Just a quick plug for Bruce Munro's 'Field of Light' in the grounds of the Holburne Museum in Bath. It's only on until next weekend (8th) and it is quite, quite magical.
Happy New Year!
http://www.holburne.org/field-of-light-2
Saturday 31 December 2011
Sunday 25 December 2011
Church & Charity
Mrs Weekender and I wouldn't call ourselves religious in the conventional sense, but we do try to attend a Christmas Eve service in a cathedral or abbey every year - more for the musical content than the spiritual. As this is our first Somerset Christmas, we headed to Wells for evensong last night. And the singing was superb. Bob Chilcott's setting of "In The Bleak Midwinter" was a bit too Cliff Richard for my taste, but it was beautifully sung. And everything else, especially the Bach introit given from the nave before the singers entered the choir, was spot on. I'm always slightly bemused that, at a time of great celebration for the Church, the services on the 24th are always so po-faced. And last night was no different. But, at least, the music was uplifting.
We did our bit today, serving turkey and nut roast at the Cheese and Grain as part of the first Big Christmas Get Together, giving people who were alone or strapped for cash the chance of a free festive dinner and entertainment. Fewer turned up than had been hoped, and rumour had it that some people didn't want to be seen to be "accepting charity". Hopefully word will get round that the event is completely lacking in "do-goodyness", and that next year those who would really benefit from it will not be backward in coming forward. And it wasn't Social Services or one of the charitable organisations who put this on, but the good folk of the town - led by one Charlie Thomas. How typical of the place. Charity does, indeed, start at Frome.
Saturday 24 December 2011
Christmas Eve, Frome
The Compliments of the Season to all my readers! May you have a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and healthy 2012.
Sunday 18 December 2011
Avon calling Peru
In our on-going investigation of the cultural life of the Somerset/Wiltshire borders, we sallied northwards on Saturday night to Bradford-On-Avon and, for the first time, the Wiltshire Music Centre.
A curious building, attached to a school, with a lop-sided foyer tacked on to an auditorium which, with its breeze-block walls, bare metalwork and grubby ceiling, resembles nothing more than an oversized garage. Someone at Radio 3 once said it had the best acoustic outside London, and the Centre's marketing plays this up big time. Fair enough, but what the eyes take in also impacts on the concert-going experience - and this place is lacking any visual warmth or welcome.
Fortunately what was on the stage was not bits of giant Morris Minors, but the Paragon Singers of Bath, the Bradford Baroque Band and a handful of soloists. And they gave us a fascinating evening of mostly 17th Century Latin American music: Christmas in Cuzco. European classical forms met traditional indigenous rhythms - and the results were often infectious, sometimes beautiful and always instantly accessible.
The evening threw up a few questions too. This was music born out of barbarism (see Spanish Colonialism, Conquistadores etc), yet it was incredibly life-affirming. Paradox? And the lyrics were bizarre in their often direct address to the "blacks" - as far as the Spaniards were concerned, were these the native South Americans or their imported slaves?
The stars of the evening were percussionist Simone Rebello (cousin of jazz pianist Jason) and soprano Kate Semmens. The former, cool and elegant, switching effortlessly between a myriad of instruments. The latter, passionate and relishing this repertoire, looked like she was having to hold back her desire to bop around the platform to the catchy rhythms - clearly not 'the done thing' at a classical concert. Shame.
www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk
www.paragonsingers.co.uk
www.fantasiamusic.co.uk/classwind/bbb.html
A curious building, attached to a school, with a lop-sided foyer tacked on to an auditorium which, with its breeze-block walls, bare metalwork and grubby ceiling, resembles nothing more than an oversized garage. Someone at Radio 3 once said it had the best acoustic outside London, and the Centre's marketing plays this up big time. Fair enough, but what the eyes take in also impacts on the concert-going experience - and this place is lacking any visual warmth or welcome.
Fortunately what was on the stage was not bits of giant Morris Minors, but the Paragon Singers of Bath, the Bradford Baroque Band and a handful of soloists. And they gave us a fascinating evening of mostly 17th Century Latin American music: Christmas in Cuzco. European classical forms met traditional indigenous rhythms - and the results were often infectious, sometimes beautiful and always instantly accessible.
The evening threw up a few questions too. This was music born out of barbarism (see Spanish Colonialism, Conquistadores etc), yet it was incredibly life-affirming. Paradox? And the lyrics were bizarre in their often direct address to the "blacks" - as far as the Spaniards were concerned, were these the native South Americans or their imported slaves?
The stars of the evening were percussionist Simone Rebello (cousin of jazz pianist Jason) and soprano Kate Semmens. The former, cool and elegant, switching effortlessly between a myriad of instruments. The latter, passionate and relishing this repertoire, looked like she was having to hold back her desire to bop around the platform to the catchy rhythms - clearly not 'the done thing' at a classical concert. Shame.
www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk
www.paragonsingers.co.uk
www.fantasiamusic.co.uk/classwind/bbb.html
Sunday 11 December 2011
Whither the Wireless?
This has been a Frome-free weekend, but as is the norm when we are away from Somerset, we have dipped in and out of Frome FM (via the web) to keep in touch. Frome FM (Trades Descriptions Act!) doesn't actually broadcast on FM... yet. It is an internet community station entirely run by volunteers. But it has recently been awarded an FM licence and is planning to join the grown-up wireless world some time in the Spring. Inevitably, as everyone gives their time and talent freely, the quality of the output is uneven - but if that is a criticism, then the variety of the output is worthy of high praise.
You might think a set-up like this would be full of wannabe DJs "spinning platters" and suffering from a surfeit of verbalising - far from it. There are music programmes, but they are generally well put together by people who know their stuff. And there is ambitious speech output too. Only the other week the station broadcast, live, Frome's answer to 'Any Questions'.
Some of the shows are a bit shambolic and it begs the question whether they can survive when the FM transmitter is switched on and the station has to up its game. A little bit more slickness would not go amiss, but then part of the charm of an outfit like this is that it doesn't sound like its mainstream neighbours. To strike a balance between parish pump and professional performance is a nettle the organisers of Frome FM will have to grasp as soon as the New Year hangovers have worn off...
http://www.fromefm.co.uk
You might think a set-up like this would be full of wannabe DJs "spinning platters" and suffering from a surfeit of verbalising - far from it. There are music programmes, but they are generally well put together by people who know their stuff. And there is ambitious speech output too. Only the other week the station broadcast, live, Frome's answer to 'Any Questions'.
Some of the shows are a bit shambolic and it begs the question whether they can survive when the FM transmitter is switched on and the station has to up its game. A little bit more slickness would not go amiss, but then part of the charm of an outfit like this is that it doesn't sound like its mainstream neighbours. To strike a balance between parish pump and professional performance is a nettle the organisers of Frome FM will have to grasp as soon as the New Year hangovers have worn off...
http://www.fromefm.co.uk
Sunday 4 December 2011
Catherine's Congestion
A busy weekend, for sure. Friday night saw the private view of the Black Swan's Christmas Show, with works donated to help fund yet another financially-stricken Frome arts institution. The exhibits were of variable quality, but it seems a little churlish to criticise when the artists handed them over gratis. An automaton by Ralph Steadman was, inevitably, the major attraction. But Mrs Weekender and I were much taken with Alison Harper's textile pieces which resembled distressed frocks. Pinned to the wall, it was as if the wearers had just slipped out of them after a most hectic night's revels.
Onto the Oakfield Choir's Christmas concert at Christchurch on Saturday. Eschewing the usual carols and over-familiar seasonal fare, this was an ambitious, yet curious, programme. Entitled "A Frosty Christmas Eve", only two of the items had any Yuletide connections. The singing and playing was sometimes glorious, at other times ragged, but all power to them for avoiding the obvious and tackling such pieces as Saint-Saëns' 'Oratorio de Noël' and 'In Terra Pax' by Finzi.
Stars of the evening were undoubtedly tenor Andrew Dickinson, harpist Daniel de Fry and the sadly unidentifiable leader of the orchestra. Their performances alone were worth the two hours' discomfort, thanks to Christchurch's unforgiving pews. Oh, how we suffered for their art...
And so to Sunday's Artisan Market on Catherine Hill - packed with locals and visitors: a rip-roaring success, you might think. But it was so packed that at times it was impossible to get up or down the Hill. I'm sure traders lost out, because at the narrowest points if you merely stopped to investigate what was on offer you immediately created a tailback. As one stall holder said to us - why not extend it up into Catherine Street where the road is wider? Or are there traffic management issues there? Another plan might be to make the Hill one way for pedestrians during events like this. But, hopefully, plenty of jam and jewellery was sold before the rains came...
http://www.stcatherinesfrome.co.uk
http://www.oakfieldchoir.co.nr
http://www.blackswan.org.uk
Onto the Oakfield Choir's Christmas concert at Christchurch on Saturday. Eschewing the usual carols and over-familiar seasonal fare, this was an ambitious, yet curious, programme. Entitled "A Frosty Christmas Eve", only two of the items had any Yuletide connections. The singing and playing was sometimes glorious, at other times ragged, but all power to them for avoiding the obvious and tackling such pieces as Saint-Saëns' 'Oratorio de Noël' and 'In Terra Pax' by Finzi.
Stars of the evening were undoubtedly tenor Andrew Dickinson, harpist Daniel de Fry and the sadly unidentifiable leader of the orchestra. Their performances alone were worth the two hours' discomfort, thanks to Christchurch's unforgiving pews. Oh, how we suffered for their art...
And so to Sunday's Artisan Market on Catherine Hill - packed with locals and visitors: a rip-roaring success, you might think. But it was so packed that at times it was impossible to get up or down the Hill. I'm sure traders lost out, because at the narrowest points if you merely stopped to investigate what was on offer you immediately created a tailback. As one stall holder said to us - why not extend it up into Catherine Street where the road is wider? Or are there traffic management issues there? Another plan might be to make the Hill one way for pedestrians during events like this. But, hopefully, plenty of jam and jewellery was sold before the rains came...
http://www.stcatherinesfrome.co.uk
http://www.oakfieldchoir.co.nr
http://www.blackswan.org.uk
Wednesday 30 November 2011
Possibly the least memorable song ever written about Frome...
Just a quickie. Here's the rather wonderful Bellowhead singing the slightly less than wonderful "On A Bus To Frome", recorded en route to their gig at the Cheese & Grain last week. If you don't know their music, please don't let this put you off... They're fabulous (usually).
http://youtu.be/HMr9xIlKvMs
http://youtu.be/HMr9xIlKvMs
Sunday 27 November 2011
Reclaiming the Streets
Last night's Christmas Extravaganza was perhaps less memorable for the entertainment on offer, than for the fact that only half the lights came on following The Great Throwing Of The Switch. But what a pleasure it was to walk down the middle of a temporarily traffic-free Market Place, one of the least pleasant thoroughfares of this otherwise most pleasant town. I made a mental note to visit the library on my next trip to check out the Council's "Town Design Statement" which includes a proposal for this traffic bottleneck. A neighbour tells me that the plan is for some sort of "shared space" where pedestrians and motorists would be placed on a more equal footing. A recipe for disaster with those on two legs at risk from being mown down by those on four wheels - or a civilised co-existence between man and machine? I look forward to finding out more...
http://www.frome-tc.gov.uk
http://www.frome-tc.gov.uk
Saturday 19 November 2011
Breaking The Chains
Frome has gained a reputation for its independent retailers. Even the so-called Queen of Shops, Mary Portas, has been to visit. And the privately-owned antiques, vintage clothes, CDs, crafts, books and gifts emporia are undoubtedly one of the town's great attractions. Venture a few steps away from the over-familiar brands of Market Place (Boots, Costa, Superdrug, Iceland etc) - up the steep, winding Catherine Hill or across to Cheap Street (with its rill or 'leat' running down the middle) - and you're in a different world.
But in the current climate, how much money are they making? When times are hard, "discretionary spend", we are told, is the first to go. A shabby chic table - or food on the table? A 1940s skirt - or petrol in the Skoda? I do hope the unique retail mix that is here will survive the downturn. But I do wonder...
http://www.stcatherinesfrome.co.uk
http://www.maryportas.com
But in the current climate, how much money are they making? When times are hard, "discretionary spend", we are told, is the first to go. A shabby chic table - or food on the table? A 1940s skirt - or petrol in the Skoda? I do hope the unique retail mix that is here will survive the downturn. But I do wonder...
http://www.stcatherinesfrome.co.uk
http://www.maryportas.com
Sunday 13 November 2011
Revenge is a dish best served in Frome
Had our first encounter with Frome's amateur thespians this weekend - the Frome Drama Club has been staging Alan (sorry, Sir Alan) Ayckbourn's 'The Revengers' Tragedies' at the financially-challenged Merlin Theatre. And what a good job they did of it too. It's an unwieldy monster - two full length plays totalling around five hours that combine to make up the one narrative. Part 1 was cracking - the production really capturing Ayckbourn's signature bleak comedy. If part 2 sagged a bit in the middle, that was mostly Sir A's fault as he seemed to be merely treading dramatic water in preparation for the famous dénouement on Albert Bridge...
The Merlin has a fine auditorium - good sight lines, comfy seats and plenty of room for the long-legged - though the front of house is looking a bit tatty (perhaps hardly surprising, given that they are currently suffering serious grant deprivation). Still, there was a tasty (veggie) supper to be had between shows, the bar prices were reasonable, people were generally friendly and, all in all, it was a fine advert for Am Dram.
At the FDC revenge is, indeed, sweet.
http://www.fromedrama.com
http://www.merlintheatre.co.uk
The Merlin has a fine auditorium - good sight lines, comfy seats and plenty of room for the long-legged - though the front of house is looking a bit tatty (perhaps hardly surprising, given that they are currently suffering serious grant deprivation). Still, there was a tasty (veggie) supper to be had between shows, the bar prices were reasonable, people were generally friendly and, all in all, it was a fine advert for Am Dram.
At the FDC revenge is, indeed, sweet.
http://www.fromedrama.com
http://www.merlintheatre.co.uk
Wednesday 9 November 2011
Opening gambit
So, here goes... we're Second Homers in Frome.
If the response to the recent proposal to cut 2nd Home Council Tax rebates was to be believed, Second Homers are loathed across the nation only slightly less than bankers and politicians. Certainly, if the 'weekenders' sail in and out, contributing nothing to their adopted community/economy, I can understand the objections. Thankfully, we're not all like that... More on this in future posts.
But why Frome? Because it's special. How trite a comment is that!? Well, if I may be so bold, it's both trite and profound. Profound because there are places that touch you in an often indefinable, but deep way. As the tourist office will never grow weary of telling you, Frome has more listed buildings than any other town in Somerset. And there's no doubt that, in parts, it's an extremely attractive place with narrow, winding streets and beautiful stone buildings. Its cultural life is something to be proud of too - 2 theatres, a community hall/music venue, an art gallery/concert hall, a summer arts festival, a winter folk festival, loads of amateur music-making, its own radio station and so on. Remarkable for a population of, what, 25,000? But a "special" place is more than the sum of its parts. Architecture, the arts and specialist shops (Mary Portas approves!) are all well and good. But we've found the people to be friendly and the buzz around the place most seductive. Sometimes it's difficult to intellectualise responses to people and places. So to us, Frome is just "special".
More anon...
http://www.frome-tc.gov.uk
If the response to the recent proposal to cut 2nd Home Council Tax rebates was to be believed, Second Homers are loathed across the nation only slightly less than bankers and politicians. Certainly, if the 'weekenders' sail in and out, contributing nothing to their adopted community/economy, I can understand the objections. Thankfully, we're not all like that... More on this in future posts.
But why Frome? Because it's special. How trite a comment is that!? Well, if I may be so bold, it's both trite and profound. Profound because there are places that touch you in an often indefinable, but deep way. As the tourist office will never grow weary of telling you, Frome has more listed buildings than any other town in Somerset. And there's no doubt that, in parts, it's an extremely attractive place with narrow, winding streets and beautiful stone buildings. Its cultural life is something to be proud of too - 2 theatres, a community hall/music venue, an art gallery/concert hall, a summer arts festival, a winter folk festival, loads of amateur music-making, its own radio station and so on. Remarkable for a population of, what, 25,000? But a "special" place is more than the sum of its parts. Architecture, the arts and specialist shops (Mary Portas approves!) are all well and good. But we've found the people to be friendly and the buzz around the place most seductive. Sometimes it's difficult to intellectualise responses to people and places. So to us, Frome is just "special".
More anon...
http://www.frome-tc.gov.uk
Monday 7 November 2011
Coming soon...
This will shortly be the home of musings on being a "weekender" in the delightful Somerset town of Frome. Please stay tuned...
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