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Leeds Music Club
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What The Leeds Music Club Is About |
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It seems an obvious way to make music, but we have only discovered one other group which seems to run in a similar way to ours. Nearly all members of the Club are players of an instrument, singers or both. Most are amateur musicians, though some are, or have been, teachers of music. All performers become members following an audition. During the year the Club usually meets on thirteen Saturday evenings, beginning in September until late March, at two or three week intervals (see Dates). Each programme for the evening is made up of items offered by members, each typically lasting about 15 to 20 minutes, so that there will usually be about four or five items. (See Past Programmes for recent examples). It is rare to have an evening without a piano solo item; there may then be a solo instrument item, with or without piano accompaniment; a vocal solo item; or any combination of instruments or voices, from duets to nonets - and beyond. There is a golden opportunity for instrumentalists and/or singers to get together and perform works that otherwise they are unlikely to perform. Some members are classed as choral members, without audition. At several meetings the choir perform a choral work after two or three rehearsals, held an hour before the meeting begins. There is also an orchestra, which rehearses more often than the choir and at a separate time, and performs orchestral pieces, accompanies the choir or plays a concerto with solo instrumentalists. When the choir and orchestra perform together, there usually are more performers than audience! The attraction of the Club to performers is that they have a platform on which they are able to perform to a knowledgeable, understanding and sympathetic audience and they are able to work at music which might not be appealing to a more general audience. There are not, sadly, vast hordes waiting to hear wind octets or German lieder, not to say Polish folk-songs in the original! The repertoire over the years has also covered all ages in music from early baroque to Gorecki. The aim of the Club is, therefore, the performance of music by its own members and amongst its own members and seeking to involve as many as possible. Performers, when not performing, provide the audience. It follows that the Club would not be happy if someone only attends when they are performing. Other than the programme convenor and the performers themselves, no one knows what is on the programme until they arrive at each meeting. There is a wide range of ages from teenagers upwards. Young students have been particularly encouraged over the 70+ years of the Club's life. Many have been Club members and then proceeded to a full-time musical education. There is no feeling in the Club of a critical and unfriendly reception for those who perform but a warm acceptance and recognition of the many hours of work involved in preparation for the performance, a judgement which performers themselves are the most qualified to make. Should you be interested in joining this unique Club please see the Contact Us page.
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