We have been treated to two very different – but equally delightful – guitar concerts in the last ten days. First Declan Hickey’s solo recital here at Hampstead Lane – and then Anna’s ‘Americana’ at the Highgate Society’s lunchtime concert yesterday.
Declan
Declan’s guitar sounded, as I had hoped it would, just wonderful in our space. His programme spanned 200 years from JK* Mertz’s Elegie from the mid 1800s to Leo Brouwer who is still composing today.
To give you a feel for our evening, here is a short excerpt from Mertz’s Elegie, followed by a rather different approach to the guitar from Tōru Takemitsu – his Equinox inspired by Joan Miró’s 1967 etching of the same name, ‘a musical reflection on the equal division of night and day’.
And just because it was so lovely, here are a few minutes from a more familiar voice, Heitor Villa-Lobos – his Suite Populaire Brésilienne – ‘a fusion of the European and Latin American musical practices for which Villa-Lobos was such a forceful advocate.’
If you would like to hear Declan play for yourself, either alone or with various collaborators, check in to his site for details of future concerts.
* Although Mertz was always known as JK (Johann Kaspar) it appears that his correct birth name was ‘Caspar Joseph’….
Anna’s Americana
Anna’s Americana was indeed a very delightful romp through all of those wonderful songs of the mid 20th century – Nancy Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Dolly Parton, Judy Garland, Elvis Presley….. She did not quite get them all in but covered an amazing number – and had us all singing along with Sweet Caroline by the end!
Here is a very short sampler…
For more on Anna’s music – she is just working on a new album – and to hear a lot of her songs look for her on Spotify or YouTube or go to her website.
Coming up at Hampstead Lane
25th June – 1pm. Aisha Palmer – Harp recital. Part of the Philharmonia’s MMSF Instrumental Fellowship Programme. £15 to include a glass of wine.
Book here.
8th July – 6.30pm. An evening with Flanders and Swann! Do not delay too long if you want to come to this as tickets are going fast. £30 to include a 1950s buffet supper! Book here.
For other events in and round Highgate or involving our artists, see our Upcoming Events page.
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