Kevin Morgan

7^th January 2006

Musicland very kindly supplied two instruments for our special evening of "Music from Vienna" with Kevin Morgan, a Technics GA-3 organ plus a Yamaha Clavinova concert piano.

The stage had been set with flowers, Ann, John and club member Doreen had spent many hours arranging the very many artificial flowers onto trellises, into flower stands and various baskets. It made for a very beautifully looking stage.

Did you know that January 1st goes back to the Gregorian calendar, which was introduced in 1582, with several European countries accepting this about 1700; thus in modern January 1st has become an occasion for spirited celebration!
So, as befits the first concert of the year, our evening of music from Vienna opened with a variety of waltzes, ie. Wine, Women & Song - Vienna Blood - Emperor Waltz - Artists Life - Tales From Vienna Woods (composed in 1868) and of course Roses From The South (1878).

Strauss was not only famous for his many waltz compositions, but also his polkas, inclusive of the Trish Trash Polka. With January 27th 2006 being the 250th Anniversary of Mozart's birth, Kevin included the Turkish Rondo in the program, also Schubert's 3rd Impromptu in Gflat, both of these played expertly on the piano.
Strauss was also very famous for his operettas, and so, back on the organ, we had music from both the Gypsy Baron, written in 1885, and also from The Fledermaus (or the Bat!), composed some 11years earlier. To continue in a lighthearted vein, Kevin followed with three Novelty numbers, namely the Serenade by Haikins, from the 1930's The Tyrolean Whistler and Strauss' Pizzicato Polka.

We have to thank Dvorak for encouraging Hungarian born Franz Lehar in music! Look what he produced, amongst others the Gold & Silver Waltz - You Are My Hearts Delight - Girls Are Made To Love & Kiss. All these giving Keith a chance to show off his superb lighting effects for our very prestigious New Years Day Concert.
Everybody suitably refreshed during the break and the raffle done, Kevin got the second half off to a lively start with the likes of the Quicksilver Polka - Viennese City Of My Dreams - Serenade & The Drinking Song from the Student Prince - Don't Be Cross - March from Vienna Nights - Moonlight Bells - Waltz In The Clouds (by R. Stolz) & The Echo Told Me A Lie.

No New Years Day Concert is complete without the Thunder & Lightning Polka (Keith producing authentic yellow flashes!). Returning to the piano once more we had the 1st movement from the Moonlight Sonata, set to a dark blue background & The Glowworm by Hink.

Schubert made another appearance with his March Militaire. Robert Stolz was not only a conductor of the highest calibre, but also a composer in his own right and wrote the music for the first European Talking Film Two Hearts In ¾ time followed by The Champagne Polka set to a very "bubbly" background and to conclude the medley the theme from The Third Man.

Kevin then concluded his very fine concert with another number by Robert Stolz - Goodbye - from his show the "White Horse Inn", enabling the audience to wave their handkerchiefs or arms in time to the music.

You will by now have noticed the "omission" of at least two tunes, however in true Viennese style, these are always kept till last and we got three: first of all from the "Sound Of Music" Edelweiss, played in two different keys, followed by a very fine rendition of the Blue Danube which had Ann & John waltzing round the hall and to finish the Encore and with the audience clapping quietly or loudly - as required - the Radetzky March. Did you know that Count (Johann) Joseph Wenzel Anton Franz Karl Radetzky was an Austrian soldier and hero who was commander in chief of the Austrian Army?

Which leaves me to thank Kevin for a very fine concert of the highest standard, he enjoyed playing for us and we enjoyed listening.