Music at St Mary’s, Aberfoyle

Well, those of you who managed to get through the floods will know of the wonderful organ music we enjoyed last Sunday at the hands and feet of Steven McIntyre. Everything we had been led to believe of his playing was more than realised. I am delighted to report that Steven has offered to come back and play for us again, perhaps after his trip to Paris.

The next concert in three weeks time is a recital by the Fyrish String Quartet, violins – Joe Hodson & Emma Donald, viola – Sarah Leonard, and cello – Tim Cais. Established in late 2017, the Fyrish String Quartet is a young, vibrant ensemble. Each member excelled during their studies and collectively they have received tuition from some of the UK’s leading musicians.They will be playing Joseph Haydn’s Op.76 No.4 ‘Sunrise’ and the String Quartet in G Minor Op. 14 by Emilie Mayer.

For those of you like me who have never heard of Emilie Mayer (1812-1883), she is one of many overlooked female composers, and only fairly recently has been ‘rediscovered’. (She was recently Composer of the Week on BBC Radio 3). She was a contemporary of Mendelssohn – and, in fact, this Quartet in G minor, was written within a few years of Mendelssohn’s famous F minor quartet. She composed in a late classical and romantic style, and was a populart and prolific composer in her time. Among her large catalogue of works, she wrote eight symphonies, 15 concert overtures, and seven string quartets – of which only the G minor quartet was published.

So, I very much hope to see you at 3 o’clock on the 20th March, three weeks today. As ever, tickets may be booked via this email, entry is by voluntary donation, and there will be tea after the performance.

Look forward to seeing you,

Christopher