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Guest post by June Armstrong

My ‘meet the composer’ project – June Armstrong’s Play for the Composer! – is now entering its fourth year. Originally created in 2021 to provide a much-needed performance opportunity for young pianists during lockdown, it has now become a platform for expression, not only of the music itself, but also the meaning behind the music, taking it to a higher level through visual representation, poetry and prose. Each performer makes a video of themselves performing their chosen piece. In return, they receive a certificate with feedback from myself and are included in a Celebration Video. They may opt to accompany the video with an artwork, a poem or prose piece representing the music they have chosen.

When a young person engages in this option, I feel that it enhances the performance, and when I receive an entry with artwork or prose, I always love to look at that first, before listening to the performance of the music. There is something so magical about the connection of the music to its visual representation or expression through words.

Firstly, of course, the music needs to be ‘learnt’. Secondly the music needs to be shaped and polished for performance. And then, the third dimension – taking the time to think about what the music is really saying, or expressing – adds to the understanding and to the performance itself. Knowing that the young performer has really thought about what the music is trying to express is just wonderful.

The concept of the melding of music and visual art and literature together is of course not new. “Music is no more the art of combining sounds to please the ear than painting is the art of combining colours to please the eye.” wrote Jean-Jacques Rousseau in his Essay. “More and more parallels between music and graphic art force themselves upon my consciousness” wrote Paul Klee in 1905, years after abandoning a promising musical career and dedicating himself to painting. The impressionist theories of Degas and Manet on the representation of light, found expression in music by Fauré, Debussy and Ravel, art and music forging an even stronger bond.

To find out more about June Armstrong’s Play for the Composer project and hear performances of her music, please visit https://playforthecomposer.jimdofree.com/previous-events/

June Armstrong’s Play for the Composer! 2024 is now open for entries up until 27 January 2024. Full details at https://playforthecomposer.jimdofree.com/.

June Armstrong is a composer and piano teacher living in Belfast. She studied music at Queen’s University Belfast, graduating with a BMus and an MA.

June has had compositions included in all the major examination board syllabi and has received commissions from ABRSM, Red Leaf Pianoworks in Canada, Edition Musica Ferum, EVC Publishing and Hal Leonard in the USA. She specialises in composing music focusing on atmospheric playing, using colour, shape, and impressionistic sounds rather than traditional harmony.

She especially enjoys playing Bach, playing the violin, jazz, walking . . . and watching the sea.

www.junearmstrong.com

www.playforthecomposer.jimdofree.com

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The Hertfordshire Festival of Music (HFoM) is a community-based arts charity (registration number 1175716), founded in 2016 by conductor Tom Hammond and composer James Francis Brown. HFoM aims to bring world-class professional artists to perform alongside local musicians in community locations, giving the widest possible audiences opportunities to learn more about, and experience classical music.

Having run successful programmes over the last 7 years, HFoM wants to remain relevant and be able to continue to effectively contribute to the cultural life of the county of Hertfordshire. This survey aims to ascertain the interests and preferences of those who already know about and may have attended Festival events, alongside those who have not yet engaged with HFoM but may do so in the future.

This survey is anonymous. No identifying data will be linked to your survey responses when they are analysed. Personal data will only be retained (for the sole purpose of future communication with you about the Hertfordshire Festival of Music) if you have given your explicit permission to do that. There is the option to share your details, should you wish, at end. (Privacy Policy)

HFoM would be most grateful if you could spare the time to complete the survey – estimated 12 minutes. (You can submit the survey at any point – partial information would still be useful.) And please feel free to share the survey with your friends and contacts to maximise participant numbers.

Thank you.

TAKE THE SURVEY

Hertfordshire Festival of Music

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As the Central Band of the RAF prepares to premiere Wings of Freedom, a brand new work by British composer Thomas Hewitt Jones in a concert in Cambridge on Sunday 1 October, meet band member Air Specialist 1 Callum Rookes.

Air Specialist 1 Callum Rookes (32) grew up in the nearby village of Sawston. Attending Sawston Village College, Callum started to play the Tuba, age 13, and was soon performing with the school Concert Wind Band and the Cambridge Youth Wind Orchestra. In 2009 Callum moved to London to study the Tuba with Oren Marshall at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance before completing his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in Denmark.

In 2015 Callum joined the Royal Corps of Army Music and was posted to the Band of the Coldstream Guards. He has performed in state ceremonial engagements including changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and Trooping the Colour. Callum made the move to the blue and gold of Royal Air Force Music in March 2021 and returns to his local town to perform with the Central Band of the Royal Air Force at West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge.

AS1 Callum Rookes

West Road Concert Hall is a special venue to Callum as he conducted his first concert with a school brass ensemble in 2006. On Sunday 1 October 2023, 17 years later, Callum will be performing with the Central Band of the Royal Air Force for an afternoon of contemporary music, featuring a new commission by award-winning composer Thomas Hewitt Jones. The new work, entitled ‘Wings of Freedom’ is inspired by and built around the core values of the Royal Air Force: respect, integrity, service, and excellence. Other works include those by composers such as Jan Van der Roost, John Williams and Steven Reineke.

Speaking about the Concert Callum said:

“My family are going to be there. It’s the first time they’ve seen me perform since secondary school so it’s a very special occasion – I’d like to think I’ve improved since then, but we’ll have to wait and see what the verdict is!”

 

Central Band of the Royal Air Force in Concert, Sunday 1 October, 5.30pm at West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge

More info / tickets  or call ADC Ticketing on 01223 300085.

The Central Band of the Royal Air Force was established in 1920 and since its formation has played an integral and unique role in military life and in the musical world. In 1922 they were the first military band to broadcast on the BBC. They play a vital part in State Ceremonial events, as well as performing across the United Kingdom in support of Service charities and Military Tattoos. Central Band have led several commemoration events including the RAF Centenary parade through London in July 2018 when 100 RAF musicians led the parade of over 1000 RAF servicemen and women down the Mall to Buckingham Palace.

For further information, contact Flight Sergeant Tom Ringrose, MCO RAF Music Services on 07896 330103. More information about RAF music can be found here

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The Central Band of the Royal Air Force will premiere WINGS OF FREEDOM, a brand-new commissioned piece by award-winning British composer Thomas Hewitt Jones, at concerts in London and Cambridge.

Wings of Freedom receives its premiere in London on 29th September and in Cambridge on 1st October 2023.

A four-movement work for symphonic wind band, Wings of Freedom is inspired by the core values of the Royal Air Force – the beliefs and principles that define and unify the Service. Each movement takes its title and theme from these core values: Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence

Composer Thomas Hewitt Jones says, ‘I was so delighted when the opportunity arose to work alongside the Central Band of the Royal Air Force, creating a new large-scale new work to premiere in concert in London this September. I was invited to RAF Northolt to hear a rehearsal, and I was immediately struck by both the impeccable musicianship of the players and their infectious team spirit. Heard at a huge number of high-profile royal and national events each year, the RAF Music Services have quite an amazing pedigree.

The four movements of the piece are directly titled by each of the RAF’s core values. The first movement, ‘Respect’, begins with an epic fanfare which aims to evoke the sheer gravitas and responsibility of the RAF’s role as air defence of the United Kingdom. The second movement, ‘Integrity’, plays with the idea that in order to keep integrity, difficulties (depicted by atonal interjections) must be withstood, and the peaceful long melodic lines will overcome adversity (I was thinking here of the RAF’s Latin motto ‘Per ardua ad astra’ – “through adversity to the stars”. Movement 3, ‘Service’, conveys the idea of fortitude: serving the common good with steadfast determination, intense concentration and unwavering intention. The final movement, ‘Excellence’, celebrates the sheer brilliance and positive contribution of the RAF to the UK’s history. Also, the idea that joy, humanity and world peace can be sought as a key aim of the role of the force – and a small measure of pride in the UK, too!’

The Central Band of the RAF is delighted to have the opportunity to perform this new commission by Thomas Hewitt Jones and to programme it alongside other modern works, as a world premiere. The concerts in London and Cambridge will also raise funds for the Royal Air Force Music Services Association, with whom the Central Band of the RAF has close links, and which provides support to RAF Music Services.

The Central Band of the RAF will be performing at two venues that are new to them, with the aim of inspiring and garnering new audiences. Holy Trinity Sloane Square is a fantastic concert space and allows for a unique collaboration with the Choir of Holy Trinity Sloane Square. West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge, is an equally brilliant, but very different venue and the Band looks forward to performing their programmes in two such contrasting and iconic spaces.

Alongside the new commission from Thomas Hewitt Jones, the London concert opens with ‘In Our Service’, composed by Hewitt Jones in honour of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Both concert programmes include ‘Shimmering Sunshine’ by Kevin Day, ‘Hymn to the Fallen’ by John Williams, ‘Puszta’ by Jan Van der Roost and ‘Tight Squeeze’ by Alex Shapiro. The Cambridge concert also features ‘Fate of the Gods’ by Steven Reineke.

Conductors:

Director of Music, Headquarters Music Services: Squadron Leader Chris I’Anson BMus Hons LRSM LTCL LLCM RAF (conducting Wings of Freedom)

Director of Music, Central Band of the Royal Air Force: Flight Lieutenant Michael Parsons BA Hons LRSM LLCM, RAF

BOOK TICKETS FOR LONDON CONCERT

BOOK TICKETS FOR CAMBRIDGE CONCERT

To see the band in performance, watch this video of ‘Lights on in Space’ by Andrew Pearce: