György Ligeti wrote Poème Symphonique in 1962. 100 metronomes are wound, set at different speeds, and set off as simultaneously as possible. Each metronome gradually slows down until the last one is left ticking at the end…An iconic, theatrical  piece receiving a rare performance commemorating the centenary of Ligeti’s birth.

Composer Brian Elias in conversation with Music@Malling’s artistic director, Thomas Kemp. Talk includes a performance of Echo – featuring five music boxes designed by Sir Anish Kapoor with music by Elias. Echo will be an installation at Ightham Mote for the duration of Music@Malling Festival 2023.

Fretwork

Byrd – Pavan and Galliard
Byrd – Fantasy in 6 parts
Byrd – Fantasies in 3 parts
Byrd – Fantasy in 4 Parts
Byrd – Pavan
Byrd – Browning – The Leaves Bee Greene
Byrd – In Nomine in 5 parts
Weelkes – In Nomine in 5 Parts
Purcell – In Nomine in 6 Parts
Gavin Bryars – In Nomine after Purcell
Byrd – Prelude and Ground
Byrd – Fantasy – two parts in one the fourth above
Weelkes – Fantasy in 6 Parts
Byrd – Fantasy in 6 Parts

World renowned viol consort Fretwork perform masterworks by William Byrd to commemorate the 400th anniversary of his death in 1623.  The concert includes In Nomine after Purcell by contemporary composer Gavin Bryars performed in the iconic setting of Ightham Mote.

4.15pm: Pre-concert talk with Richard Boothby: The Life and Times of William Byrd. Talk will explore the cultural background to domestic music making in the during the Elizabethan and Stuart periods. Free with concert ticket.

Adrian Bradbury – Cello
Andrew West – Piano

Beethoven – Judas Maccabeus Variations WoO 45
Beethoven – Rondo in C, Op.51, No.1
Beethoven – Sonata in A Major, Op.69

Outstanding chamber musicians, Adrian Bradbury and Andrew West conclude their series of concerts exploring Beethoven’s works for cello and piano.

Smith String Quartet

Ian Humphries – Violin I
Rick Koster – Violin II
Charles Mutter – Viola
Sophie Harris – Cello

Schnittke – String Quartet No.3

Gavin Bryars – String Quartet No.4 (UK Premiere)

Beethoven – Grosse Fuge, Op.133

The internationally renowned Smith Quartet perform Schnittke’s String Quartet No.3 which is inspired by one of the most epic and revolutionary pieces ever written – Beethoven’s Grosse Fuge.  The Smith Quartet continue their long collaboration with contemporary composer Gavin Bryars with the UK premiere of his String Quartet No.4 which is referential to music from previous musical periods.

Music@Malling regrets to announce that pianist Daniel Grimwood is indisposed.

We are delighted to welcome Tyler Hay, a virtuoso pianist who enjoys tackling some of the most demanding works in the repertoire. The concert includes Beethoven’s much-loved Fur Elise and Moonlight Sonata alongside the world premiere of Brian Elias – Ancestral Voices – a work inspired by the imagery of Samual Taylor Coleridge’s poem, Kubla Khan.

Beethoven – Bagatelles Op. 126
Judith Weir – Day Break Shadows Flee
Beethoven – Für Elise
Brian Elias – Ancestral Voices (world premiere)
Beethoven – Moonlight Sonata Op. 27 No. 2

David Juritz – Violin
Richard Harwood – Cello

Ligeti – Sonata for Solo Cello
Ligeti – Hommage à Hilding Rosenberg – for Violin and Cello
Brian Elias – Three Duets for Violin and Cello
Bartók – Sonata for Solo Violin Sz.117

Two outstanding string players perform iconic works by Ligeti and Bartók.  Ligeti would have been 100 this year and this concert commemorates his fabulously rich and varied music which was influenced by Bartók. The Bartók Sonata for Solo Violin was written during World War II whilst the composer was being treated for leukaemia and is dedicated to Yehudi Menuhin.

Mark Padmore CBE – Tenor
Sholto Kynoch – Piano

Schubert – Die Winterreise, Op.89

A performance of Schubert’s Die Winterreise performed by one of the world’s outstanding tenors, Mark Padmore CBE, using a Stodart piano that is contemporaneous with Schubert played by Sholto Kynoch.  Die Winterreise is a setting of 24 poems by Wilhelm Müller whose descendant, Beatrice Müller, lived at Ightham Mote in the 19th Century.

6.15pm: Pre-concert talk with Amanda-Jane Doran: Ightham and the Müller connection. Free with concert ticket.

Mikeleiz-Zucchi Duo

David Zucchi – Saxophone
Iñigo Mikeleiz-Berrade – Accordion

Piazzolla – Escualo
Gershwin – Three Preludes
Philip Glass – Façades from Glassworks
Brian Elias – Arioso
Gershwin – Selections from Songbook
Piazzolla – Histoire du Tango

Award winning duo Mikeleiz-Zucchi perform classics by 20th century legends George Gershwin and Astor Piazzolla alongside contemporary works by Philip Glass and Brian Elias.

Chamber Domaine

Thomas Kemp – Violin
Nick Barr – Viola
Richard Harwood – Cello

Schubert – String Trio Satz in Bb, D.471
Mozart – Divertimento in Eb, K.563

Chamber Domaine perform Schubert’s gorgeous String Trio Satz. Mozart’s Divertimento in Eb is considered one of the greatest pieces of chamber music ever written performed in the iconic setting of All Saints’ Church, Tudeley.

*This programme has been changed due to unforeseen circumstances. Schoenberg – String Trio, Op.45 will be included in Music@Malling 2024.

The Marian Consort

Byrd – Circumdederunt me
Byrd – Domine, praestolamur
Byrd – Tristitia et anxietias
Brian Elias – Lullaby
Byrd – Memento Domine
Byrd – Audivi vocem
Byrd – Lullaby
Deborah Pritchard – Audivi vocem (UK premiere)

The Marian Consort commemorate the extraordinary legacy of William Byrd who died 400 years ago.  The programme includes works by Deborah Pritchard and Brian Elias including the world premiere of Audivi vocem.

Lizzie Ball – Violin and Vocals
James Pearson – Piano

Piazzolla – Escualo
Layton – After You’ve Gone
Gershwin – Man I Love
Kreisler – Präludium and Allegro
Gershwin – Two Preludes (arr. Heifetz)
Gershwin Medley (arr. Pearson)
Copland – El Salón México
Ponce – Estrellita (arr. Heifetz)
Kreisler – Liebesleid (arr. Rachmaninov)
Bernstein – West Side Story Suite (arr. Pearson)

Lizzie Ball and James Pearson take you on a fascinating journey through the musical and personal encounters of some the great musicians and composers of the 20th Century – all connected in some way to George Gershwin.

Fidelio Trio

Darragh Morgan – Violin
Tim Gill – Cello
Mary Dullea – Piano

Brian Elias – Piano Trio
Beethoven – Piano Trio, Op.1 No.1 in Eb Major

The Fidelio Trio continue their survey of Beethoven Piano Trios with two early trios written in the 1790’s and dedicated to his patron Prince Lichnowsky. The Fidelio Trio will also perform Brian Elias – Piano Trio which was written in 2019.

Fidelio Piano Trio

Darragh Morgan – Violin
Tim Gill – Cello
Mary Dullea – Piano

Judith Weir –  Piano Trio Two
Beethoven – Piano Trio, Op.1 No.3 in C Minor

The Fidelio Trio perform Judith Weir’s Piano Trio Two alongside Beethoven’s Op.1 Piano Trio No.3 in C Minor. Judith Weir CBE is Master of the King’s Music and her works were performed at the Coronation in Westminster Abbey earlier this year. Weir’s three movement piano trio has titles from a collection of Zen stories: very short anecdotes which resonate in the brain but do not reveal their secrets easily. Judith Weir was a featured composer at Music@Malling in 2018.

James Pearson and Friends

James Pearson – Piano

James Turner – Percussion

Pete Long – Woodwind

Sam Burgess – Percussion

Matt Skelton – Drums

Thomas Kemp, Lizzie Ball (vocals), Meghan Cassidy, Gabriella Swallow – Strings

James Pearson and Friends perform some of the iconic film theme tunes and songs from over 100 years of cinema history ranging from Charlie Chaplin through to Hans Zimmer. Be prepared to be blown away by an epic finale to Music@Malling 2023 with an all-star cast. Programme also includes music by legendary film composers John Williams, Ennio Morricone, Lalo Schifrin, John Barry and Henry Mancini.