Music for Candlemas

St James'Church, Morpeth, was the venue for a shared concert - 'Music for Candlemas', with the Colla Voce Chamber Choir. North Wind played Reicha's Wind Quintet in Eb, op. 88, no.2 and Ravel's Mother Goose Suite, combining with the choir for the traditional Corpus Christi Carol and 'Candlemas Eve' (Herrick).
Colla Voce sang a wide range of mostly unaccompanied motets and songs by Byrd, Howells, Berkeley starting, and finishing, with Hodi Beata Virgo Maria by Richard Shepherd.
A retiring collection was in aid of church funds and Medecins sans Frontiers.

Les Animaux

A soiree with an animal theme, in aid of Medicin sans Frontier, began with  Die Fledermaus overture, followed by The Three Ravens,  Messiaen: Abîme des oiseaux (clarinet solo), and The Sweet Nightingale. Jim Parker's Mississippi Five ended the first half. Gershwin's Promenade (Walking the Dog),  Berio's Opus Number Zoo and Saint Saens Carnival of the Animals (accompanied by our guest pianist Malcolm Moffat) concluded the evening. 

The Abbots House

Our 8th visit to the Abbots House presented a programme of music with an American connection.
Norman Hallam's Dance Suite was followed by our first performance of Dvorak's 'American' string quartet, arranged for wind quintet by David Walter. After the interval, Ravel's tenuous connection to America allowed us to play his Mother Goose Suite which was followed by Mississippi Five (Jim Parker). The Northumbrian tune 'Maa Bonny Lad' was played as an encore.
Proceeds of the concert were sent to Medecins Sans Frontiers.

St Mary Magdalene Church, Mitford

The Bewick Orchestra opened the concert with  the overture to Don Giovanni. North Wind then performed 4 British Folk Tunes, followed by the Bewick Orchestra strings playing Britten's 'Simple Symphony'. North Wind then played Paul Patterson's 'Westerly Winds' and the concert ended with Beethoven's 8th Symphony, conducted by Stephen Pettitt.

Soiree for Syria

By invitation only, North Wind presented an evening of French music, wine and cheese.
The music included d'Indy Sarabande and Minuet, Boismortier Trio Sonata in D, Ravel's Mother Goose Suite, L'Heure de Berger (Francaix), Saint-Saens Tarantelle and Jeux d'enfants (Bizet).
Over £400 was raised and donated to medecins sans frontieres.

St Mary Magdalene Church, Mitford

North Wind were guest performers (and orchestra members) at The Bewick Orchestra's concert held at St Mary Magdalene Church in Mitford. Norman Hallam's Dance Suite and Belle Epoque en Sud America (Medaglia) were performed to an appreciative audience.

The Abbots House, Abbots Langley

North Wind took a Journey to Russia - musically speaking - in their 7th visit to the Abbots House. The journey began in England with Elgar's Chanson de Matin, travelling then to France and Ibert's Trois Piece Breve. Weill's songs from the Threepenny Opera provided the German stage of the journey, followed by
Early Hungarian Dances by Ferenc Farkas. After the interval Harriet gave an informative account of Shostakovich - his life and music, including the background to the writing of the String Quartet no. 8, Opus 110, which had been arranged for wind quintet by Mark Popkin. A very moving end to the concert was felt by all, to be lightened by The Ashgrove, a speedy return to England's green and pleasant land.

St Lawrence Church, Warkworth

In aid of the church funds to replace stolen lead from the roof we received warm appreciation from the audience at St Lawrence. Programme: Arnold, Three Shanties. Kreisler, Liebesfreud and Liebesleid. Ravel, Piece en forme de Habanera. Hallam, Dance Suite. Debussy, Suite no. 1. Hobbs, Five Northumbrian Songs. Parker, Mississippi Five.

The Abbots House, Abbots Langley

On one of the hottest October days on record we performed at the Abbots House. An English/American theme was chosen for this the 6th year with our special hosts.
The concert opened with Sullivan's Iolanthe overture followed by Holst Wind Quintet in Ab and ending the first half with a new arrangement by Newbiggin composer Derek Hobbs - Five Northumbrian Songs.
Samuel Barber's Summer Music appropriately began the second half, followed by Belle Epoque en Sud America - a set of 3 South American dances by Medaglio. Gershwin's Promenade brought the concert to a close, with time for an encore of I Got Rhythm. A most appreciative audience enjoyed the music and beautiful surroundings of the venue, and over £800 was raised for Amnesty International.

St James UR Church, Newcastle

The quintet's long ambition of playing the Spohr Nonet for wind quintet and strings was fulfilled. Violin, viola and double bass players from Newcastle University, with Geoff Wright from Orchestra North East joined us in the second half. The concert opened with Danzi's Quintet in G minor, followed by 2 short pieces by Fritz Kreisler and Paul Patterson's Westerley Winds based on 4 west country folk tunes. This concert was part of the 'Yellow Door Music series to be held at the church - www.yellowdoormusic.co.uk.
Proceeds of the concert were donated to Amnesty International.