Roman River Festival
Coastal Essex, 7-11 October 2009
Coastal Essex, 7-11 October 2009
Over a long weekend this Autumn, five outstanding churches along the picturesque Roman River valley in coastal Essex will be filled with music played by world-class classical, jazz and folk musicians.
The festival is a celebration of both music and our North Essex countryside, with its haunting coastline, delicious seafood, lovely villages and country walks. Charles Bartlett, past President of the Royal Watercolour Society, is this year’s Festival Artist.
Expect fireworks at our opening concert, in which Bill Tamblyn’s Quire partners Daisy Jopling, violinist from Fingringhoe turned New York gospel reggae star. Daisy is used to playing to crowds of thousands, and this is no ordinary choir – their fizzing performance and life-affirming energy is a perfect match for Daisy’s unique spirit.
James Willshire, who has already won prizes in three international piano competitions, will be in the classical artist spotlight at our traditional candlelit concert at Fingringhoe Church. Our chamber concert at Layer Marney will include Brahms’ majestic Horn Trio with Evgeny Chebykin (winner of the coveted Dennis Brain prize at the Royal Academy of Music) and Britten’s beautiful Serenade for Tenor, Horn and piano, featuring the impeccable musicianship and silvery tone of tenor Christopher Lemmings.
Bella Hardy, at 25 already one of the shining lights of the folk scene and famed for entwining her hypnotic voice with her own fiddle accompaniment, will give an intimate folk recital at Copford Church, whose frescoes are an architectural treasure of international repute.
At East Mersea church we will be celebrating the 350th anniversary of the birth of one of our greatest composers, Henry Purcell, whose songs range from the achingly beautiful Lament to ribald drinking songs. In the very special atmosphere of Abberton Church, which overlooks the reservoir, Jennifer Morsches will perform two of the most loved of Bach’s solo cello suites.
The festival will end with our popular jazz supper event, this year featuring New Orleans, blues, salsa, calypso, rumba, tango and more from The Brass Volcanoes, an irrepressible band of virtuoso musicians. Featuring a sousaphone (from the tuba family), infectious rhythms and a mixture of well-known melodies and brilliant improvisations – who knows, the wooden parquet of Fingringhoe Village Hall may even become a dance floor!
Everyone is welcome. We offer £3 tickets to anyone under 30 years old and a Festival Pass at a generous discount. We are also reducing our carbon footprint and general environmental impact.
Ticket prices range from £3-£12. To be added to the mailing list please contact [email protected] or 01206 729 356. You will receive two mailings a year: one with advance information and one with a brochure and booking form for the Festival.
In the words of a festival-goer last year: “We are so lucky to be able to hear and watch first class musicians in our rural setting … a wonderful feast.” www.romanrivermusic.org.uk
QUIRE AND DAISY JOPLING Wednesday 7 October, 7.30pm
Peldon Church, by candlelight
Jazz & soul classics inspired by nature
Peldon Church, by candlelight
Jazz & soul classics inspired by nature
BELLA HARDY Thursday 8 October, 7.30pm
Copford Church
A moonlit walk – songs of the forest
Voice, fiddle and guitar
Copford Church
A moonlit walk – songs of the forest
Voice, fiddle and guitar
CHAMBER CONCERT Friday 9 October, 7.30pm
Layer Marney Church
Evgeny Chebykin horn James Willshire piano
Christopher Lemmings tenor Daisy Jopling violin
Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horn and piano
Brahms Trio for violin, horn and piano
Layer Marney Church
Evgeny Chebykin horn James Willshire piano
Christopher Lemmings tenor Daisy Jopling violin
Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horn and piano
Brahms Trio for violin, horn and piano
BACH AT ABBERTON Saturday 10 October, 11.30am
Abberton Church
Jennifer Morsches baroque cello
Abberton Church
Jennifer Morsches baroque cello
CANDLELIT RECITAL Saturday 10 October, 7.30pm
Fingringhoe Church
James Willshire piano
Fingringhoe Church
James Willshire piano
PURCELL SONGS AT EAST MERSEA Sunday 11 October, 11.30am
East Mersea Church
Christopher Lemmings tenor
Jennifer Morsches baroque cello
with harpsichord accompaniment
East Mersea Church
Christopher Lemmings tenor
Jennifer Morsches baroque cello
with harpsichord accompaniment
JAZZ AND SUPPER Sunday 11 October, 6pm
Fingringhoe Village Hall
The Brass Volcanoes
Two-course supper by Caroline Bindloss Catering
Fingringhoe Village Hall
The Brass Volcanoes
Two-course supper by Caroline Bindloss Catering
How to book tickets
Our venues are intimate and performances usually sell out, so we advise early booking.
Our venues are intimate and performances usually sell out, so we advise early booking.
website www.romanrivermusic.org.uk
