Britain's What's On Event Guide
Malcolm Arnold Festival - a day of live music in Northampton
One of England’s most colourful and charismatic composers – Sir Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006) – is to be celebrated at the 19th International Malcolm Arnold Festival; an annual programme of events centred around the multi-faceted composer and his music.
The composer’s hometown of Northampton will host a day of live music-making on Saturday 19 October. Festival Director Paul Harris says: “This year we are offering three concerts within central Northampton – the birthplace of Malcolm Arnold – all in walkable distances from each other. We are delighted that our launch concert will take place at St Peter’s, marking the reopening of the church as a performance space.”
Launched by composer, Matthew Taylor, listeners will be able to enjoy a programme of rousing music for brass, one of Malcolm Arnold’s most popular genres as a renowned trumpet player himself, performed by Spectacle Brass Quintet lead by Nick Budd. Following this there will be a performance of the composer’s second String Quartet performed by students from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
Live music continues throughout the day, transferring to All Saints’ Church, just a short walk away, with music for choir and organ to include the composer’s psalms and part songs, his John Clare Cantata, and Turtle Drum; familiar to many from school days. Also featured will be Arnold’s Organ Variations: five variations by living composers and one new variation written especially by Jonathan Whiting for this year’s Festival.
Demonstrating the exuberance of Arnold’s works and some of his finest and most popular tunes, the Festival’s Gala Concert takes place at Northampton Guildhall and will be performed by the Northamptonshire County Youth Concert Band and Orchestra (NMPAT) who are regular guests at the Festival. The Festival will end with a short Symposium hosted by Matthew Taylor discussing all things Arnold.
Timings and further information on these concerts is provided on the website.
The composer’s hometown of Northampton will host a day of live music-making on Saturday 19 October. Festival Director Paul Harris says: “This year we are offering three concerts within central Northampton – the birthplace of Malcolm Arnold – all in walkable distances from each other. We are delighted that our launch concert will take place at St Peter’s, marking the reopening of the church as a performance space.”
Launched by composer, Matthew Taylor, listeners will be able to enjoy a programme of rousing music for brass, one of Malcolm Arnold’s most popular genres as a renowned trumpet player himself, performed by Spectacle Brass Quintet lead by Nick Budd. Following this there will be a performance of the composer’s second String Quartet performed by students from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
Live music continues throughout the day, transferring to All Saints’ Church, just a short walk away, with music for choir and organ to include the composer’s psalms and part songs, his John Clare Cantata, and Turtle Drum; familiar to many from school days. Also featured will be Arnold’s Organ Variations: five variations by living composers and one new variation written especially by Jonathan Whiting for this year’s Festival.
Demonstrating the exuberance of Arnold’s works and some of his finest and most popular tunes, the Festival’s Gala Concert takes place at Northampton Guildhall and will be performed by the Northamptonshire County Youth Concert Band and Orchestra (NMPAT) who are regular guests at the Festival. The Festival will end with a short Symposium hosted by Matthew Taylor discussing all things Arnold.
Timings and further information on these concerts is provided on the website.
Please refer to Festival website for times and venues.
£10 per concert / FREE for students and under 18s.
£25 Day Pass (giving access to all three concerts during the day)
£10 per concert / FREE for students and under 18s.
£25 Day Pass (giving access to all three concerts during the day)
St Peter’s Church, Mare Fair, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN1 1SW
Sat 19 October
Website:
www.malcolmarnoldfestival.com