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City of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra spring concert

This spring, the City of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra invites you into a world of nostalgic references: to folk tunes, to myths, to friends

Vaughan Williams was an avid collector of English folk song, helping the survival of many beautiful tunes. The three movements of the English Folk Song Suite include traditional melodies such as Seventeen come Sunday, the lovely oboe solo in My Bonny Boy, and Blow away the Morning Dew in the rousing finale. Apkallu: Protector is a dramatic new work by Martin Bright for orchestra and five percussion soloists with marimbas and drums, inspired by the beliefs of the ancient Assyrians and their protectors, the extraordinary Apkallu, part-man, part-animal, seen in exquisite carvings in the British Museum.

There are dances, processions and moments of quiet reflection, finishing in the realm of the gods themselves and their eternal breaths of life. The composer studied at the Royal College of Music in London, has performed in the Albert Hall, St Paul’s cathedral andWest End theatre productions, and currently teaches percussion in Peterborough. Elgar dedicated his Enigma Variations ‘To my friends pictured within, Malvern, 1899’. The opening Enigma theme is followed by fourteen variations reflecting his friends’ idiosyncrasies.

From his gracious wife, Caroline, through the heart-felt Nimrod (Jaeger), to the finale with the composer himself, vigorous and confident, arriving at a magnificent climax. Elgar suggested there was another unplayed theme to partner the original theme, but he never revealed its identity. The many suggestions have included Luther’s Eine Feste Burg, Mozart’s Prague Symphony and even Auld Lang Syne. Join us for a great celebration worthy of the 30th anniversary of the City of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra!

Apkallu: Protector

A world premiere Commissioning a new piece of music is very exciting. Around October 2018 we met with Martin Bright, the composer, to discuss first ideas for this project. The City of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra spring concert are proud to be bringing the culmination of almost 18 months planning, writing and rehearsing to you, the audience, as part of the Orchestra’s 30th Birthday Season celebrations. Martin Bright, composer of ‘Apkallu: Protector’, studied percussion and composition at the Royal College of Music.

He is a successful choral and instrumental composer and is in great demand as a percussionist who currently plays with a number of ensembles. Martin’s senior percussion students from the PCYM (Peterborough Centre for Young Musicians) have been invited by City of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra spring concert to be our soloists for this concert. They are incredibly talented musicians. Martin’s new work showcases their amazing skills.

CPSO Spring Concert ● Saturday 28 March Pre-concert talk 6.30pm, Concert 7.30pm ● Queen Katharine Academy Programme: Ralph Vaughan Williams English Folk Song Suite Martin Bright Apkallu: Protector Elgar Variations on an Original Theme

www.cpso.org.uk

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