The Blackwater Suite | |
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THE BLACKWATER SUITEThe Premiere of The Blackwater Suite, music composed and orchestrated by Clive Smith based on themes and words by Phillip Walter was on : SATURDAY 19TH JUNE, 2004 7.30 pm With the Essex Concert Orchestra supported by the Sweyne Choral Society, Swift Singers & Southend Co-operative Chorale.
Concert RecordingsA CD of a previous concerts of the Blackwater Suite is available from the Box Office (01702 207912). Cheques payable to "Essex Concert Orchestra" can be sent, with an order and return address, to: Millview, Lower Road, Hockley, Essex SS5 5LE.
THE BLACKWATER SUITEPrelude: Tide Rise at Maldon Quay The piece begins with a single French horn gently depicting the dawn of
a summer’s day around the quay. As the morning mist clears the birds lift
off looking for food and the water fills the creases in the mud of the
riverbed. The river is coming alive as gradually the water rises. People
stir. Later the stranded boats begin to float and some move off. Finally a
barge leaves the quay at the top of the tide. Intermezzo: Running before the Wind The constant lapping of water serves as an accompaniment to a simple,
but haunting theme played initially by a solo ’cello and later as a trio.
Although we hear faster undercurrents within the orchestra, the over all
effect is one of calm and serenity depicting a gentle breeze as it fills
the sails from behind the craft: it is running. Humoresque: Birds Feeding
on the Shore This is a light and fast moving humoresque. Sea and river
birds can be heard diving and swooping, noisily teasing and scrapping with
one another as they take up and defend new territories exposed by the
falling tide. They are rudely interrupted by a noisy workboat. When the
boat has passed the birds return to their tasks and a passing barge
doesn’t bother them. Dialogue: The Dinghy and the Barge The waterborne interplay between the grand and majestic barge and a
cheeky family dingy, tacking back and forth in playful mood, provides an
excellent thematic contrast in the turbulent orchestral writing of this
movement. Finale: Blackwater Men This is a journey on a boat from the Bench Head Buoy up the river. In the opening bars the Bench Head Buoy can be heard. The ominous ring of the bell sounds through the morning mist intermingling with eerie bird song. Soon clear rays of sun burn off the mist as the boat passes various notable places on the two shores. St. Peter’s Church on the Bradwell side and then over to East Mersea Church, on to the Nass Beacon and past the nuclear power station. The choir rises to sing an anthem to famous Blackwater men. Names of great and notable local people can be heard in the interweaving choral writing, overlapping and reminding us of the noble heritage of the Blackwater. Among the twenty or so named are Saint Cedd, who brought Christianity to this area, the Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould, composer of hymns such as Onward Christian Soldiers and Now the Day is Over, and Byrhtnoth from the Battle of Maldon in 991 AD.
Phillip Walter writes . . . On a social occasion, I suggested to Clive that themes that had been going around in my head about the River Blackwater could be set as a musical journey along its shores. I also had some words for a song which was about Blackwater men. As my musical experience was limited to playing recorders at school and some years of a misspent youth in a rock group as a guitarist, the tunes had to come from my head via one finger on the family piano into a tape recorder. With this paucity of material to work with, Clive set to work in what little spare time he had as a busy pianist, teacher and family man. I took him sailing on the river and walking and cycling on its shores, so as to give Clive some feelings of insight into the charms and beauty of this area of our county. Nine years later we can all hear the result of this collaboration as Malcolm Hiscock conducts the Essex Concert Orchestra in the first orchestral performance of The Blackwater Suite. Clive Smith writes . . . Back in 1995 my friend Phillip Walter approached me with the idea of my writing a work based upon various aspects of The Blackwater, a stretch of Essex river way which is close to his heart. Whilst out on his boat Phillip had composed several 8 to 16 bar melodies which he sang into my tape recorder. It was these themes and our trips together which inspired me to write The Blackwater Suite and I used them within the work. The barge theme crops up in nearly every movement and I have used it as a common thread throughout. I was particularly struck by the tune called Evening in Phillip’s initial rendering. I have changed only one note from the original and decided to use it as a contrasted middle section to the otherwise robust 4th Movement, The Dinghy and The Barge. By the time Phillip had reached the Finale, Blackwater Men, on his tape recording, he was in full swing and the Anthem was born. About Phillip WalterBefore taking retirement recently, Phillip was a director of a plastics company. He and his family spend their free time by the River Blackwater where they have a caravan and small sailing cruiser. Phillip is the son of a West Mersea lady and his grandfather was the coastguard there for some years before the Second World War. Phillip’s principal contribution to the arts has been his poetry. Several of his poems have been published in the United Kingdom and in the United States of America. He won the Essex section of a recent national poetry competition. Phillip has known Clive Smith for some years, having sung under Clive’s baton in the South Woodham Ferrers Male Voice Choir. Phillip’s wife, Sally, well known in Essex as a cellist and cello teacher, has worked with Clive over many years. About Clive SmithClive is a composer, pianist and conductor. He studied at the Royal College of Music with such prestigious names as Bryan Kelly, Joseph Horowitz and Anthony Hopkins. He has subsequently worked within the field of education, teaching music and the performing arts. As a composer his works are widely known. A Guiding Star, written with the lyricist John Carr, won first prize in the BBC’s A Carol for Essex and their cantata One Bright Star has been performed by over 60 schools with other works heard on BBC Essex, Classic FM and Meridian TV. Clive has conducted adult and children’s choirs nationally and internationally and is frequently asked to direct music festivals. He is currently the Musical Director of The Sweyne Choral Society and The Swift Singers ladies choir. Clive’s compositions include: 7 cantatas for choir with piano/orchestral accompaniment. Clive has also written arrangements for choirs, full orchestra, ’Cello orchestra, various other instrumental ensembles and solos with piano accompaniment.
About The ChoirsThe Sweyne Choral Society was formed in 1965 when the idea came to William Arter, the Musical Director of The Sweyne School, Rayleigh, that he would like as many scholars as possible to leave school with “at least one good oratorio under their belts!” Eventually the pupils brought along their mums, dads, aunts, uncles etc… and ever since the choir has performed three or four times a year presenting a varied repertoire from all the major oratorios with the occasional diversion into works by Gilbert and Sullivan and other choral composers up to the present day. If you would like to become a member of the choir please contact our secretary, Pat Smith - 01702 714311, or Chairman, Patricia Botfield - 01245 320212 for further details. The Swift Singers Ladies Choir was formed in 1989 and is a growing choir at present numbering 60 members. Over the years the choir has raised thousands of pounds for charity. The many and varied concerts have included visits to Derbyshire, Coventry, Ireland, Wales, Cologne, Jersey and France. With several recordings to its name and more to follow the choir demonstrates a fine ability to perform music ranging from the 16th century to the popular styles of the present day. New members to the Swift Singers are always welcome. For further details please contact Jean Chasmer - 01245 321920, or Janice Pearson - 01245 320071. The Southend Co-operative Chorale was founded in 1932 and is sponsored by the Co-operative Group. It is a friendly choral society directed by Malcolm Hiscock in his characteristically endearing style. We study and sing a wide range of repertoire for our own enjoyment, occasionally give concerts of our own, and sometimes combine with other choirs in order to undertake larger works. Our weekly meetings take place on Monday evenings between 7.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m. in the Chapel Hall towards the rear of Cliff Town Church, Nelson Street, Southend. Our secretary, Joy Milner, will be delighted to give you any information regarding membership - 01702 557461.
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last updated: 15th April 2005