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Lament & Hope, and knocking at Heaven’s Door 
Music as medicine for surviving melancholy Concerts
17 March Barnes Music Festival
7.30 pm St Mary’s Barnes
A beautiful Object – the Harpsichord
Shining new light on an old favourite with a new commission written for us by Héloïse Werner.
Henry Purcell, arr. Britten, arr Siwczak Chacony in G Minor
Héloïse Werner A beautiful Object
Stephen Dodgson Sonata for Four
Élisabeth de la Guerre Unmeasured Prelude (leading to ensemble impro)
Manuel De Falla Concerto for Harpsichord
Peter Facer oboe, Benjamin Mitchell clarinet, Thomas Hancox flute, Jacki Shave violin, Caroline Dearnley cello, Pawel Siwczak, harpsichord & artistic director
Auspiciously absent at the start, the harpsichord is introduced with music by Purcell in an arrangement that links its celebrated past to the present. Héloïse Werner then approaches the instrument, quite literally, with care and curiosity before diving in to discover and explore the very nature of this ‘beautiful object’ in her distinct style. Dodgson‘s Sonata for Four has a serenade-like character. Its harmonies are piquant and characterful, and – unusually for a modern chamber work – it is consistently tuneful. With the last movement especially Dodgson guides us back towards the time of the harpsichord’s height of fame, and we chose an Ummeasured Prelude by a French Baroque composer De La Guerre to really show off the harpsichord in all its Baroque beauty.
A concert dedicated to the contemporary harpsichord cannot really end without having at least mentioned Manuel De Falla’s Concerto for harpsichord and five instruments. As it has also influenced Héloïse’s choice of instrumentation we think it is only right to finish the concert with a piece that basically started the renaissance of such a Beautiful Object.
Welcome to Bach Club
Bach Club is a concert curator, boutique label, and masterclass creator. We are home to Bach Club Soloists, an ensemble focusing on period instruments, new commissions, and remarkable collaborations.
Bach Club works with established artists and young, emerging musicians, all keen to grow and experiment. We take pride in creating intimate connections with you, our Audience.
Bach Club is a response to the changing landscape of classical music. We recognise that music making and presenting need to reshape. As an independent, dynamically evolving organisation Bach Club can afford to do things differently; we are agile and audacious.
Our community matters to us, whether in London Wandsworth, our home, at a concert venue or online. So do join us at an upcoming concert, listen to one of our recordings, and come over and say hi. We love to share what we love to do, and we love to hear what you think about it all…
Enjoy!
Patron: Michael Chance CBE
Artistic Director: Pawel Siwczak ARAM, FRSA
Creative Partner: Dr Kirsten Fehring
We are fundraising!
A beautiful new concert is in the making – please help us raise the funds to bring this concert to life. With focus on the harpsichord in a modern light, including a new commission from a phenomenal young composer… Please donate now, or click below to find out more. Thank you!
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Recent project
Bach Club Soloists
Forgive me if I lose my head
Celebrating Friendship with Haydn & Mozart fortepiano concertos.
February 2022, St Mary’s Putney
This project was generously supported by You, our Friends, and by the Continuo Foundation. Thank you ❤️ Watch a video in which Bach Club director, Pawel Siwczak, shares some reflections on its successful realization.
