Programme Notes

Ole Bull, Virtuoso Violinist, Composer and Norwegian Nationalist. (1810-1880)

Date: 
Monday, 30 May, 2011

His name might not be all that familiar on these shores but in Norway everybody knows Ole Bull. In fact a few generations ago everybody here too, would have heard of Ole Bull and equally so in the rest of Europe and in the States. His reputation was on a par with that of Paganini and deservedly so, while his looks were certainly much better than Paganini’s. His marketing endeavors were  probably on a par with those of André Rieu but more idiosyncratic and unassisted  by modern media.  He was an extremely talented violinist and extremely charismatic personality.

Just Married - 100 years ago !

After qualifying from the Royal college of Music, Haydn Wood, already celebrated as a child prodigy violinist, was employed by Madame Albani, most famous soprano of the era - referred to as ‘the Peerless Queen of Song’ - to accompany her on a world tour. Haydn performed virtuoso violin solos incorporated in the programme as well as the obbligato lines when Madame Albani sang.

The First Hit Record

George Washington Johnson is one of the most fascinating unsung heroes in recording history. He was probably the first African-American to record, and certainly the first to become widely successful as a recording artist (in the 1890s).

However, he has been passed over in the history books, perhaps because of embarrassment about the songs he sang. The first successful black recording artist was, after all, billed as “The Whistling Coon”.

Aspidistra meets Ernest Tomlinson

Date: 
Monday, 29 May, 2006

A couple of weeks ago, a small delegation of the Aspidistra Drawing Room Orchestra travelled to Lancaster farm near Preston - the home of Ernest Tomlinson, founder of the Light Music Society. He has a vast amount of experience in composing and arranging music dating back from before the war and was the first to realize the precarious future of Light Music.