The Osiligi Troupe at St. Nicholas

   Note: Click on image to see large

The Osiligi Troupe gave a beautiful performance at St. Nicholas.  The members of the troupe were so obviously enjoying themselves, their congenial relationship with the audience was totally uncontrived.  Nor did they feel any need to  compromise the extraordinary nature of their singing in order to please western ears.   All the aspects of their performance, costume, movement and sound, combined to create the richly textural expression of a completely different culture.  The men are small in build and delicate in feature: they sing with unusually high voices, and the height gained by their leaps is astonishing.  The women are demure and provide the only rythmic accompaniment, created by the dancing of the necklesses as they move forwards in rhythm.  Nearly all the singing was accompanied by a forwards movement of the whole troupe,  as if related to the communal activities of a nomadic and hunting life.  Whether this is true or not I don’t know, but the length and scale of St. Nicholas provided a good venue for creating a sense of song and dance created for travelling across a landscape rather than in an arena.

The Swinging Sixties

St. Nicholas Church Preservation Trust are presenting a one off re-union of well remembered local groups on Saturday 14th August, 7.30-10.30 p.m. at St. Nicholas Parish Church.  Performing are: Marsden and the MB3, The Strangers, Rick-o-Shea and the Ramblers, The Sidewinders and others. 

There will be a licenced bar, hog roast and tickets are only £5.  Tickets from Ruth’s Bar, Greyfriars; Priory Centre; St. John’s Head, North Quay; Neil at Hair for Men, Broad Row; Brahams, Market Row; from Paul Davies, 01493 843647 or at the door.  Proceeds will go towards the fabric and organ of the church, with all those involved giving their time for the cause!  For further information about the Preservation Trust, and other events, click here.

Chamber Philharmonia Cologne at St. Nicholas

What a huge shame that the concert given by the Chamber Philharmonia Cologne last night at St.Nicholas Parish Church wasn’t better advertised.  The musicians were superb and their pleasure in performing  was an absolute delight to watch.  The programme was wonderful – Antonio Vivaldi, The Four Seasons, Summer and La Notte; Mozart, Salzburg Symphony; Tchaikovski Elegie; Bach, Suite No2 in B Minor; and Paganini, Moses Variations.  The Chamber Philharmonia chooses for its repertoire highly demanding pieces of popular and unknown works “to inspire people across the world to enjoy classical music”.  Though there were not many in the audience, they certainly showed their appreciation.  The accoustics are good in St. Nicholas and the Chamber Philharmonia Cologne include Great Yarmouth in their annual tour – so something not to be missed next year!

Lunchtime Recitals, St. Nicholas Parish Church

This year’s schedule of  lunchtime recitals at St. Nicholas Parish Church is as follows:

30th June           John Stephens (organ)

7th July             Terri-Ann Rutter (piano), Briony Roper (piano)

14th July            St. Nicholas Handbell Team with John Stephens

21st July            Craft Fayre (no recital)

28th July            Mike Webb (organ)

4th August          John Farmer (organ and piano)

11th August        Matthew Bond (organ)

18th August        Craft Fayre (no recital)

25th August        David Ballard (organ)

1st Sept.             John Stephens (organ)

The recitals commence at 12.30 p.m. and last for approximately 45 mins. Admission is FREE, though a donation will be welcome in aid of the Organ Fund. Light refreshments are available from the visitor’s Centre but visitors are encouraged to bring their lunch – what better way to spend your lunch hour!  For more information visit www.stnicholas-gy.org.uk

Great Yarmouth Spring Festival 2010, St. Nicholas Parish Church

The St. Nicholas Parish Church Preservation Trust has organised a Spring Festival to raise funds for the £750,000 repair to the organ and the tower pinnacles.  Donations are always welcome and can be  made on-line to www.sncpt.co.uk

Gardener’s Question Time and Demonstration of Flower Arranging: Wednesday 12th May, 6.00 p.m. for 6.30-9.30 p.m. Tickets £10 includes buffet (£5 for college and Priory students).  Venue: St. Nicholas Church. Bar available. Tickets available from the Priory Centre, Mon-Fri 9.00 -17.00 hrs or from Paul Davies 01493 843647.

Lecture by General Sir Richard Dannatt, GCB, CBE, MC: “A Look Back, A Look Forward.  Reflections on 40 Years a Soldier” Friday, 14th May, 7.30 p.m., tickets £10. Venue: Masonic Royal Assembly Rooms, Albert Square. Bar available. Tickets available from the Priory Centre, Mon-Fri 9.00-17.oo hrs or from Paul Davies, 01493 843647.

Saturday 15th May, 10.00-16.00 hrs, admission free. Venue: St. Nicholas Church: Tower open 10.00-14.00 hrs, exhibiton of prints and maps of Great Yarmouth, display of Church silverware, organ recital by John Stephens 12.30 -13.30 hrs. Guided tour of the church and its history, 14.00-15.00 hrs.

Full Choral Evensong using the 1662 Prayer Book: Sunday 16th May 6.30 p.m., no ticket required.  Venue: St. Nicholas Church

Take Three Cooks: Cooking demonstration sponsored by the Imperial Hotel.  Tickets £25 includes lunch.  Venue: The Imperial Hotel, 01493 842000 (limited to 80 people).

The Blessing of the Nets at St Nicholas Church

Sunday 11th October 2009 at 6.30pm in the church
A special service to celebrate the medieval tradition of  Blessing the Nets to pray for the fishermen of the town and  bless their nets before they went to sea .

Sea songs by the Masquers
Hymns and
A talk on the historical aspects of the service
Followed by a herring snack (ticket event)
Cooked, Rollmop and Marinated Herrings
Potato salad
Wine available
In aid of the fabric of St Nicholas Church

Tickets for the snack priced £5 from  Pam Boon, 5 Addison Road, Gorleston, NR30 0PA Tel:01493 665862  or Paul Davies Tel:01493 843647
Cheques made payable to St Nicholas Church Preservation Trust

Free lunchtime recitals at St.Nicholas

Free lunchtime recitals were presented at St. Nicholas Parish Church every Wednesday during the summer season 2009.  The recitals started at 12.30 p.m. and lasted approximately 45 mins.  A perfect way to spend lunch hour – light refreshments were available at the visitor centre.  Look out on www.stnicholasmusic.org for next year’s promgramme.

Raising funds for St.Nicholas Parish Church Organ Restoration

St. Nicholas Church Preservation Trust is presenting a piano recital at St. Nicholas Parish Church at 7.30 p.m. on Friday, 21st August, 2009  to raise funds towards the restoration of St. Nicholas’ organ which urgently needs repair at a cost of £250,000.  

Rupert Egerton-Smith, a recital pianist and concerto soloist who has won a number of international competitions and is increasingly in demand, will be playing works by Beethoven, Scarletti, Rachmaninov and Liszt.  Tickets  are £12 and £10 (over 60 and under 18),  and will be on sale at the door or from Howards Estate Agents at Great Yarmouth, Gorleston and Norwich.

The St.Nicholas’ Chuch Preservation Trust is also holding a General Knowledge Quiz in aid of the Church Organ Fund.  This will take place at the Masonic Hall, Royal Assembly Rooms, Albert Square, Great Yarmouth at 7.00 p.m. on Friday 3rd July.  David McDermott will be the quizmaster and question setter. Tables can be reserved at £5 per head by phoning 01493 843647.

For more information about this year’s concert season at St. Nicholas Church, please go to www.stnicholasmusic.org.

GREAT YARMOUTH CHORAL SOCIETY

The Great Yarmouth Choral Society is presenting its Summer Concert at St. Nicholas Parish Church at 7.30 p.m. on Saturday 20th June.   Tickets are available at the door.   The programme is  Haydn, Little Organ Music; Poulenc, Gloria; selected choruses from Mendelssohn’s Elijah.  The soprano soloist is Hannah Long who won Norfolk Musician of the Year in 2003 before successfully auditioning for a place at the Guildhall School of Music. 

The Great Yarmouth Choral Society, directed by John Stephens, gives two public performances a year.  Rehearsals are on Monday evenings at Oriel High School, mainly during term time   For more information go to www.gychoral.org.uk.