60s and 70s, followed by a varied selection from well known musicals. The concert got under way with Candida (a Tony Orlando hit), followed by a medley comprising of My Mother’s Eyes (Tom Jones), End of the World (Skeeter Davis), Stranger on the Shore (Acker Bilk), Cycles (Frank Sinatra) and You’re My World (Cilla Black). Ian then introduced a Latin-style medley which included Something Stupid (Frank and Nancy Sinatra), Dance Ballerina Dance (Nat King Cole) and The Eyes of a Woman in Love (Frankie Laine).
What Colour is the Wind? – an emotive song written and recorded by Charlie Landsborough – was next on the programme, followed by a couple of Country-style numbers, Snowbird (Anne Murray) and Hello Mary Lou (Ricky Nelson). Ian then slowed the tempo with I Need To Be In Love (Karen Carpenter) and She (Charles Aznavour) before changing the style once more with a Big Band number, Dean Martin’s Ain’t That a Kick in the Head.
To provide further variation – and to conclude the first half – Ian performed a well known selection of songs from Musicals, spanning over four decades. The medley consisted of Somewhere and Tonight (from West Side Story), I Dreamed a Dream (from Les Miserables), The Deadwood Stage and The Black Hills of Dakota (from Calamity Jane), If I Was a Rich Man (from Fiddler on the Roof), If I Loved You (from Carousel) and As Long as He Needs Me (from Oliver).
By comparison, and as is traditional with Ian’s concerts, the second half was given over entirely to audience requests submitted during the interval. Amazingly, despite the short preparation time, Ian managed to accommodate a great many of the selections and was able to provide appropriate sounds for each one.
The choices were quite varied – vocals and instrumentals – but included quite a few selections from the 60s. Neil Sedaka’s Laughter in the Rain was the first to be performed, followed by Lady in Red (Chris de Burgh) and Annie’s Song (John Denver). This is the Moment – from Jekyll and Hyde (and a hit for Jane McDonald) – preceded Wheels Cha Cha and Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (The Platters). An often-requested ballad, Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler) was next, followed by a couple of instrumentals – Morning in Cornwall (James Last) and the popular march, Blaze Away.
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, a Roberta Flack love ballad, was in complete contrast to I Wanna Be Like You, a traditional jazz number from Jungle Book. I Won’t Send Roses, from Mack and Mabel, was followed by Angel in Blue (Roberto Danova) – possibly the most requested tune amongst the Weyhill audience. As the evening drew to a close, John Barry's beautiful composition, Somewhere in Time was played, followed by the Radetsky March (Johann Strauss Sr.), The Londonderry Air and One Moment in Time (Whitney Houston).
Ian opted for a couple of his own selections to complete the concert – Myfanwy, a Welsh folk tune composed by Joseph Parry, and My Way, a Paul Anka song which became a massive hit for Frank Sinatra. However, it came as no surprise that an encore was demanded ... for which Ian appropriately selected El Bimbo, a tune he had performed, at the age of just twelve, on the BBC TV Crackerjack programme – and for which he had obviously earned more than just a pencil! This popular artiste had certainly entertained the audience with a performance that is sure to secure him a return booking. |
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It was an extremely satisfied audience that left The Lights following the Society’s latest production – having witnessed and enjoyed an entertaining evening  of ‘Music and Mirth’. The ‘culprits’ for this memorable occasion were TONY STACE and ANDREW NIX, players of great musical ability and possessing a brilliant sense of humour which blended together as one would expect from an experienced double act. With a combination of solos and duets, intertwined with light hearted quips, a special kind of magic shone throughout the show as the audience, including the Deputy Mayor of Test Valley, was treated to a dynamic performance of popular and wide-ranging music.
The first half began in stirring fashion with the two ‘boys’ on stage together, performing the Radetzky March – immediately receiving an enthusiastic response from the audience. The duet continued with a medley of ballads – Unchained Melody, Save Your Love for Me and You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me – before launching into a Dixieland selection consisting of Hello Dolly, I Wanna Be Like You, Sweet Georgia Brown and When the Saints Go Marching In.
Andrew then departed, leaving Tony to perform a few solo numbers – a couple of rarely-heard Sousa marches, Right Forward and El Capitan, followed by three Nat King Cole ballads – Unforgettable, Non Dimenticar and Stardust. Tony is renowned for the fact that he always insists on telling his amused audiences exactly how long each piece will take to perform ... and he certainly had no intention of exempting Andover from this ‘privilege’! It was then Andrew’s turn to perform as he returned to play three ‘music-titled’ pieces – Let’s Face The Music And Dance, Say It With Music and Music, Music, Music – which he followed with a medley of popular Beatles hits – Can’t Buy Me Love, All My Loving, Yesterday and Hey Jude.
The duo were then re-united, although not without a little more humorous banter. Together, they paid tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber with Phantom of the Opera, Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door, All I Ask of You and Love Changes Everything, after which there was just enough time for a Ragtime selection before the interval – Old Pianna Rag, Black and White Rag and Twelfth Street Rag. It was patently obvious the audience had warmed to this cheeky pair and it was difficult to believe that an hour had already elapsed.
Following the interval, the musical variations continued and the joking was unabated – entertainment at its best! The ‘boys’ kicked off the second half with a couple more marches – Dambusters and Blaze Away – before introducing a very well received selection of Elvis Presley hits. The Wonder of You was followed by Love Me Tender, Can’t Help Falling in Love and American Trilogy – the latter cleverly interlacing ‘Dixie’, ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’ and ‘All My Trials’.
The pair then combined for a Neil Sedaka medley of Oh! Carol, Solitaire and Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen before Andrew had the stage to himself for a trio of Shadows’ hits – Atlantis, Apache and FBI. Then it was Tony’s solo spot with the Petite Waltz and Durand’s First Waltz, before the duo united for the remainder of their programme. Irving Berlin was featured with Cheek to Cheek, Puttin’ on the Ritz and Alexander’s Ragtime Band, whilst Tom Jones was remembered with three of his most popular early hits – Delilah, It’s Not Unusual and Green Green Grass of Home.
Harking back to the early 80s, to Louis Clark and the RPO, Tony and Andrew performed a Hooked on a Can Can medley before introducing a short Swing selection – Ain’t She Sweet, Whispering and Bye Bye Blues. Tony then teased the audience by announcing that there would be a pretend encore, by which time nobody was treating his remarks seriously and the fun continued right up to the end. A medley provided a real encore, consisting of the Muppets Theme, Varsity Drag, That’s a Plenty, Charleston, Yes Sir, That’s My Baby and Tiger Rag.
The programme was thoughtfully arranged, the music was enjoyable throughout and the amusing banter was always ‘on tap’. The excellent duo had worked hard to ensure the evening was an unqualified success. “You must invite them back!” was the popular comment as the audience departed – and who could challenge such an astute observation! |
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18 AUGUST 2011
 Making his second appearance at Weyhill, for the Society’s August concert, was MARK THOMPSON, a talented young player from Ryton, Tyne and Wear.
In 2002, Mark gained the title of ‘National Young Theatre Organist of the Year’ and, apart from his many concerts, he is kept extremely busy performing in a band and working as rehearsal pianist for several operatic societies. He also likes to play the church organ and has performed the ‘Messiah’ and other works, with various choirs. His talents seem endless as, at one point, he had to balance his time playing with studies at Durham University, where he completed a mathematics degree. An extremely active young man, indeed!
Proceedings began with Everything’s Coming Up Roses from the Broadway musical, Gypsy, followed by Mas Que Nada – a Latin American number performed in the style of Sergio Mendes. Next to feature was the popular One Moment in Time, recorded by Whitney Houston for the 1988 Olympics and She, a No 1 UK hit for Charles Aznavour in 1974.
The audience was then transfixed by some incredible dexterity as Winifred Atwell’s Five Finger Boogie and Twelfth Street Rag were performed. Slowing the tempo – and allowing his fingers time to recover – Mark then introduced the authentic Glenn Miller sound for Moonlight Serenade, before another exceptional item – a medley of twenty-six tunes, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet, from Ain’t She Sweet to Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah. Moreover, not satisfied with that, Mark then recited the complete list of titles without pausing for breath – and gained a well-deserved ovation!
A circuit favourite, Angel in Blue, was the next selection, followed by a medley of tunes in tribute to Reginald Dixon and the Blackpool Tower Wurlitzer. To end the first half, Mark made relatively light work of a difficult piece, Carnival of Venice, for which he replicated the sound of the cornet, an instrument which he had played in his youth.
Music after the interval was equally wide-ranging, beginning with the Liberty Bell march (Sousa) and Patsy Cline’s Crazy. Mark then launched into an American medley, including such titles as Carolina in the Morning, Yellow Rose of Texas and California Here I Come. Classical music was then represented by Rossini’s La Danza, whilst fans of James Last were no doubt delighted with the rendition of The Lonely Shepherd, complete with the familiar panpipes sound of Gheorghe Zamfir.
It was then time for another Musical to feature, in the form of a selection from Les Miserables .... before Mark’s versatility was again well demonstrated – on this occasion with a couple of Rock’n'Roll numbers, Nut Rocker and Shake, Rattle and Roll. Sadly, the evening was drawing to a premature close as My Way was performed, utilising piano and Hammond sounds, followed by the energetic Riverdance composition.
Unsurprisingly, after such a great evening's entertainment, the appreciative audience demanded an encore - to which Mark duly responded, with Nessun Dorma. Doubtless, this talented young player will be making a return visit to Weyhill before too long!
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21 JULY 2011
 Making his Weyhill debut for the Society’s July concert was DAVID INGLEY, from Stourbridge in the West Midlands. In addition to performing concerts, David plays for dancing throughout the UK and runs a small teaching studio where he provides tuition on electronic organ, piano and keyboard. Nobody could complain about a lack of variety as David performed many styles of music throughout the evening – from Classical to Big Band, from Pop to Latin American, a little Jazz and a good selection of Showtime songs. In addition, his choice of music covered a wide time range, ensuring that every taste was satisfied in one way or another – certainly not the easiest of tasks.
The evening opened, somewhat appropriately, with Welcome and Cabaret, before David slowed the tempo with One Moment in Time, the Whitney Houston hit recorded for the 1988 Summer Olympics. The audience was then challenged to recall the singers originally responsible for the next selection, all taken from the Dreamboats and Petticoats 50s and 60s musical: Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen, The Great Pretender, Runaway, Let It Be Me and Poetry in Motion ... and, needless to say, the correct answers – all American – were forthcoming.
The next two numbers – Angel in Blue (complete with trumpet sound) and You Raise Me Up – are amongst the most popular songs on the organ and keyboard circuit whilst a little Latin American music was certainly not out of place, on this occasion Amorada was the artiste’s choice, albeit requiring rapid finger stretching exercise! Classical music was then featured with a selection of Edvard Grieg compositions – Piano Concerto (First movement), Norwegian Dance, Morning Mood and In the Hall of the Mountain King.
Big Band music was represented by the Frank Sinatra hit, New York, New York and memories of Freddie Mercury and Queen flooded back as David performed Bohemian Rhapsody, before arriving at the interval with a medley of marches – The Weyhill March, Sons of the Brave and the often played Blaze Away.
The second half got underway with Ray Noble’s Cherokee followed by Somewhere Over the Rainbow, performed in traditional organ style, before David introduced a medley from Frank Loesser’s Guys and Dolls – including such numbers as A Bushel and a Peck, I’ve Never Been in Love Before, If I Were a Bell, A Woman in Love and Luck Be a Lady. The delightful Gold and Silver Waltz (Franz Lehar) conjured up the flavour of Vienna, whilst the next piece, Dance Above the Rainbow transferred the musical scene to Ireland.
Memory, from the musical Cats, was followed by the Jazz violin sounds for a Stephane Grapelli medley, consisting of Shine, S’Wonderful and Avalon. The ever-popular Neil Sedaka was then featured with the 1974 hit recording,Laughter in the Rain, and the beat was increased for the Pet Shop Boys’ 1979 hit, Go West. David concluded his performance with a three-piece medley, Broadway Melody, After You’ve Gone and Bye Bye Blues ... except that the concert was not over! The almost inevitable encore was called for – and the response was duly provided with a rousing finale, in the form of South Rampart Street Parade.
The warm applause accorded to David at the end of the evening surely indicated that a return visit would meet with approval, and another enjoyable concert further enhanced the Society’s reputation for providing top class entertainment and excellent value for money.
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16 JUNE 2011
 Providing the music for the Society’s June concert was ALASTAIR KIERNAN from Linton in Cambridgeshire, making his second visit to Weyhill. Alastair has made a name for himself as a highly accomplished and talented artiste and has performed at many of the well known theatre/pipe organ venues, including Blackpool Tower, The Dome in Brighton and Southampton Guildhall. However, he is not a full-time performer as, in his 'other life', he is Commercial Director of a British charter airline based at London Stansted Airport and also holds a pilot's licence.
The evening began in typical theatre organ style, with a number of show tunes, including Everything’s Coming Up Roses and There’s No Business Like Show Business, followed by Gabriel’s Oboe (Ennio Morricone) from the film The Mission. The showtime theme was resumed with Steppin’ Out With My Baby,Puttin’ on the Ritz and The Charleston.
A Cha Cha selection, consisting of Kiss Me Honey, Honey and Wheels, was followed by Run (Leona Lewis) and a couple of testing ‘digital exercises’ – Dizzy Fingers and Tico Tico. Alastair then paused for a few moments to amuse the audience with a few of his business experiences before, somewhat appropriately, performing Skyliner, a Big Band number, and introduced the saxophone sound forI Know Why. Another Ennio Morricone composition, La Califfa (from the film of the same name), was followed by a medley comprising Hot Diggity, Delilah, I’m in the Mood for Dancing and Put Another Nickel In.
The second half began with a selection of popular marches – Out of the Blue, Colonel Bogey and Blaze Away – then a complete change of tempo was provided with Gira Con Me (a Josh Groban number), Copacabana (a Barry Manilow hit) and the theme from the film Missing (Vangelis). A popular dance number, Besame Mucho, was followed by a couple of Judy Garland hits – The Trolley Song and Somewhere Over the Rainbow – before Alastair launched into a selection of ‘sing-a-long’ music from around Great Britain and Ireland, concluding with an accordion sound for The Mull of Kintyre.
For his finale, Alastair had chosen the very popular Highland Cathedral. However, the audience wanted more ... and so a suitable encore was performed – We’ll Meet Again – and no doubt this will prove to be the case!
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19 MAY 2011
 For the second successive month the Club took on a European flavour as the Fairground Hall in Weyhill – suitably adorned in black, red and gold – welcomed German star, CLAUDIA HIRSCHFELD, to the stage for its May concert. This was Claudia’s third appearance for the Society so a great evening was eagerly anticipated by everyone who had been fortunate enough to attend her previous concerts. As a consequence, the event was completely sold out some five weeks in advance!
Claudia, who resides near Dortmund, is truly an international star, having played throughout Europe, North and South America, China and in the United Arab Emirates. Parties for the rich and famous also figure in her hectic concert diary, as well as invitations to the homes of TV stars. In 1999 and again in 2000, she had the honour of performing at the Annual Garden Party of the German President, where she played for nearly 10,000 invited people at the Bellevue Castle in Berlin.
The concert began with Ethel Merman’s There’s No Business Like Show Business, followed by a couple of well-known romantic film themes – Moon River (from Breakfast at Tiffany’s) and True Love (from High Society). In total contrast, Claudia then introduced a Gospel medley comprising of Michael, Row the Boat Ashore, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, This Old House and Down by the Riverside.
Another popular piece of film music – the Theme from Love Story – was then performed, followed by an André Rieu arrangement of I Would Like To Dance. A Nana Mouskouri hit, Only Love, preceded another selection from the movies – themes from Ben Hur and Forrest Gump,I Will Follow Him (from Sister Act) and Star Wars (composer John Williams) ... and all too soon it was time for a break.
Bach’s Toccata in D minor heralded the commencement of the second half, followed by a James Last-style medley of Cockles and Mussels, Daisy Daisy and Abide With Me. Claudia then introduced the suite from Pirates of the Caribbean before creating the familiar James Last sound for Maurice Jarre’s Lara’s Theme (from the Dr Zhivago film). The concert then embraced a more serious tone as Claudia performed the soundtrack to The Passion of The Christ (composed by John Debney) and Credo, one of her own compositions.
James Bond then ‘entered proceedings’ with the themes from Dr No and For Your Eyes Only before Claudia introduced another of her fine compositions, Villamartin, suggesting that perhaps she had spent a holiday on the Costa Blanca. The ever popular Radetsky March (Johann Strauss Snr) had the hands clapping and the audience was further animated by an Elvis Presley medley of Jailhouse Rock, Hound Dog and Blue Suede Shoes to bring the concert to a lively end.
Needless to say, after such a performance, an encore was a ‘must’ – and Claudia duly obliged with Highland Cathedral, a tune composed by two German musicians in 1982. The evening seemed to pass so rapidly – a clear indication of the high standard of entertainment provided – and it was sheer pleasure to witness an artiste who so enjoyed performing to an appreciative audience.
Plans are already in hand for Claudia to return in 2013 – possibly to perform at The Lights theatre in Andover. No doubt, the vast majority of those attending her Weyhill concert will be awaiting news of this event. |
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14 APRIL 2011
 ‘A great evening’, ‘terrific entertainment’, ‘brilliant show’ ... such were the comments overheard as the audience left The Lights theatre at the end of the latest show, titled ‘One Night Only’, staged by the Weyhill Electronic Organ Society. The artiste responsible for this unreserved and well earned praise was the popular Dutchman, DIRKJAN RANZIJN, a player who has surely gained a place in the hearts and minds of the near-capacity audience.
Dirk (as he is known to his many fans) tours throughout Europe and has frequently performed on international television and radio. Born in the small city of Alkmaar, 30 miles north of Amsterdam, Dirk claims he has performing in his blood and says he cannot remember wanting to do anything else except appear in front of the footlights.
The show began, somewhat appropriately, with Tulips from Amsterdam, followed in similar tempo by Viva Espana, before the introduction of a delightful ballad entitled Listen, written by Greek composer Nikos Ignatiadis and featuring the rich sounds of piano and orchestra. Dirk then performed a Bryan Adams song from the 2002 animated film, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, before alluding to his fellow countryman, André Rieu, and performing The Second Waltz (Shoshtakovich), the piece that had first brought the now-famous violinist to the public’s notice in 1992.
In keeping with the Society’s policy of introducing ‘something different’ from time to time, Dirk then performed a short medley, accompanied by a screen display of relevant photos which he himself had taken, the tunes performed being Dance of the Northern Lights, Slow Boat to China, Circus Time and one of his own compositions, Sunset over Holland. Time seemed to have passed so rapidly and, after Don McLean’s Vincent (about Dutch artist, Van Gogh), and a selection of Viennese waltzes, the interval had arrived.
The scene moved to Italy as Dirk opened the second half with the lively Chianti Song – another number also performed by André Rieu – and then slowed the pace with Concerto Pour Une Voix and It’s Only Love, from the Austrian musical, Rudolf. A disco beat was introduced for Besame Mucho, a song with a Mexican flavour, whilst the theme from Chess, confirmed Dirk’s love of the musicals.
A brief classical medley was followed by Dream a Little Dream of Me (a 60s hit for Mama Cass Elliott), featuring a fine saxophone sound, and then it was time for a little Reggae in the form of Falling in Love With You in the style of UB40 (or in Dirk’s words, Elvis meets Bob Marley). Sadly, the entertainment was drawing to a close ... Somewhere from West Side Story was chosen as the final selection but, in response to loud applause from the audience, Dirk returned to the stage to perform a double encore – This Is the Moment from Jekyll and Hyde followed by One Night Only (the evening’s show title) from the film and musical of the same name.
A significant feature of Dirk’s programme is his constant willingness to seek out new or rarely heard pieces of music and then to create an accurate interpretation. Referring to his performances as ‘instrumental shows’, rather than 'electronic organ concerts’, this amiable Dutchman has his own unique style, coupled with an incredible enthusiasm for his music and a passion that is unsurpassed. It was indeed a truly enjoyable evening – just as everyone has come to expect from this top class musical ambassador. |
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17 MARCH 2011
 Filling the Fairground Hall with superb music for the WEOS March concert was 21-year-old IAN HOUSE, from Eastbourne – one of the youngest players to perform for the Club and making his second appearance at Weyhill. Ian began playing keyboards at the age of seven and has already established himself as a consummate musician, both nationally and internationally, having already played concerts throughout the UK, Europe and America.
Ian takes pride in performing tunes that are rarely heard on the circuit and his programme had obviously been carefully planned. The variation in styles and sounds maintained the interest of a near-capacity audience throughout the evening. The range of music was extensive, from Classics to Dixieland, with Songs from the Shows and film themes for good measure. Marches, Big Band and dance music also featured – and a little Irish music for St Patrick’s Day. A brass band, accordion, guitar and orchestra were just a few of the many sounds that Ian produced during his performance.
The evening opened with the lively Aquarius (from the 60s musical Hair), immediately followed by a slow 50s ballad titled That’s All – a Frank Sinatra number. By way of further contrast, Ian then performed a popular march, Blaze Away, before introducing a Latin flavour with Poinciana and a sensitive and well appreciated version of Send In The Clowns (from Stephen Sondheim’s 1973 musical, A Little Night Music).
Cole Porter’s It’s-de-Lovely and the Sinatra hit, Come Fly With Me, were both performed in Big Band style and (perhaps in recognition of St Patrick’s Day) this was followed by Enya’s hauntingly lovely Watermark, featuring piano and voices. Further changes in sound were made as Ian concluded the first half with guitar and voice for Michael Jackson’s Ben and accordion for the Bel Viso Polka.
The second half was introduced with a rousing film theme, Conquest of Paradise – composed by Vangelis – before the tempo was slowed somewhat for Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered. Ian then performed the Rodeo March, a stirring piece of music he had discovered whilst in the USA, before the Bossa Nova, Desafinado, had the toes tapping. Le Onde, a rarely heard item, allowed Ian to utilise the beautiful piano sounds of his instrument and Dolly Parton’s Nine To Five brought a Country Pop flavour to proceedings.
Recalling his days with a brass band, Ian then played The Toy Trumpet before introducing a well-loved piece of Classical music, namely the Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni). Memories of Ol’ Blue Eyes were aroused with Fly Me To The Moon whilst Somewhere Out There – from the animated film, An American Tail – was beautifully performed with excellent orchestral sounds.
The evening drew to a close with another piece of Classical music – Dance of The Comedians, from The Bartered Bride (Smetana) – but the audience would not allow the concert to finish at that point. Ian duly responded to demands for an encore with his ‘party piece’ – a lively Dixieland number titled Canadian Capers. As was so evident, talent is certainly not determined by age and it is good to know that the future of electronic keyboard music is in such youthful and capable hands. A return to Weyhill for this young musician is assured.
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17 FEBRUARY 2011
 The Club's February guest artiste was ANDREW VARLEY from Southsea, a player who is quite well known in the area. Apart from performing concerts for organ and keyboard clubs, Andrew is constantly in demand for ballroom and sequence dancing, for which he has made a good number of appearances in Andover.
After a dynamic start with the theme from Star Trek, Andrew performed a couple of Franz Lambert compositions – Dreaming Ballerina and El Torero. He then played a selection from Lionel Bart’s Oliver – accompanied by excerpts from the film, displayed on the Society’s large screen. A Johnny Mathis number, It’s Not for Me to Say, was followed by Waltz No.2 (Shostakovich) and a stirring tribute to the late and great composer, John Barry, brought a number of popular films to mind.
It is hardly believable that such memorable music was composed by one man - We Have All the Time in the World (from the film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service), Midnight Cowboy, Somewhere in Time, Born Free, Out of Africa, Dances with Wolves and You Only Live Twice. Incredibly, so many more John Barry compositions could have been included had there been enough time! Mike Batt’s Theme from Caravans was followed by a lively medley, which included Volare and Mambo Jambo, before it was time for everyone to partake of refreshments.
The second half began with Jeff Wayne’s Eve of the War (from War of the Worlds), introduced by the voice of Richard Burton, and another Franz Lambert number, Meeting in Venice, was pleasing to the ear. The popular Bette Midler hit, Wind Beneath My Wings, was then heard, before it was film time once again. Eyes were then diverted to the screen as Andrew performed the Hans Zimmer theme to Pirates of the Caribbean.
The swashbuckling over, an impressive set of themes from Once Upon a Time in The West and The Big Country brought a Western atmosphere to the concert and a selection of Jule Styne’s many compositions were featured as the evening drew to a close. Andrew selected the Vangelis theme, 1492: Conquest of Paradise, to end his programme – which would, no doubt, have met with the approval of Christopher Columbus himself! – and completed proceedings with Frank Sinatra’s My Way as an encore.
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20 JANUARY 2011 
Guest artiste at the Club’s first concert of 2011 was RICHARD BOWER from Sheffield. Richard had played for the Society on two previous occasions, as part of the Keyklix duo, but this was the first time he had performed solo at Weyhill.
A Latin American opening was followed by a couple of ballads – You Raise Me Up and If I Only Had Time, the latter a 1968 hit for New Zealander, John Rowles. Richard then employed some nifty pedal-work for A Foggy Day In London Town before introducing a little Mexican-style acoustic guitar. A Swing medley included Undecided and Come Fly With Me and the Big Band sound featured Poinciana.
Finlandia (Sibelius) provided a Classical tone, whilst Frank Sinatra and The Beatles were represented by Summer Wind and Let It Be respectively. Two Irving Berlin numbers – Puttin' On The Ritz and Blue Skies – came next, before Eric Clapton’s Lay Down Sally (Country style) signalled time for the interval refreshments.
The concert resumed with an Elvis number, The Wonder Of You, followed by the sounds of Hammond jazz with Satin Doll and Little Darlin’. Memories of Judy Garland were then aroused with The Trolley Song and Somewhere Over The Rainbow before Richard introduced the popular Lara’s Theme from the film, Dr Zhivago. Lonely Is A Man Without Love (an Engelbert Humperdinck hit) was next on the agenda, followed by Under The Boardwalk (a 1964 hit for The Drifters). In complete contrast, Richard then performed a hymn, Lord Of All Hopefulness, followed by Elan (Secret Garden).
Olivia Newton-John performed for the UK in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest and her song, Long Live Love, was Richard’s next item and then – arguably the best piece of the evening – a lovely piano arrangement of Bette Midler’s Wind Beneath My Wings. The Londonderry Air and Land Of My Fathers preceded a final medley of Mack The Knife, Danke Schoen and Hello Dolly concluded the evening’s entertainment, except for the inevitable encore – a selection of Rock’n’Roll hits.
16 DECEMBER 2010
 Performing for the Club’s Christmas concert was the ever-popular TIM FLINT from Derbyshire, making his fourth visit to Weyhill. One of the most popular players on the UK circuit, Tim is highly respected both as a musician and as an entertainer. He is famed, not only for his brilliant musicianship, but also for his flamboyant costumes, his quick fire wit and his ability to gel with any audience ... and, on this occasion, he even succeeded in matching his outfit to the decorations around the Hall!
Throughout the evening, images of ‘Liberace meets Eric Morecambe’ were formed! The jokes came pouring out and the quality of music was top class – just the kind of entertainment for a cold pre-Christmas evening!
Tim opened proceedings with Irving Berlin’s Cheek to Cheek, followed by a slow tempo version of I Remember You (a one- time hit for Frank Ifield). He then performed a selection with the style and sound of the Cinema Organ, including The Trolley Song (a Judy Garland number) and Tiger Rag.
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) brought a Classical feeling to the concert before another medley, incorporating Bluegrass and Traditional Jazz styles, demonstrated more of Tim’s fine musical talents. Television theme music was then introduced – in the form of The Song That I Sing, from the 80s series, We’ll Meet Again. The dominant sound of horns could be heard as the Dance of the Comedians (Smetana) was played and memories of Torvill and Dean came flooding back with a selection from Mack and Mabel. It was then time for a break, during which sausage rolls and mince pies were eagerly devoured.
A rousing brass band number, Bandology, got the second half moving, followed by a selection of film themes relating to summer – including The Green Leaves of Summer (from The Alamo) and the Theme from a Summer Place – an amusingly subtle attempt to dispel all thoughts of the harsh winter outside!
Naturally, a few traditional carols formed part of the evening, with Tim accompanying members of the audience as they sang along to the words displayed on the Society’s large screen. A few more festive tunes were performed before, once again incorporating a little humour into his selections, Tim dedicated a piece of film music to the unsuccessful England Football World Cup team ... Out of Africa! And so the evening continued with much laughter and enjoyment, until the concert was concluded with Muskrat Ramble – a piece which, over the years, has become one of Tim’s ‘signature tunes’.
The acclaim at the end of the concert suggested that Tim would certainly be welcome back in the not too distant future. It was indeed a great way to end the year, a terrific send-off for Christmas ... and everyone went home with a smile!
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18 NOVEMBER 2010
 Making his third appearance at Weyhill was RYAN EDWARDS from Worksop. Ryan always endeavours to select items that few other players include in their programmes and his imaginative orchestral arrangements are always well received. Throughout the evening he was able to destroy any misguided ideas that the Society’s concerts consist of ‘two hymns and a collection’!
The range of music provided was seemingly endless - beginning with the Light Cavalry Overture (von Suppé ), followed by a Traditional Jazz version of Gershwin's Nice Work If You Can Get It, The Brass Band sound was produced for Alpine Echoes whilst pan pipes accompanied the delightful Morning In Cornwall (James Last). A Latin American number, Cocamba, preceded the sound of the Classical Organ for Festal Day.
Ryan then introduced the Big Band style with three Glenn Miller numbers – At Last, I Know Why and Moonlight Serenade. Further variation was provided by Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag, David Foster’s music from the film St Elmo’s Fire and The Jellicle Ball from ‘Cats’. Such variety ... and it was only half-time!
I Wanna Be Like You (from The Jungle Book), in the style of Kenny Ball, began proceedings after the interval, followed by another piece of film music – Raiders Of The Lost Ark (John Williams). Yet another sound was conjured out of Ryan’s instrument when the Carpenters’ hit, Goodbye To Love, included a stunning electric guitar solo. A further change of style and Nimrod (from Elgar’s ‘Enigma Variations’) was beautifully performed.
Mike Oldfield’s Portsmouth got the toes tapping and, as if responding to a challenge, Ryan then produced the sound of the bagpipes with Tattoo, from the same artiste. This was followed by the Zampa Overture (Ferdinand Herold) and a slow tempo version of I Won’t Send Roses from the musical ‘Mack and Mabel’.
However, Ryan had not quite finished! A little swing music was next – Charlie Barnet’s Skyliner and, in complete contrast, proceedings were completed with Michael Flatley’s Gypsy and Lord of The Dance. Inevitably, after such an enjoyable evening, Ryan was encouraged back on to the stage for an encore – Nessun Dorma ... not that anyone wanted to sleep through this concert! It was just the kind of entertainment to attract future audiences.
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21 OCTOBER 2010
The Society’s October concert saw the visit of JOANNE NAULLS from Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, making her very first visit to the Club. Apart from performing on an electronic instrument, Joanne is also at ease when playing pipe organs (having performed on at least eighteen different such instruments in the UK) and, in addition to her concerts, she specialises in playing for sequence dancing.
The programme began with Joanne’s signature tune, Keep Your Sunny Side Up, followed by a selection of marches, Old Comrades, Brass Buttons and the Club’s signature tune, The Weyhill March. The audience was then entertained with a number of pieces themed around Paris – Waltz of Paris, Stars Over Paris, Under the Bridges of Paris and Under Paris Skies. By way of further variation, Joanne performed This Is My Lovely Day, Serenade in Blue and Room 504 – followed by a medley of Country music memory-jerkers, such as I Recall a Gypsy Woman, Wabash Cannonball, San Antonio Rose, 57 Chevrolet and Jambalaya.
The Diana Ross hit, When You Tell Me That You Love Me, preceded Pop Looks Bach (the theme music for Ski Sunday), and a couple of songs from the shows, I Dreamed a Dream and Love Changes Everything, followed on. A group of well known Spanish tunes – Spanish Gypsy Dance, Una Paloma Blanca and E Viva Espana – completed the first part of the evening’s entertainment.
Joanne returned to the stage for the second half and began by performing her own version of ‘Classics Up To Date’ – Samum, Chopin’s Nocturne in E Flat Major, Funiculi Funicula and Czardas – followed by a complete contrast – You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me (a hit for both Elvis Presley and Dusty Springfield) and The Wedding. A few more hits from the 50s and 60s were introduced – Singing the Blues, Three Steps to Heaven, Living Doll, Seven Little Girls and Da Doo Ron Ron.
The audience was then ‘transported’ to the West End for a further selection of show songs – Consider Yourself and As Long As He Needs Me (from Oliver), Getting To Know You (from The King and I), plus How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria and Climb Every Mountain (from The Sound of Music).
The ‘journey’ then moved to Scotland for the sound of the pipes and drums and Amazing Grace, before the travelling was completed with a flight to South America, where Patricia and Tico Tico provided a Latin American finale. The colourful ‘world tour’ was over but a few more musical items had been introduced to the Society for the first time.
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16 SEPTEMBER 2010
 The Lights Theatre in Andover was the venue for the Society’s September concert, titled Boys’ Night Out. The show featured great friends, CHRIS POWELL and BRETT WALES, two of the UK’s finest keyboard exponents, performing on ‘state of the art’ multi-keyboard instruments. The two players had each previously performed solo concerts at Weyhill but this was the first occasion the Society had been able to welcome them as a duo.
A near-capacity audience included the Mayor and Mayoress of Test Valley, Cllr. Chris Lynn and his wife Frances – and they were treated to a wide variety of music, with Chris providing the more traditional organ music on his Roland Atelier and Brett entertaining the audience with the ‘European’ sound produced by his 3-manual Wersi Louvre instrument.
The first half opened with ‘The Boys’ performing together, followed by two solo spots and ending with another duet, whereas Chris and Brett were on stage throughout the entire second half, providing an excellent mixture of tunes, interspersed with a little friendly banter – not only between themselves but also with the audience.
The repertoire included Ghost Riders In The Sky (Johnny Cash), Pennsylvania 6-5000 (Glenn Miller), Lady In Red (Chris de Burgh), Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler) and The Wonder of You (Elvis Presley), as well as a Latin American medley. Chris  performed a brief selection featuring the familiar Blackpool Tower Wurlitzer sound and Brett introduced a Klaus Wunderlich version of the Blue Danube (Strauss) – titled Happy Danube – followed by The Tennessee Waltz. The duo also played a delightful version of the Johnny Mathis/Jane Olivor hit, The Last Time I Felt Like This – sadly, a song that is rarely heard on the organ and keyboard circuit or, for that matter, on the radio.
The concert proved to be yet another successful event for the Society – and, with the same level of support, there is no reason why these occasions cannot be repeated in the years ahead.
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19 AUGUST 2010
A near party atmosphere purveyed the Fairground Hall as the Club marked its 100th concert with a capacity attendance. Appropriately, the guest artiste was NICHOLAS MARTIN, who had played for the Society’s inaugural concert in July 2002. The event was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Test Valley, Cllr. Chris Lynn and his wife Frances, who were able to experience at first hand the fine skills and dexterity of the performer.
A number of pre-concert congratulatory messages had been received from local MP, Sir George Young, Lawrie McMenemy, former Manager of Southampton FC, and Nigel Ogden, presenter of the BBC Radio 2 programme, The Organist Entertains, as well as from some of the artistes who had previously played for the Society.
Nick opened the concert with his signature tune, Hey Look Me Over, followed by a selection of dance numbers, featuring the Blackpool Wurlitzer sound. The ever-popular Highland Cathedral, complete with bagpipes and military band, was well received and a little audience participation accompanied the Radetzky March (Strauss Sr.). A few memories were then jogged by the playing of Coronation Scot, the theme music for the BBC Radio series, Paul Temple, before an excellent rendition of the Warsaw Concerto – composed by Richard Addinsell (who had once resided just a few miles from Weyhill), followed by the Dambusters March, suitably enhanced by the sound of aircraft and sirens.
The programme was given a more contemporary feel with the Whitney Houston hit, One Moment In Time, followed by a rock’n’roll selection, including Rock Around The Clock, Hound Dog and All Shook Up – by which time the interval had arrived, almost unnoticed.
A Strauss Jr. composition, Roses From The South, introduced the second half, followed by a selection of popular tunes from the Sixties – Apache (The Shadows), Telstar (The Tornados), Downtown (Petula Clark), Bobby’s Girl (Susan Maughan) and Solitaire (Neil Sedaka). A sing-a-long medley, containing too many songs to mention, evoked more audience involvement whilst a trio of film themes – Somewhere in Time, Three Coins In The Fountain and Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing – provided a complete contrast.
Nick then performed a couple of Marches – including, of course, the Weyhill March! – and the delightful Cavalliera Rusticana Intermezzo, followed by his brilliant interlinking of Tiger Rag with Widor’s Toccata to bring the concert to a rousing finish ... well almost! Inevitably, an encore was demanded. Nick duly obliged, with Tchaikovsky’s 3rd Piano Concert ... and the audience went home satisfied – just like the audience in July 2002!
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15 JULY 2010
 The Society's July concert certainly maintained the high standard of musicianship to which its audiences have become accustomed with the performance of PHIL BROWN being extremely well received.
Phil, from Littleover in Derbyshire, is a multi-talented performer who, apart from being a top class keyboards exponent, is a qualified IT professional. He has played as supporting act with the late Joe Loss and his Orchestra as well as with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, and he made full use of his talents and experience to provide an evening filled with a splendid variation of music and styles to suit most tastes.
The distinguished voice of Richard Burton grabbed the attention of the audience as Phil began with Eve of the War (from War of the Worlds). By way of contrast, the piano sound came to the fore with Ballade pour Adeline – a 70s hit for Richard Clayderman – followed by Winifred Atwell’s Black and White Rag.
A selection of Beatles songs, including She Loves You, Yesterday and Hey Jude, provided further variation whilst Amor, El Cumbanchero, Cavaquinho and Brazil were included in a swinging Latin American medley. Next came a piece which Phil could almost call his own – an exquisite performance of the beautiful theme music (by Vangelis) from the film Missing – before the Hammond sound was employed for Green Onions, a 60s hit for Booker T and the MGs. Clint Eastwood fans would no doubt have been delighted by the stirring theme that followed, namely from the spaghetti western, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
Another change of style introduced The Prisoners’ Chorus from Nabucco (Verdi), followed by the familiar James Last composition, A Morning in Cornwall, and to end the first half Phil produced an excellent performance of the Poet and Peasant Overture (Von Suppé).
The concert was resumed with the lively Valencia, then Phil promptly reduced the tempo with Bilitis – a Francis Lai composition which, with added lyrics, provided a hit for Elaine Paige, under the title of The Second Time. Another Booker T hit, Time Is Tight, was followed by another Vangelis film theme, Conquest of Paradise and an unfamiliar Classical waltz, Hellmesberger’s Ball Scene.
A swing medley included Mack the Knife (with chorus), Danke Schoen and Hello Dolly before Phil produced his ‘pièce de résistance’ with a clever rendition of Duelling Banjos, from the film Deliverance, reproducing the competition between a banjo from one speaker and a guitar from the other! Continuing the film association, a selection of James Bond themes were then heard, including Nobody Does It Better, Goldfinger, For Your Eyes Only and Diamonds are Forever. Ennio Morricone was the next composer to be featured with the performance of Chi Mai – the theme for the 80s television series, The Life and Times of David Lloyd George.
Phil elected to finish his concert with a Rock’n’Roll medley, for which he was able to display some nifty pedalwork and a little keyboard drumming. The audience called for more ... and so followed a lively ‘finger-numbing’ encore, Zirkus Renz to provide a fitting ending to a great evening – an evening that clearly demonstrated the broad-based musical entertainment the Society aims to provide each month.
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17 JUNE 2010
A top class performance was anticipated at the Society’s June concert, considering the credentia ls of the multi-talented guest artiste, KEVIN GRUNILL ..... and that is precisely what the audience witnessed.
Originally from Barnsley, Kevin has performed at many of the country’s major musical venues, including the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Royal Festival Hall in London, as well as the Opera House and Tower Ballroom in Blackpool. In 1997, he was appointed Resident Organist at the North Pier, Blackpool, where he entertained many thousands of holidaymakers until 2005. During that period he was also one of the team of organists at the Tower Ballroom.
One of Kevin’s main interests is the history and construction of the theatre organ and, after leaving his Blackpool appointments, he was responsible for installing two Wurlitzers at a steam and organ museum on the outskirts of Scarborough. His expertise as an organ restorer and musician proved to be a winning combination; consequently, in 2008, he was appointed General Manager and Resident Organist at the ‘Scarborough Fair Collection’.
His programme contained a wide selection of music, featuring a multitude of sounds which pervaded the hall throughout the evening. Opening with Calling All Workers (the theme music for the old BBC radio show, Music While You Work), he followed up with the soul-searching Broken Vow (a Josh Groban number). Songs from the musicals came next on the agenda – Wonderful, Wonderful Day from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Waltz Of My Heart from Ivor Novello’s The Dancing Years.
Eleanora provided a little Latin Americam music whilst the alto saxophone and piano sounds were employed for a version of Erroll Garner’s Misty. Matt Monro was remembered with a tribute medley, comprising of Portrait Of My Love, Walk Away and Born Free. The sound of a marching band then filled the hall as Kevin performed John Philip Sousa’s Semper Fidelis. The ever-popular Highland Cathedral – a German composition subsequently adopted for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo – was then played, with the authentic sound of the pipes and drums, followed by a selection from Oklahoma ... by which time the interval had arrived.
The second half began with Play Fiddle Play – a descriptive piece of Hungarian Gypsy violin style music which Kevin interpreted so well – followed by the familiar sounds of brass of the famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band with March Of The Cobblers (from the film Brassed Off) and Bette Midler’s well-know hit, Wind Beneath My Wings. Following a medley of Glenn Miller favourites, Kevin introduced some memories of the Tower Ballroom with a brief Wurlitzer-style selection and fittingly made reference to the MBE recently awarded to Phil Kelsall, Resident Organist at the Tower Ballroom for the past 35 years.
To wind up proceedings, Kevin opted for a number of show tunes from stage and screen, ending with a brilliant performance of music from Phantom of The Opera. After such an excellent evening an encore was inevitable – and the guest player duly obliged with Devil’s Gallop, the theme music from the radio programme, Dick Barton-Special Agent. A special concert, a special performer ... and a very satisfied audience!
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 Performing for the Society’s May concert was JANET DOWSETT (from Spencers Wood, near Reading) – a talented lady who combines a career as a performer with that of a teacher, on both organ and keyboards, and as a Senior Examiner for the London College of Music.
Launching the concert with Red Roses for a Blue Lady, Janet continued with a selection of well known Henry Mancini film themes – Baby Elephant Walk, Moon River and The Pink Panther Theme – followed by the familiar Elizabethan Serenade. Two Trevor Duncan compositions were then introduced, namely The Girl from Corsica and the Dr Finlay’s Casebook signature tune.
By way of complete contrast – and an innovation as far as the Weyhill audience was concerned – Janet then performed a collection of Chart No.1 hits – one from each of the past twenty-five years – titles of which became the cause of much audience head-scratching! However, Janet relieved the listeners’ obvious frustrations by revealing the titles once she had completed her selections, these ranging from The Power of Love (Jennifer Rush) in 1985 to Everybody Hurts (the Helping Haiti single) in 2010.
Next on the agenda was Deep Purple (an erstwhile hit for Nino Tempo and April Stevens, as well as later inspiring the name of the famous British rock group), followed by what Janet referred to as her show-based Diva Selection – All That Jazz, Cabaret, Wouldn’t It Be Lovely and On My Own – to lead up to the interval.
The concert resumed with Dizzy Fingers – providing Janet with a little digital exercise – followed by Leroy Anderson’s delightful Forgotten Dreams. It was then once again time for the audience members to test their respective memories as Janet performed a medley of themes from a number of televised police dramas, from both sides of the Atlantic – the selection being detected as Hawaii Five-O, Morse, Cagney and Lacey, The Avengers, Dixon of Dock Green, Z-Cars, Perry Mason and Mission Impossible (the latter featuring a truly authentic base pedal sound).
Back to the present with Hallelujah (a recent hit for Alexandra Burke) – followed by a medley from The King and I musical, including I Whistle A Happy Tune, Hello Young Lovers, I Have Dreamed, Getting To Know You, We Kiss In a Shadow and Shall We Dance. To conclude her concert, Janet opted for an up-tempo selection of Glenn Miller tunes – In the Mood, Pennsylvania 6-5000, Chattanooga Choo Choo and Little Brown Jug. And so the curtain came down on a most enjoyable evening – an evening of music impeccably performed by a lady who is sure to be welcomed back to Weyhill.
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 Guest artiste for the Society’s April concert was RICHARD MONKS, from Williton in Somerset – a young player equally adept on both electronic and pipe organs.
A concert of varied styles and sounds was particularly refreshing in that it included a good number of pieces not previously performed at Weyhill. Richard set the entertainment in motion with the march, Semper Fidelis, followed by a James Last composition, Music From Across The Way. The familiar sound of the Blackpool Tower Wurlitzer was introduced for Blackpool Belle – a song about a train which took people from Bolton to Blackpool for a night out!
Richard then took the audience back to the 60s with the popular instrumental, Telstar – a hit for the Tornados – then, by way of complete contrast, performed the Shostakovich Waltz No 2. Moving forward to the 70s, Sing, the Carpenters’ hit, was next to be performed and, to the accompaniment of a roaring Spitfire engine, Ron Goodwin’s film theme Aces High ensured that everyone was kept alert!
The accordion sound was next to be heard, with a song called Topsy – dedicated by its composer to a playful kitten – followed by another ‘new’ song, Popular, from the musical Wicked and a bouncy little number called Chihuahua. Richard then played a Rock’n’Roll selection, including Neil Sedaka’s Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen, followed by Love Is All – a 1969 hit for Malcolm Roberts – and a typical Wurlitzer medley leading up to the interval.
The excellent range of music continued in the second half, commencing with the Weyhill March (the Club’s adopted signature tune) and a selection from Mack & Mabel. Richard then selected Xanadu, a hit for Olivia Newton-John, and produced the sounds of the bagpipes and military band for the ever-popular Highland Cathedral.
Cherokee and Undecided provided something for fans of Big Band music and the James Bond Theme was followed by the Nancy Sinatra song, You Only Live Twice, from the film of the same name. Stevie Wonder’s hit, I Just Called To Say I Love You met with approval whilst a couple of tunes in the style of James Last – Orange Blossom Special and Coming Round The Mountain – set the toes tapping.
You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel was followed by a couple of Sambas and the Blackpool sound – with a Parisian theme – brought the evening to a close. The audience called for more and Richard duly obliged with Tiger Rag, followed by Abba’s Thank You For The Music. However, the young guest artiste was obviously the person to be thanked ... for a most enjoyable concert.
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 As clearly illustrated by the Society’s recent concert, the evenings are not always entirely about music but can often be more broadly defined as entertainment. PAUL CARMAN, from Hinckley in Leicestershire, the latest artiste to take to the Weyhill stage, combined a varied blend of music with his own special brand of humour to ensure that everyone left the Fairground Hall in a happy and contented frame of mind.
Setting off with a traditional organ sound for Tie A Yellow Ribbon and Snowbird, Paul introduced the familiar sounds of saxophone and strings for a Johnny Mathis style version of Misty, followed by a Hammond organ medley including More, As Time Goes By, Moon River and Birth of the Blues. A delightful self-penned number entitled Jeanette, featuring the sound of the pan pipes, provided another variation before a Sousa march, Washington Post, changed the tempo once again.
Deep Purple and Blue Moon were performed in Jazz piano style and these were followed by a one of Doris Day’s lesser known songs, My One and Only Love. The Theatre organ sound was the next to feature – with Lover and When You Wish upon a Star – and the Carpenters’ hit, Top of the World, brought an end to the first half.
A couple of sambas – Quando Quando and Eso Beso – signalled the resumption, followed by snippets of well known tunes such as Sing Something Simple and Around the World (Mantovani style), whilst further variations included some Traditional Jazz, the Glenn Miller sound, Spanish guitar and strings. Ensuring there was music for everyone, Paul performed a little ragtime piano music – The Entertainer – and introduced the steel guitar sound with Your Cheating Heart.
Speak Softly Love, with strings predominant, preceded another Theatre organ number, Try a Little Tenderness, and Yellow Bird was performed to the refrain of a Caribbean Steel Band. The variety of musical sounds seemed endless as the Spanish guitar took over for Rodrigo’s Concerto de Aranjuez and Red Roses for a Blue Lady was played as a piano piece. Paul utilised the sounds of pan pipes, piano and strings for Wind Beneath My Wings and brought proceedings to a rousing finale with 633 Squadron. The audience called for an encore – and Paul duly obliged with Feelings, performed with accordion, strings and piano.
Another great evening ... and another popular artiste who will certainly be welcomed back.
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 ‘Music To Watch Girls By’ was, without question, music to enjoy as JEAN MARTYN and PENNY WEEDON entertained a near capacity audience, including the Mayor and Mayoress of Test Valley, at The Lights theatre in Andover. The show provided the ‘Girls’ with the opportunity to display their undoubted artistry ... Jean on the Theatre’s Yamaha Grand Piano and Penny on her Yamaha Stagea ‘keyboard orchestra’.
Amongst Jean’s many claims to fame are having played with the famous James Last Orchestra in the 90s and, more recently, at St James's Palace in London for the Not Forgotten Heroes Association, in the presence of the Princess Royal, Dame Vera Lynn and Rolf Harris – on both occasions on grand piano. Apart from being an experienced, top class organist/keyboard player, Penny writes for the specialist music press, has a considerable amount of broadcasting experience and is a talented composer; she has also worked as an examiner for the London College of Music.
Appearing in concert together for the very first time, the duo opened the show with the title song – a 1967 hit for Andy Williams – before Penny was left to perform a solo spot consisting of Springtime themes, including Voices of Spring (Strauss Jr.) and a delightful, emotive, but rarely-heard film theme, The Last Snows of Spring.
Jean returned to the stage to perform a contrasting selection of piano pieces – The Robin’s Return, Side Saddle and the Black and White Rag – whilst her final solo spot of the first half, a brilliant performance of the Warsaw Concerto (from the film, Dangerous Moonlight), met with rapturous applause. A few more duets – all girl-related and including a particularly beautiful arrangement of She – led into the interval.
The Lady is a Tramp, performed as a duet, brought the show back on stage, followed by Penny’s second solo spot, the most notable feature of which was Appalachian Spring, leading into Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance. Another duet, Girl from Ipanema, preceded another piano masterclass from Jean – including Wind Beneath my Wings and Misty (the latter in the style of Errol Garner).
The evening drew to a close with a duet that was worthy of the Royal Albert Hall – Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No 2 (from the film, Brief Encounter). The ‘Girls’ duly responded to calls for an encore by performing a reprise of Music To Watch Girls By to bring the curtain down on yet another memorable evening at The Lights. The warmth exuded from the two performers had clearly permeated into the auditorium and made for a truly enjoyable occasion.
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 Weyhill’s Fairground Hall had a slightly more contemporary flavour than usual when 26-year-old guest artiste ROBERT NEW performed for the Society’s February concert. Furthermore, such was the enthusiasm shown by this talented player that he continued well into ‘extra time’.
Robert, a resident of Portsmouth, studied music production at Brighton University and went on to sign a song-writing and music publishing deal with Sony-BMG and Warner Bros. Apart from his organ/keyboard work, he is involved with a local band and a project for a film soundtrack.
The concert opened with The Festival March, followed by Procol Harum’s A Whiter Shade of Pale, Jeff Wayne’s Eve of the War (from War of the Worlds) and a Claudia Hirschfeld composition, Jameos del Agua (featuring the sounds of the pan pipe and Spanish guitar). Now We Are Free (the theme from the film Gladiator) provided an entirely different sound, whilst musicals were well represented by selections from The Sound of Music, Les Miserables (I Dreamed A Dream and On My Own) and Evita (Don’t Cry For Me Argentina). After performing one of his own compositions, The Kursk – K141 (commemorating the Russian submarine disaster of August 2000 – and accompanied by realistic ‘sonar pinging’ – Robert completed the first half with a couple of South American tunes, Moliendo Café and Tico Tico.
Robert’s version of Contrasts to kick-start the second half did fine justice to the composer, Claudia Hirschfeld – whilst his rendition of the Mission Impossible theme was most authentic. He then reproduced the trumpet sound for the popular Angel in Blue, followed by one of Abba’s many hits, The Winner Takes It All.
By way of complete variation, Robert then introduced the Madonna 1989 hit, Cherish, only to change direction once again with his very own Big Band medley arrangement of White Cliffs of Dover, There’ll Always Be an England and We’ll Meet Again, followed by Dancing Queen and the real sound of Abba.
Film themes featured strongly in the second half, the first of these being an authentic version of, My Heart Will Go On (Titanic), whilst Music, the song so synonymous with John Miles, was performed with great feeling. Crying in the Rain was played in the style of the great Klaus Wunderlich before the familiar Vangelis theme for 1492: The Conquest of Paradise reintroduced the cinematic mood. The weather outside – it was raining (!) – seemed a rather appropriate accompaniment for Robert’s next item, Soul Limbo (the well known theme for TV cricket). The next number, Illumination, had Blackpool connotations, whilst the Bette Midler hit, Wind Beneath My Wings, was well received. Had Kylie Mynogue been previously featured at a Weyhill concert? Possibly not ... but I Can’t Get You Out of My Head (with a hint of Traditional Jazz) and Better The Devil You Know, changed all that!
And so a refreshingly different concert had come to an end – eventually – as Robert aptly ‘signed off’ with the Sarah Brightman/Andrea Bocelli duet, Time to Say Goodbye. The performer’s dynamic style, combined with his willingness to introduce a few modern pieces, met with much approval and a future visit from this talented young man is surely anticipated.
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 Austrian flags and films of Vienna greeted the audience arriving for the Society’s January concert and, although it was impossible to accommodate the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the excellent performance of guest artiste CHRIS STANBURY proved to be a perfect substitute as the traditional New Year’s Viennese concert came to Weyhill.
Naturally, the music of Johann Strauss Jr. was prominent throughout the evening, with a variety of waltzes – some familiar, others less well known – but a number of other great composers were featured during a carefully prepared and well presented programme.
The first half included such melodies as Franz Lehar’s Waltz from The Merry Widow, the Strauss Thunder and Lightning Polka, Hungarian Rhapsody No 1 (Franz Liszt) and Vienna, City Of My Dreams – a song associated with the likes of Richard Tauber and Placido Domingo – whilst the interval was preceded by a visit to the opera with the Franz Von Suppé Poet And Peasant Overture.
Introducing a delightful second half selection were two Strauss Waltzes, Roses From The South and An Artist’s Life, followed by a Strauss composition adapted by Dimitri Tomkin and Oscar Hammerstein for the film The Great Waltz and given the title One Day When We Were Young.
With a little artistic licence (considering the Austrian theme), Chris then performed a brief medley from The Sound of Music, followed by a couple of Polkas and Schubert’s Marche Militaire (originally dedicated to Napoleon) – such was the variation – before the evening drew to a close with the ever-popular Blue Danube, Tales from The Vienna Woods and the rousing Radetsky March (the latter a composition of Strauss Sr.).
A virtuoso performance by an extremely talented young player ... a veritable masterclass in musicianship ... and a most enjoyable evening in the heart of Vienna (just a few miles west of Andover) – all for the price of a concert ticket!
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17 DECEMBER 2009
 The bubbly personality of the young lady performing for the Society’s Christmas concert brought welcome warmth to a very cold evening. A full house at the Fairground Hall was treated to an evening sprinkled with festive music played by ELIZABETH HARRISON, who had travelled down from her home north of Preston.
Elizabeth opened the concert with a march and the male section of the audience could certainly be forgiven for thinking it was a Saturday evening – rather than the usual Thursday – the tune being Out Of The Blue, the theme music for the BBC Radio 2 ‘Sports Report’ programme.
After a toe-tapping medley, including Jingle Bells and Winter Wonderland, Elizabeth performed the popular 1963 Roy Orbison hit, In Dreams – then, whilst a selection of her local farmland photographs were displayed on screen, she continued with Ciri-Biri-Bin and Robert Farnon’s Peanut Polka (selected because she enjoyed eating peanuts!).
A medley of popular tunes was sandwiched between two marches – Under The Double Eagle and the rarely-heard Sporting Occasion – followed by Love Is All (a hit for Malcolm Roberts in the late Sixties) ... and it was already time for the interval – and some festive refreshments.
The wide variety of music continued in the second half, including the High School Cadets march, the delightful Music Box Dancer and Roy Orbison’s Christmas hit, Pretty Paper. Prelude in Classic Style preceded a selection of traditional carols – with hearty participation from the audience – followed by Petula Clark’s This Is My Song.
Befitting a farmer’s daughter, Elizabeth then performed a final medley whilst operating the pedals in her wellies (she never ceases to surprise!) – and demands for an encore were positively answered with If I Loved You (from Carousel). Clearly, this enthusiastic player has endeared herself to the Weyhill audience and future appearances must be assured.
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