North West Early Music Forum Chairman’s Report 2017/18
1. NWEMF’s 40th Anniversary Event
On 3rd June 2017 we celebrated the 40th anniversary of NWEMF’s inception back in 1977 with a workshop on Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers tutored by Justin Doyle. It was a truly splendid day with about 90 singers and instrumentalists participating. At the end of the music-making, David Allen, one of our two Presidents, gave a short speech. This was followed by a glass of Prosecco and a slice of birthday cake for everyone, the latter being beautifully decorated with the NWEMF logo. Unfortunately, our other President, Roger Wilkes, who was instrumental in setting up NWEMF all those years ago, was unable to attend as he was laid up with a streaming cold and no voice.
2) Workshops in last 12 months
• Another successful year
• Nine Saturday workshops since last AGM (18th March 2017) – generally one per month except for July, August and December. (Unfortunately January’s had to be cancelled due to lack of support.)
• A bribe of a free workshop has been instigated to encourage members to volunteer to write up workshops (only one per workshop, first-come-first served basis!)
• Numbers ranged from 12 to over 90. Occasional low numbers not necessarily a problem.
• Philip Duffy’s Bach day proved a little adventurous, particularly with just one tenor.
• Sally Dunkley’s Rogier day was a great success.
• Ivan Moody underestimated our sightreading abilities and so was a bit short of material. Chorley Village Hall a good new venue.
• Andrew Griffiths’ Schütz got a big turnout – All Saints Hoole a popular venue.
22/04/17 Grace Barton Early 16th century vocal music (recorders) St Mary’s Cilcain
6/05/17 Elizabeth Gutteridge Machaud et al 13-14thC (voices & instr.) Morley Green Club Wilmslow
3/06/17 Justin Doyle Monteverdi Vespers (voices & instr.) (NWEMF 40th Anniversary event) Lancaster University Chapel
16/09/17 Sally Dunkley Rogier (singers) Didsbury Methodist Church
14/10/17 Philip Duffy Bach cantatas / motets St Dunstans Edge Hill (Liverpool )
18/11/17 Ivan Moody Mediaeval Russian Orthodox Chorley Village Hall, (Alderley Edge)
20/01/18 CANCELLED Rory Johnston Cardoso Requiem & other Portuguese (for singers) St Matthew’s Community Hall Stretford
24/02/18 Andrew Griffiths Schütz Geistliche Chormusik & Psalmen Davids (voices & instr.) All Saints Church Hoole (Chester)
24/03/18 Don Greig Transition from C14th to C15th (voices & instr.) Morley Green Club, Wilmslow
21/04/18 Roger Wilkes Giovanni Croce (voices & instr.) Morley Green Club, Wilmslow
3) Workshops planned so far for the coming year (2018/19)
26 May 18 William Carslake Brumel Earthquake mass (singers and instr.) Lancaster
16 Jun 18 Peter Syrus Peter Philips (singers) Didsbury Baptist Church
22 Sep 18 David Allinson John Taverner (singers) Didsbury Baptist Church
27 Oct 18 Deborah Catterall Crequillon & Lambert Bethesda Chapel Mold
24 Nov 18 Alison Kinder Christmas/Advent (voices and instr.) Chester
16 Feb 18 Rory Johnston Cardoso Requiem & other Portuguese (singers)
4) Membership and Workshop Fees
The new fee structure, introduced last year, seems to be working well.
• Annual subscription £10
• Workshop £20 for members (incl. members of other EMFs), £25 for non-members, free for under-18s and full-time students so membership, with all the benefits that it confers, is free after two workshops
• £5 penalty cost for late bookers to encourage early booking generally two weeks ahead of workshop early commitment helps organiser
5) Committee changes & responsibilities
Following Committee changes at last year’s AGM, Committee members’ duties were rearranged:
• Bob Foster became Membership Secretary and “Circulator of Information” to members
• John Huthnance took on Bob’s previous duties as “Compiler of the Diary of Events”, which fitted in quite well with his other duties as the Newsletter editor
• Other Committee members’ duties have remained the same:
Mark Bertinat (Chairman)
Ruth Stock (Secretary)
Martin Steward (Treasurer)
David Allen (Inter-fora representative and NWEMF website organiser)
Peter Syrus, Clive Walkley, Elizabeth Dodd (“Ministers without portfolio”)
Two of the last group, Elizabeth Dodd and Clive Walkley, have now decided to resign from the committee, mainly due to difficulties in attending Committee Meetings. Both have served us well for many years, Elizabeth since 1986 and Clive since 1979, and they both deserve our sincere and grateful thanks.
Elizabeth writes
“It was with a slightly heavy heart that I resigned. I have been on the committee since 1986, taught on the summer school since 1985 and edited the newsletter for about 20 years but it doesn’t make sense to be on a committee when I can never get to meetings. I will of course still be a member and get to the occasional workshop or even take one if viols or early dance are required. With best wishes, Elizabeth.”
Clive writes in similar vein;
“Like Elizabeth, I think it is time for me also to resign from the NWEMF committee, although, again like Elizabeth, with a slightly heavy heart. I have, as you will know, been involved with NWEMF activities for many years. I think I first came on the committee around 1979 and was at one stage chairman; I ran the summer school for over twenty years and have run many workshops over a long period. However, I could not attend the last meeting and cannot manage the next one … Also, as the centre of gravity has shifted further south, it is a long way from Cumbria to get to meetings, especially in the winter months…. I do, of course, intend to support NWEMF by attending workshops when possible. I shall miss the opportunity of talking to colleagues but feel that is better all round if I retire thus enabling someone younger with fresh ideas to take my place.”
So we now have space on the Committee for two additional members. Please give it some thought before we get to the next-but-one item on the agenda, Election of Officers and Committee members.
6) The Hansen Recorders
The Hansen Recorders, a set of Renaissance recorders bought by NWEMF with a bequest from Joan Wess. Very rarely used. Kept by David Allen and occasionally used by his consort. In need of attention. David proposed buying them off NWEMF but committee instead agreed to a long-term loan jointly to the Mosaic consort and the Pink Noise consort for a donation of £100 per year.
7) Thanks
Finally I must thank all the Members of the Committee for all the work they have put in on your behalf during the year. I can quite honestly say that every one of them has put in a lot more than I have, but I warned you when I took on the job that that would be the case. Apart from me, NWEMF is lucky to have such an excellent team driving it
21 April 2018
Chair, Mark Bertinat
Published in the June 2018 Newsletter
