Motorcycles

Sunday, April 11th, it’s sunny, so off to Box Hill on the A24 near Dorking. Why? Well it’s a classic biker rendezvous. Sit back and enjoy the ride!

Very typical of the type of kit on display at Box Hill

It’s flashy, but respectable. How about this?

This lot on the front of this machine...

and this lot…

...on the back!

Viewers under the age of 18 should look away now…

on a girl's bike - watch out guys!

Back to something more respectable. This one from 1963, 50cc

It's for sale as well! £250 if you're interested.

But if that’s not powerful enough, what about this one…

It's "Boss Hogg". V8, 5 litre engine - OK!

But it’s not just bikes on show here. Check out the old car in the background of this shot

A fine vehicle.

It turns out to be a…

A Buick - RH drive too!

And finally, for purists of a certain age, a lovely period piece

Honda CBX, 1000cc and six cylinders. Rare and beautiful.

So, if you’re in the area on a Sunday, call in. There’s a cafe, and you can actually walk up Box Hill itself where you reach part of the North Downs Way and can visit the Box Hill visitor centre. Excellent entertainment, and it’s free!

Beethoven Piano Concertos

When is a Beethoven Piano Concerto not a piano concerto? When it is performed by only 6 players perhaps? If so, then the Arts Anglia Players with pianist Thomas McIntosh performed all 5 “non-concertos” in two concerts at the Old School, Hadleigh, Suffolk on December 29th and 30th, 2009.

Rehearsing Beethoven at the Old School, Hadleigh

Of course much is lost in this hyper-reduced format, but, surprisingly, there are significant gains. For one, there is great clarity and immediacy for all the part writing, and this has a spin off benefit for the string players of encouraging  them to play their (solo) lines with conviction. For another, there is tremendous theatrical value for the audience in following the dramatic interplay between the 6 musicians, all “fought out” at close quarters in full view and without the arbitration of a conductor. And for the musicians there is the intense satisfaction of being able to place notes, phrases and articulations precisely, free from rhythmic doubts that the inertia of a large orchestra can so often bring.

The Old School has an excellent Steinway

The two concerts were sold out, and many commented on what a great experience it had been for them. Interestingly, the sheet music used by the 5 string players was an existing edition (by Lachner, 1882) where wind, brass and tympani parts had been incorporated where necessary into the orchestral string parts. For the most part this was satisfactory, although some editing (including corrections to bar numbering) was necessary.

Led by Andrew Laing, the ensemble also included Rachel Hess (vln.) John Rayson (va.), Felix Buser (vc.) and Roy Chilton (db.), and all the musicians enjoyed the generous hospitality of Tom and Miranda McIntosh for the 3-day event. Altogether a memorable and unique experience.

Hello world!