Dear Teacher,

I am writing to inform you of a free workshop/lecture which may be of interest to your AS or A Level music students. You may have seen this advertised in the Newcastle Science Festival schools’ brochure.

The workshop will take place on Thursday 16 March at 2.30pm at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, in the King’s Hall of the Armstrong Building and will last about an hour and a half. In conjunction with the new Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning for Music and Inclusivity, the workshop will examine the physical changes in both stringed and keyboard instruments since the late 18th century, and will explore other physical and acoustical issues (including tuning systems with unequal temperament), looking at how they affect the tone quality of the instruments and the way players exploit these sounds (for example issues of vibrato and portamento).

The workshop will include demonstrations on period instruments and will be given by The Music Collection which comprises SUSAN ALEXANDER MAX (fortepiano), SIMON STANDAGE (violin), TREVOR JONES (viola) and JENNIFER WARD CLARKE (cello): some of the leading exponents of historic performance practice of their generation. It will focus on particular passages in the works to be performed in the evening concert (at 7.30pm in the King’s Hall), encouraging students to listen in particular ways in order to appreciate how the ensemble exploits the different balances between the earlier instruments.

The evening concert celebrates the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth and is part of the Newcastle Early Music Festival. The programme includes Mozart’s Trio in B flat, K.502 and Mozart’s two wonderful Piano Quartets. This concert is free but you are asked to apply for tickets, available from Olivia Cameron on 0191 2228463 or email o.h.cameron@ncl.ac.uk.

If you are interested in attending either the workshop or concert, please contact Olivia Cameron (details above) for more information.

Yours faithfully,

Alison Lewis
Administrator (Public Lectures & Lunchtime Concerts)
Business Development Directorate
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
6 Kensington Terrace
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
DDI: ++44 (191) 222 6093
Email: a.m.lewis@ncl.ac.uk