Croydon Festival
Much More Than Just The Hiawatha Man
Year long Croydon Festival.
Friday 6 January. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Festival Civic Reception Launch hosted by the Mayor of Croydon, Councillor Graham Bass in the Mayor’s Parlour, Croydon Town Hall, Katherine Street. During the evening there will performances of SC-T’s music. By invitation only.
Wednesday 18 January, 8pm – Samuel Coleridge-Taylor – ‘A Background.’ A talk by Jeffrey Green, author of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, a Musical Life and acknowledged authority on SC-T, followed by a short recital of some of SC-T’s numerous songs sung by Jane Streeton and Greg Tassell accompanied by Jonathan Musgrave plus a performance of SC-T’s ‘Cello Variations on an Original Theme played by Joseph Spooner and Kathryn Mosley. Venue – The Braithwaite Hall (Croydon Town Hall), Katharine Street, CR9 1ET. Tickets: £8 from 020 8657 7909 or at the door.
Tuesday 31 January, 1pm – Lunchtime Concert by students from the Croydon Centre for Young Pianists at the Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, CR9 1DG, Croydon featuring piano music by SC-T and original compositions inspired by SC-T (Presented by Croydon Music and Arts) Tickets: from 020 8688 9291 or www.fairfieldhalls.co.uk
Thursday 9 February, Friday 10 February & Saturday 11 February, 7.30pm – World Première performances of SC-T’s rediscovered opera THELMA, op. 72 by Surrey Opera at The Ashcroft Theatre, Park Lane, Croydon, CR9 1DG. Conductor – Jonathan Butcher, Director – Christopher Cowell, Designer – Bridget Kimak. Tickets: £18-£25 from 0208 688 9291 or www.fairfieldhalls.co.uk Pre-performance talks (Admission - £2 on the door) ‘Thelma – My discovery of Coleridge-Taylor's manuscripts.’ on the 9th & 10th Feb. at 6pm in the Ashcroft bar by Catherine Carr, PhD.
Tuesday 14 February, 7.30pm – Concert by the John Law Trio in the Arnhem Gallery, Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon, CR9 1DG, including some jazz versions of SC-T’s compositions. Presented by Soundpractice Music Ltd. Tickets from 020 8688 9291 or www.fairfieldhalls.co.uk
Thursday 23 March, 8pm – Recital by students from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, including SC-T’s Sonata in D minor, op. 28 for violin & piano, Trio in E minor op. 6 for violin, 'cello & piano and his Nonet, op. 2 for 2 violins, viola, 'cello, bass, clarinet, bassoon, horn & piano. Venue – The Braithwaite Hall (Croydon Town Hall), Katharine Street, CR9 1ET. Tickets: £8 from 020 8657 7909.
Tuesday 3 April, 1pm Lunchtime concert by Megan Whiteley, Fred Scott, Cornelius Bruinsma and friends at Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon, CR9 1DG to include items by SC-T, in aid of SCAT (Skeletal Cancer Action Trust) Presented by Soundpractice Music Ltd. Tickets from 020 8688 9291 or www.fairfieldhalls.co.uk
Saturday 28 April, 3-6pm – Open rehearsal working on SC-T’s Symphony in A minor, op. 8 and ‘Zara’s Ear-rings,’ op. 7 - Rhapsody for voice and orchestra. The rehearsal will be followed by tea and an informal performance of the two works at approximately 7.30pm. Please contact Jonathan Butcher – jonathanbutcher@blueyonder.co.uk if you would like to take part etc. Venue – Clyde Hall, Clyde Rd. Croydon, CR0 6SZ.
Tuesday 22 May, 1pm – Lunchtime Piano Recital by Chisato Kusunoki at the Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon, CR9 1DG. Programme to include music by SC-T. Presented bySoundpractice Music Ltd. Tickets from 020 8688 9291 or www.fairfieldhalls.co.uk
Thursday 24 May, 8pm - Recital by students from the Royal College of Music, including SC-T’s Piano Quintet in G minor, op. 1, Fantasiestücke for String Quartet, op. 5 and his Clarinet Quintet in A major, op. 10. Venue – the Braithwaite Hall, (Croydon Town Hall), Katharine Street, CR0 1ET. Tickets: £8 from 020 8657 7909 or at the door.
Saturday 23 June, 7.30pm – Summer Concert given by the Croydon Bach Choir, Conductor Tim Horton, at St Matthew's Church, Chichester Road, Croydon, CR0 5NQ. Programme to include SC-T’s ‘A Tale of Old Japan,’ op.76. Tickets: 020 8405 2172 or at the door - www.croydonbachchoir.org
Saturday 28 July, 3-6pm– Open rehearsal working on SC-T’s Troussaint Overture, op. 46, Symphonic Variations, op. 63 and his Rhapsodic Dance - The Bamboula, op.75. The rehearsal will be followed by tea and an informal performance of the three works at approximately 7.30pm. Please contact Jonathan Butcher – jonathanbutcher@blueyonder.co.uk if you would like to take part etc. Venue – Clyde Hall, Clyde Rd. Croydon, CR0 6SZ.
Wednesday 15 August, 8pm – A Birthday Celebration on the actual day SC-T was born 100 years ago. Cake will be cut and music will be performed! Venue: Croydon Masonic Centre, 73 Oakfield Rd, Croydon, CR0 2UX, where SC-T first sang as a treble. Please contact Jonathan Butcher – jonathanbutcher@blueyonder.co.uk for further details.
Saturday 1 September, 11am – An SC-T Picnic Pilgrimage on the actual day he died, 100 years ago. Commencing at St Mary Magdalene Church, Canning Road, Addiscombe, Croydon, CR0 6QD (parking available) we will walk to various houses, churches etc. where SC-T lived, worked, sung, got married etc. ending up at Aldwick, St Leonards Rd, where he died. Picnics can then be consumed on Duppas Hill Recreation Ground. If the weather is inclement we can eat our picnics in the Parish Church Junior School…….. Jeffrey Green, author of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, a Musical Life will give informal talks along the route. Approximate length of walk – 2 hours. After lunch, those who wish, can take a tram back to Lebanon Rd. tram stop – the nearest one to St Mary Magdalene.
Sunday 16 September, 6.30pm – Civic Service - Festival Evensong at Croydon Minster, Church Street, Croydon, CR0 1RN sung by an augmented Minster Choir - Organist & Master of the Choristers, Andrew Cantrill.
Evening Service (Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis) in F by SC-T
Psalm 150, Laudate Dominum, ‘O Praise God in his Holiness.’ Chant by Sir C. V. Stanford – SC-T’s composition professor at the Royal College of Music.
Anthem ‘By the waters of Babylon’ Psalm 137 by SC-T
Hymn tunes - Luconor, ‘Jesu, the very thought of Thee’ by SC-T and Engelberg, ‘For all the Saints’ by Stanford
Organ voluntaries and solos also by SC-T & Stanford
After the service the choir sing part-songs by SC-T as wine is served to the congregation.
Throughout October – Black History Month - there will be a small exhibition, dedicated to SC-T, at Croydon Public Library, Katharine St, Croydon, CR0 1ET and a window display at Waterstones bookshop in the Whitgift Centre.
Tuesday 9 October, 8pm - SC-T on Radio and Television, a rare opportunity to hear BBC broadcasts of two programmes about SC-T – ‘Great Lives’ and ‘Hidden History’. Some lantern slides will also be shown plus a performance of some of SC-T’s Twenty-Four Negro Melodies, op. 59 for solo piano. Venue – The Braithwaite Hall (Croydon Town Hall), Katharine Street, CR0 1ET. Tickets: £8 from 020 8657 7909 or at the door.
Friday 2 November, 7.30pm SC-T’s Petite Suite de Concert, op. 77 will be included in a concert to celebrate the Fairfield Hall’s 50th Anniversary. Venue - Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon, CR9 1DG. Tickets from 020 8688 9291 or www.fairfieldhalls.co.uk
Friday 9 November. 10.30-11.30am. A Song for the World. This musical written by local music teacher Stella Coussell on SC-T’s life as a child and teenager is being performed by young people involved in Studio 74 Dance School based in Bromley. It is particularly aimed at school party audiences but there will be seats for the public as well. Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon. Tickets from 020 8688 9291 or www.fairfield.co.uk/showChoosearea.php?showid=22381. Details of Studio 74 can be seen on www.studio74dance.co.uk. Organised with the help of Fred Scott of the Network and Soundpractice Agency.
Friday 23 November. 8pm. The Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Story. Croydon Festival talk by Charles Elford, author of Black Mahler followed by a short recital of some of SC-T’s songs sung by Patricia Robertson and Paul Sheehan. Braithwaite Hall, (Croydon Town Hall), Katharine Street. Tickets: £8 from 020 8657 7909 or at the door. Croydon Festival Event.
Tuesday 18 December, 1pm – Lunchtime Concert by the Trinity Boys Choir, featuring songs and part songs by SC-T. Venue - Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon, CR0 1DG. Tickets from 020 8688 9291 or www.fairfieldhalls.co.uk