Airy Delights

St Clements Wind Ensemble presents
 
Airy Delights
 
The St Clements Wind Ensemble (SCWE) bring an element of classical music to this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe with their enchanting concert AIRY DELIGHTS which will perform at Canongate Kirk for a limited run between Tuesday, 12 and Thursday, 14 August at 5pm daily.
 
AIRY DELIGHTS is a classical concert of three parts; conductor and pianist, Michael Round (Lord of The Rings: The Musical, Philharmonia, LPO, RPO) will lead between 13 and 25 talented musicians as they perform an eclectic repertoire that spans the baroque, classical and modern periods in three distinctly individual recitals featuring works from Bach to Brahms.
 
‘classical gem’
THREE WEEKS (‘07)
 
For the first concert (12 August 08), SCWE has compiled a selection of rare and new arrangements, with a Scandinavian theme, that include romantic Danish composer Emil Hartmann’s Serenade Op 43 and modern Norwegian composer Johan Kvandal’s Night Music. The performance also features a neglected work by Brahms, Serenade No.1 in D, Op 11 - a six movement instrumental serenade which has been specially arranged by SCWE’s Jonathan West. 
 
Emil Hartmann remains largely unknown to UK audiences. Born in Denmark in 1836, under the tuition of his revered composer father, J.P.E Hartmann, he began writing music before he could speak properly.  Hartmann had a great interest in stage music and composed ballet scores, operas and singspiel as well as choral works and symphonies, chamber and piano music for Concert Halls.
 
Similarly, Johan Kvandal (1919-1999) is highly esteemed among Norway’s contemporary composers.  Increasingly, there has been interest in his music abroad which, in recent years, has been performed in New York, London, Tokyo, Germany and many Russian cities.  Kvandal’s compositions consist of a wide variety of ensembles from solo instruments to large orchestras. 
 
SCWE’s main objective is to present rare music to audiences, preferably featuring wood-wind instruments as well as unusual instrumental combinations. Speaking about the first performance, SCWE founder Maren Heidemann comments: “We opted for a Scandinavian theme having recently played in Oslo, with many SCWE musicians regularly featuring in the leading Norwegian Symphony Orchestras.  We felt that the Edinburgh Fringe would be the perfect platform to introduce these beautiful, yet rarely heard, compositions by Emil Hartmann and Johan Kvandal”.
 
The second and final concerts (13 & 14 August 08) will feature a baroque orchestra with strings and wind ensemble performing two Bach favourites, the Suite No 2 in B minor (for solo flute and strings) and Brandenburg Concerto No 5 (for solo flute, violin, harpsichord and strings) in which Maren Heidemann will perfom the flute solo while Michael Round conducts from the harpsichord, and Mozart’s Serenade in E flat, K 375 (for oboes, clarinets, bassoons and horns).
 
AIRY DELIGHTS is a must for lovers of classical music and an easy introduction for casual listeners.  The concerts also provide those who wish to take time out from the fast-pace and hectic atmosphere of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with a moment to enjoy some calming relaxation.
 
Tickets can be purchased by contacting tel. +44 (0) 131 226 0000 or visit www.edfringe.com
 
RELEASE ENDS – 510 words
 
LISTINGS INFORMATION /
                       
Show:                           AIRY DELIGHTS
Venue:                         Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate, Edinburgh
Venue No:                    60
Dates:                           Tuesday, 12 - Thursday, 14 August 08
Performance Starts:     17:00 daily
Running Times:            max 110 mins (short interval)
Tickets:                        £10 / £5 + Group Discounts (please enquire)
Box Office:                   +44 (0) 131 226 0000 / www.edfringe.com
 
                  
For further details, images, review tickets and interview requests please contact LISA KINGSNORTH at SPIN on 0845 257 1479 / lisa@marketingspin.co.uk