Michael McAneny
Michael McAneny
June 5th 2010
Yamaha EL90
At the end of the last newsletter, I mentioned some warmer weather. Well, this June day was absolutely sweltering; thankfully by the time the concert started it had cooled down a little.
Following the chairman's welcome it was time for Michael to take to the stage, and as he pointed out with a new haircut, suit, tie and shoes, (but still the same rusty car), he opened his program with The Basildon March, the title changing to whichever venue he plays, clever stuff.
Shades of green and lots of 9ths then set the scene for John Holland's Birthday Wish, before Michael continued with Valencia for which he used Wurlitzer type sounds on his trusted Yamaha EL90, which as he told me, has never let him down. One thing you soon notice about Michael is his very dry sense of humour; he does not take himself at all seriously. Hence he mentioned that the next piece, Nola, is far too fast for him. Needless to say, he made a splendid job of it with Peter giving us lots of close up shots of Michael's nifty fingerwork.
For those of us who were interested, the RAF March past is in Eb and showing off those lovely Yamaha strings, he followed with Elgar's Nimrod. The last time Michael visited us in September 2007, he still had a piano, but he made us believe that it disappeared during a show as a raffle prize!! We were to make quite sure that neither the EL90 nor the stool were raffle prizes…….. - so with organ sounds to the fore, we heard the Ecstasy
Tango, set by Keith to fiery red colours and Peter producing a nice shot of Michael at the organ. Whilst in romantic mood we were treated to a lovely version When You Tell Me That You Love Me. The Black & White Rag is also the theme for Pot Black, Keith "played around" with shapes whilst Peter made the organ manuals change colour - magic.
Michael once played alongside James Last, except that Mr. Last was in a big arena and Michael was in the local village hall, still it was a chance to Close Your Eyes if you felt so inclined. However, to ensure that you stayed awake, the Peanut Polka was next before the lovely clarinet sounded to Petite Fleur and to finish the first half The Lady Is A Tramp with some nice pedalwork.
During the break Michael mingled with the audience whilst enjoying a cup of tea, it was also nice to see his Mum Moira who had come along for the evening.
Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty Waltz opened the second half of the program. If we needed cooling down, By A Waterfall with creating a cool blue background, should have done the job. Then Michael was spreading his wings a bit with Under The Double Eagle and with the warm weather in mind, I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside.
Staying on a "watery" theme, we next heard an up tempo bossa with Hammond sounds by Antonio Jobim - Wave. Some classical music next by Bach, using some beautiful church flutes before changing to piano voices for the Bagatelle in Gm. Not often that you get to hear music like this and not a note in front of the organist. Well done Michael.
Plenty of hand clapping accompanied the Radetsky March. Blues to the fore again for the Bluebell Polka with Michael due to pay a visit to Scotland in December. Three Sousa Marches followed: The Washington Post, Semper Fidelis and King Cotton. Some Big Band sounds for Don't Blame Me, before launching into Boohoo, Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen and When I Take My Sugar To Tea.
Hey presto, time flies when you are enjoying yourself, it was time for the last piece with More, which the chairman thought a tad cheeky, but it was just what the audience wanted. Michael duly obliged with Scott Joplin's Elite Syncopations.