Chris Stanbury
Picture by Pieter Rijnaard
Chris Stanbury
January 5th 2008
Vienna Night
Chris Stanbury
Vienna Night
Concert Pictures
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Members of the team had been at the hall since 5pm to deck both the front of the hall and the stage with the new flower arrangements - and didn't they look superb? Once again, many members dressed up for the occasion - all in all it made for a great atmosphere for this very special evening.
With Happy New Year slogans adorning the ceiling as well, Chris soon got underway on his Yamaha Stagea with the lively Vienna Forever march, composed by Joseph Schrammel before continuing with Vienna Life by Johann Strauss Jr. Franz Lehar is a very well known 19th century composer, the famous Merry Widow Waltz was next on the Viennese program.
Although the weather was behaving itself, we nevertheless had the Thunder & Lightning Polka with Keith providing the flashes at the appropriate time to the music - no wonder he is known as Mr. Supreme! With spring just round the corner, we listened to the Voices Of Spring set against a green background.
I was very glad to learn that the Emperor Waltz was written to appease the Kaiser making for good relations between Germany and Austria! After that bit of entente cordial, we then had a tune dedicated to the Empress Anna - The Annen Polka by Johann Strauss II. Then it was time to give praise to Vienna, City Of My Dreams, which was composed in 1914 and onto Tales From The Vienna Woods, one of Strauss' best known waltzes.
If you were fidgeting by now, the Perpetuum Mobile (which means forever moving), was just up your street, a polka like tune enhanced by Keith's dancing spots in the background. Another Austrian composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's The Marriage Of Figaro, concluded the first half of the concert.
The evening was truly international with music by continental composers, but also by the presence of some of our Dutch friends, namely Esquin Rijnard (who will play for us in August), and also her husband Pieter and son Patrick. Daniel Watt also joined us unexpectedly for the evening. Having presented Chris with his new beard - he is studying for his doctorate and has to look the part - and Esquin having drawn the raffle for the keyboard - many thanks to the donor - the 2nd half resumed with Wine, Women & Song, naturally set against a red background, and Red Roses From The South.
These were swiftly followed by the Artists Life & One Day When We Were Young. Chris then plucked the strings on the Stagea with the Pizzicato Polka which was swiftly followed by some folk music by another "Hamburger" like me, none other than Johannes Brahms - the piece? The Hungarian Dance No. 5.
Franz Schubert is far more known for his romantic pieces; however, he did compose the March Militaire. Goodnight Vienna, which Chris set to a Tango rhythm, was actually composed by one of our countrymen, a George Posford (born under the name of Benjamin George Ashwell) at Folkestone and was written in the early 1930's. After the first broadcast, the music was bought for some £200. The film version did not make onto the stage until 1946 though.
With 13 engagements Johann Strauss II was known as a bit of a ladies man, but he still had time to compose the Trish Trash Polka in 1858. Edward Strauss, known as trendy Eddy and better known as a conductor, composed the very fast polka by the name of Bahn Frei.
The Blue Danube, written at a time of economic depression in Austria, cheered folk no end and once again sporting his new beard, Chris concluded his concert with the Poet & Peasant Overture.
He was, of course, duly required to play the Radetski March for the encore, bringing the evening to the close.
Thank you Chris for a wonderful concert and thanks to everybody who helped to make the evening such a success, inclusive of our welcome player Peter Harbutt on his Tyros2 who entertained while the audience arrived.
(Catharina).
Why not come along to a Basildon Keyboard Club Concert, you will be made very welcome, have a great evenings entertainment, a complimentary cup of tea or coffee with biscuits and of course experience the delights of live music played on top of the range electronic organs & keyboards by the best players.