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WINDSOR FESTIVAL
Castle Hotel - 3rd
October 2004
FROM DUNKIRK TO 'D'-DAY
with English Serenata &
Rosemary Squires
John narrated this lovely evening,
telling us the story of the last world war from 'Dunkirk to D-Day'.
English Serenata arranged and played the music with Rosemary Squires
providing the vocals for some of most memorable wartime songs. The
event was held on the closing night of the 2004 Windsor Festival.
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John Nettles & Rosemary Squires at The Festival
PHOTOS - COPYRIGHT JOAN STREET
PROGRAMME
Moonlight Serenade
The Biggest Aspidistra in the World You are my sunshine,Run, Rabbit Run
Brandenburg Concerto No 2 Greensleeves
The Siegfried Line
Lament from A Pastoral Symphony There'll Always Be An England
Beethoven 5
String of Pearls
A Pair of Silver Wings
White Cliffs of Dover
Someone to Watch Over Me
The Thingummybob
Over There
Saint Louis Blues March
Interval
Tail End Charlie Little Brown Jug
Mozart Quintet, Horn and Strings Warsaw Concerto
Take the A- Train
Speak Low
American Patrol
Maizy Doats
Quartet End of Time
V for Victory drum, Moon Mist
Wish Me Luck
Henry V Suite
Trumpet fanfare Harfleur Henry V March Bailero
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree White Cliffs of Dover/We'll Meet Again
DuringWorldWarTwo there was an explosion of music and dance as a relief from the restrictions of rationing and the combination of fear and boredom, which suffused everyday life. Not just popular, but classical live music attracted large new audiences, some of whom queued "all round the square" to hear the City of Birmingham Orchestra in the Town Hall, or legendary pianist Myra Hess, in her lunchtime recitals at the National Gallery. Dame Vera Lynn recalls audiences, during air raids, staying on after her concerts to await the all clear and join in singsongs to keep up their spirits. When the American and Canadian Expeditionary Forces arrived to train in Britain, prior to the Normandy Landings, anew type of music came with them, (live and over here!) and the infamous "jitterbug" was danced with the sort of energy only possible in wartime.
Many of the greatest musical names of the period live on in their recordings: Conductors Sir John Barbirolli and George Weldon (of the City of Birmingham Orchestra), virtuoso horn, Dennis Brain, oboist, Leon Goossens, Benjamin Brit ten, Arnold Bax, just a few from an apparently endless list of classical musicians. Then there is George Melachrino, who conducted the British AEF band, Robert Farnon, the Canadian AEF Band, Gracie Fields, Flanagan and Allen, and unforgettably, Vera Lynn, to name but a few of those wartime stars...and, of course, Glen Miller, legendary American trombonist and band leader whose centenary and the anniversary of his birth are celebrated in 2004.
The young, in particular, went out to enjoy themselves on a regular basis, in spite of petrol rationing, the Blackout, the lack of "nylons", the back-breaking working schedules, and, during certain periods, constant air-raids, which at the very least could make the journey home hazardous.
The years 1940 to 1944 cover So many events and continents that they need a whole series, rather than just one Concert, So, whilst the music was universally enjoyed, we have choSen to portray life on the Home Front, framed by the two campaigns in Western Europe: the heroic rescue of the BEF from the beaches at Dunkirk and the Normandy Campaign, after D-Day. The sources include letters and interviews generously contributed by loCal people.
The music was arranged by John Williams, Michael Revell and members of the ensemble.The script was devised, researched and written by Roger and Gay Leese.
THE WINDSOR FESTIVAL BROCHURE
SEPTEMBER 2004
You can read more about 'English
Serenata' on their website - http://www.englishserenata.com
English Serenata
