From The Editor’s Desk!
Hello, As I write this, we’re dashing toward the end of the year and for many people, me included, that means it is time to start thinking about next year’s holidays.
With Cavalcade Festivals having more top players than any other UK events, especially at our week long September Spectacular at Pakefield, which everyone loved in 2022, I do hope you will all come to at least one of our hobby holidays, and maybe more. We have four, all different in their own way, in terms of players, venues, location and costs, so there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Something that has become a very special, regular happening, is that our events are supported by the trade, and it is wonderful to have the Yamaha Xperts On Tour team, the Korg PaProfessionals and a range of new organs from Wersi, Ringway and Lowrey with Allens Music Centre at our events. It provides us all with a rare opportunity to see and hear the latest products and to ask questions of those who know them better than anyone else.
For those who fancy doing something different, we have Jean and Chris with their card making at many events, and at Pakefield, as in 2022, I am arranging a coach trip, as all those who came on it seemed to really enjoy the change it made, and I thought it all helped to make for a proper holiday experience.
Our next festival is our Spring Spectacular at the lovely Hemsby Beach Holiday Park, where there is a wide range of really nice accommodation, with smart modern caravans from just £299 per person for the four night stay, and, then there’s a range of lovely options up to the lodges with hot tubs, which are like having a beautiful, proper house for your stay.
To book your holiday, call Lorraine on 07842 573 913 between 10am and 12noon on a Monday or a Thursday morning, and she’ll make sure everything is in place for us all.
It’s a strange time for me, as some of the established players, who I think of as being the younger players on the circuit, are becoming older! Both Glyn Madden and
Nigel Ogden are retiring, both of whom I don’t think of as the older generation of players. Then there’s the lovely Jean Martyn, another youngish player in my thinking, but she’s celebrating 50 years making music. It all makes me think I must be older than 32 after all!
We were very saddened to hear of the passing of one the real titans of the music industry, the great Steve Lowdell (see page 5). It is incredible how much Steve achieved musically during his varied career, excelling in every avenue.
I am indebted to Alan Ashton for his photo of Steve playing Yamaha in the 1980s, and to David Thomas for the photo of Steve playing his retirement performance at our Pakefield Festival towards the end of September. Our world of music is a poorer place now we have lost his very special talents.
a concert or festival before long.
Ed - As ever, thanks to everyone who takes the time to write in to us by post and e-mail. Although we don’t have space to feature all of your messages, we very much enjoy reading them all, so do keep them coming in.
From Brian Benkin, Billericay
In the last issue of Keyboard Cavalcade, Trevor referred to the problem of pages turning over whilst playing. This issue has come up in the magazine before, and I submitted an answer to this some four years or so ago, which was published in one issue.
Most localities have a jobbing printer in the area, an outfit that prints wedding and social stationary, etc. They normally have a guillotine on which they can accurately cut the spine off a music book, then punch slots down the edges of the sheets to accommodate a new coiled spine. The book can now be used without fear of the pages turning whilst you play, as it is now spirally bound.
This procedure may only cost a couple of pounds or so but works out cheaper if they do several books at a time. I have had up to four 100 page books done at once for less than a “tenner”, but prices may have risen a little now. However, the results are excellent.
Ed - Thanks for the tip, Brian, well worth it.
From David Andrews, Secretary of the White Rose Organ & Keyboard Society, Barnsley Barnsley White Rose Organ and Keyboard Society have decided to cease operations at the end of 2022 due to falling attendances and ageing committee.
Ed - Thanks for letting us know David, such sad news. Fortunately the Barnsley area still has the fabulous concert series at the Astoria Centre, and for those seeking out solely electronic keyboard and organ concerts, the World of Music at Dronfield isn’t all that far to go for a monthly musical treat. Both have their dates listed in our Concert Diary. Above and beyond that, I think as clubs close, to keep the friendships alive, it is good to have home gatherings, and perhaps to also attend some of our Cavalcade Festivals as a group, so friends can still share in the very best live music.
From Rainbows Hospice, Loughborough Rainbows, whose motto is 'Brightening short lives', offers a wide range of services to children and teens suffering from life-limiting and life-threatening conditions allowing families to make the most of every precious moment.
Jenny Ball, the local fundraiser for Rainbows, wished to thank Andy, the KC team and all concerned for their support and for making a second donation possible.
She commented, “It costs over £6 million per year to run the hospice and all the services it provides and it relies on the support of all fundraisers. Donations are very important to us; a very big thank you for your support.”
We are hugely sad to report that wonderful musician Steve Lowdell passed away on 29th November, the day after his 83rd birthday. His Cavalcadian friends will know that he had not been well for some time, and had been in and out of hospital for a few months, coming out of hospital the day before giving his stellar farewell performance at our Pakefield Festival, at which he showed just why he is so highly regarded by audiences and fellow players alike, before being admitted to hospital again just the next day. Our very sincere condolences to his wife, Sylvia, and daughter, Sarah, at this saddest of times.
Steve had a prolific lifetime in music, and thanks to Sarah and Alan Ashton, we bring you these brief memories.
Steve's birth parents' names were Lucy and George Woods, so he was born Stephen Woods, but then was adopted by his mum's brother, so took his mum's maiden name. His adopted parents were called Augustus (Gus) and Hilda Lowdell.
Well known throughout the country and on the Continent for his highly personalised easy style of music, Steve was equally at home playing electronic organ, piano, synthesiser or keyboards. He appeared on stage, screen and radio, and had his own T.V programme on Icelandic T.V He toured with his own array of keyboard instruments, coupled with a brand of sizzling repartee, that made him a firm favourite with audiences in Clubs, Theatres and at Music Festivals throughout the country.
Steve Lowdell began his musical career when he joined a well-known music publisher, where he became involved in the business of song "plugging" - getting famous singers, bandleaders and disc-jockeys to play or perform certain numbers. His biggest hit song when working for Bourne Music in Tin Pan Alley was "Only You" but the platters version was a cover; Steve had taken that song out of the waste paper bin of another plugger! He also spoke about getting Pat Boone his first and second UK number one hits.
He became acutely fond of jazz and subsequently formed a quintet, which he travelled with all over the country, playing and broadcasting his own particular brand of music in places such as the "100 Club", The "Marquee", "Annies Room", The "Latin Quarter" and "Churchills". Later, he turned his talents to the organ, forsaking the piano almost completely. He became totally absorbed with the sounds and styles of such masters of this instrument as Jimmy McGriff, Mike Carr, Jimmy Smith (the American one, naturally), Lou Bennette and McDuff, so much so that he had a Hammond organ (C3) especially modified to Smith's specification. It was this instrument that he was to take on his travels, this time as a duo, to jazz clubs at home and abroad, ultimately securing a supporting band fortnight at the Ronnie Scott Club. Sometime after this, work got a little thin on the ground and Steve decided to get back into the 'pop' scene, where there was money to be had. He went into the confines of the recording studios as a 'session' man, playing organ, piano and keyboards.
He soon tired of this and shortly came out and joined the music retail business but it was inevitable that a player of his calibre should return to the concert platform. With his one man, two and a half hour show, he not only played, he entertained at his multikeyboards with music ranging from classics, ballads and pop, through to boogie woogie, jazz and more.
The consummate professional, Steve excelled in every musical avenue and, perhaps for us at Cavalcade, was best remembered for his fabulous shows whilst working for Yamaha, and for his superb late-night sessions, where the boogie-woogie jazz man in him was displayed to the full. He will be much missed.
Alan Ashton recalls that from the first time he met Steve, his charismatic personality was one that you never forgot. Alan recalls, “It didn’t matter what organ he sat at or recorded, he extracted sounds that others could never hope to do. Who can ever forget those afterhours jazz sessions that he presided over playing for all the Festival night owls amongst us. You didn’t get much in the way of personal introductions to the tunes he played, but every so often he’d come out with a little gem of a comment. The organ world has just lost another great and warm hearted personality.”
SHREWSBURY WURLITZER MOVES OUT!
In the last issue we advertised the closing concert for the Shropshire Theatre Organ Trust’s (STOT) beautiful Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ that has called the Buttermarket, Shrewsbury its home for 34 years. The concert went well, with five organists entertaining the audience.
Official Korg Pa Owners Group
The official Korg UK group for Pa keyboard owners has now launched on Facebook! It’s a great place for owners to share performances, sounds, tips and tricks, while also engaging with members of the Korg UK team.
To find the group, just visit www.korg.co.uk/pa-owners
It was good to see a full auditorium to say farewell…
Korg UK Live Gatherings
Exciting news! Korg will be restarting monthly gatherings for Pa keyboard owners in January. These free online events will feature familiar faces from the Korg family, and are a fantastic opportunity to meet and talk about all things related to Pa keyboards - all from the comfort of your own home.
Sign up to the owners newsletter today at www.korg.co.uk/pa5x to be notified of the first date.
Korg Owners Newsletter
Since the concert, the team have carefully dismantled and packed the whole instrument, including all of the delicate pipes, and it was shipped to safe storage at The Grange Musical Collection, Diss, where we visited during our 2022 Pakefield Festival.
Be sure to sign up for the Korg Pa newsletter at www.korg.co.uk/pa5x to stay up-to-date with the latest news from the world of Korg Pa keyboards.
Free Christmas Sounds!
Following the first free Sound Collection pack for Pa5X, Korg are releasing 20 new keyboard sets for Pa5X - this time with a distinctly Christmas feel.
“Sound Collection 2: Christmas” is created by the Korg UK team and is free to download for your Pa5X. If you have signed up to the owners newsletter, you will have already received a link - but you can also go to the Korg website (korg.co.uk) and search for “Sound collection”.
We wish the STOT every success in finding a suitable new home for this most gorgeous sounding of instruments and hope it won’t be too long till they can start the mammoth task of re-installing it ready to welcome audiences again.
Thanks to the STOT team for all of their hard work to make the organ safe, and for these photos.
The team at e-pianos contiue to publish interesting reviews and product comparisons on their website, www.epianos.co.uk
Thanks to their manager, Chris Hammond (photo), we are delighted to reproduce some brief extracts from this comparison. Welcome reader! Today, it’s the Yamaha PSR-SX600 vs Yamaha PSR-SX700. I’m going to be explaining what I think are the most important differences between these two keyboards from the Yamaha PSR-SX range.
The Yamaha PSR-SX range currently consists of three keyboards, the PSR-SX600, SX700, and SX900, with the SX900 being the top-of-the-range model. They all sit beneath Yamaha’s flagship arranger model, the Genos. The difference in price between the PSR-SX600 and PSR-SX700 fluctuates a little bit but is usually around £400 to £600.
A summary of the differences
For those of you in a hurry, I’ll do a quick summary of my conclusions first! Yamaha PSR-SX600 vs PSR-SX700 - Here goes…
The PSR-SX600, as a stand-alone keyboard, for its price, and for its size, genuinely impressed me with how powerful and high quality its sound is. The hardware, as always from Yamaha, is absolutely top-notch quality. The knobs, switches, buttons, etc all feel nice and robust. The chassis itself is stylish and the controls are very well laid out. It’s a gorgeous keyboard and you can have a lot of fun with it!
But in comparison with the PSR-SX700 (and that’s what this feature is about!), the PSR-SX600 begins to feel like a bit of a relic of the past. Why? - Because the PSR-SX700 is built using Yamaha’s latest operating system. It’s the same operating system that has filtered all the way from the top-of-the-range Genos model.
The crucial difference is that this operating system is controlled with a touchscreen, whereas the PSR-SX600 is controlled more like a cash machine/ATM with corresponding buttons and dials located around the screen.
Along with this operating system, with a much larger screen, and a chassis that looks the same as the PSRSX900, when you sit down and power up the PSR-SX700, you feel like you’re playing a keyboard from the upper echelon of arranger keyboards. In comparison to the PSR-SX600, the PSR-SX700 feels like a jump into the future. Okay, that’s the summary. Let’s get into the details of what I think the important differences are, shall we?
Backing/Accompaniment Styles
This category is really closely fought for a few reasons and it’s actually hard to call a winner. While reading through the specification, in true British style I found myself rooting for the underdog and was silently cheering the PSR-SX600 on each time I discovered something it did better than its big brother! If we’re going simply on numbers, then surprisingly, the PSR-SX600 actually comes out on top! The PSR-SX600 has 415 accompaniment styles compared to the PSR-SX700 which has 400.
Operating Systems
The PSR-SX600 has a nice colour screen (but obviously, smaller in comparison!), and it’s nice, bright, and clear, and tells you what’s happening on the keyboard. You control it by using the buttons and dials around the screen which is fairly easy to do once you get used to it. Why do I say ‘once you get used to it?’ Well, it’s because we’re all rather used to using touchscreens these days, aren’t we? And that’s what you’ll find on the PSR-SX700. Note the large, clear, colour screen. The home page, being large, allows more pertinent information to be displayed and consequently, you feel more in control of the keyboard.
In Conclusion…
Well, as I said before, I found myself rooting for the underdog and in some areas, it really shines. The PSRSX600 is indeed an impressive-sounding keyboard that you can really enjoy yourself with, but, in comparison to the PSR-SX700, which after all is the reason for this blog, the PSR-SX600 begins to feel like it belongs in the past. The PSR-SX700, with the advanced operating system, that it shares with its top-of-the-range big brother, the PSR-SX900, and the flagship arranger - the Genos, simply works more like an arranger keyboard should work in the 2020s.
To read the full article, or to watch the enjoyable 44 minute video, visit https://bit.ly/keycavsxcomparison
We are delighted, this issue, to welcome a new dealer to the ranks of those who support our Cavalcade Family.
Established in 1994, Music 2000 are a very highly regarded and thriving musical instrument retailer, based in the West Midlands but using their central location to provide excellent support to their customers nationwide. We asked Director, Steve Flaherty (photo below), to tell us more about the company:
My family run business - MUSIC 2OOO LTD - has built up an outstanding reputation by providing sales, after sales and tuition in Wolverhampton and the surrounding areas for over 28 years now.
Here at MUSIC 2OOO LTD we stock, demonstrate and sell some of the world's finest instruments but it’s the after sales we provide that’s the secret to our success. Using specialist vehicles and drivers to move our more heavier items, we deliver all over the UK.
With a skilled and professional team who cover all our warranty and repair work, we regularly tune acoustic pianos, repair digital pianos and keyboards, service saxophones, clarinets & flutes, repair amplifiers (throughout the West Midlands) and we also offer our own in-house guitar service workshop.
Delivering to all parts of the UK, and on rare occasions exporting, we never distract from our 'family run' attitude. There are regular video and face to face demonstrations of new and preloved instruments.
Meet the team...
John Barnett joined us in January 2020 and has worked in the music retail industry since leaving school, starting with Greame Hawkins Organ Studios in Wolverhampton. As well as being a regular organist at the world famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom over the years, John has also been a popular performer on the concert scene and has given many concerts all over the UK and The Netherlands.
Sophie Nicholls has always had a passion for music and also performs as a wedding & special event pianist. She also works in local schools as an accompanist for exams and school productions, and she helps students with GCSE performance, improvisation and composition.
Liam Price has been a working musician for many years, touring the UK playing festivals and theatres, as well as teaching privately and in schools across the Midlands. He holds a First Class Music degree and is currently studying an MA at the University of Chester.
Music 2000 Ltd., is at 11 Broad Lane, Bradmore, Wolverhampton, WV3 9BN.
Telephone No. 01902 345 999
Website www.music2000.co.uk
Email sales@music2000.co.uk
Follow Music 2000 on Facebook and Instagram
The shop is open from Tuesday to Saturday each week between 9am and 5pm.
If you are in the Wolverhampton area, you will receive a warm welcome when you visit the shop.
If you (or your family) live in the area, you could go along to their successful tuition studios, the M2K Music School, which is one of the largest privately owned teaching organisations in the Midlands. They teach Piano, Keyboard, Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Drums, Violin, Clarinet, Saxophone, Singing and Music Theory. For more information and to enrol for lessons, call 01902 563 504 or visit www.m2kmusicschool.co.uk
A CLUB WORTH VISITING - BRENTWOOD ORGAN
& KEYBOARD CLUB
It was my pleasure recently to play for the Brentwood Organ & Keyboard Club, who meet at 2.15pm on the second Tuesday of every month at Mountnessing Village Hall, Roman Road, Mountnessing, Essex, CM15 0TD. The club is sometimes known as the ‘Listening Club’, as probably only 25 per cent of the audience own or play an instrument, the others enjoy just coming along to listen!
Whilst the club was struggling for attendees, a move from evening concerts to afternoon concerts has really worked here, and a good crowd turned out for my concert.
If you live within driving distance, do go along. The committee and audience are really friendly, so you’ll enjoy it. For more information call Jean on 01277 824 380 or check their upcoming dates in our concert diary.
It is good to see both keyboard and organ venues well dressed for Christmas. There are so many looking lovely, but we only have space for these!
Join us at our superb new 4-Star venue on the Promenade for our Brilliant Blackpool Deluxe Festival
Sunday 14th to
Thursday 18th May 2023
4 Nights 4-Star Dinner, Bed & Breakfast from £382 per person sharing Double/Twin, £492 Single. Upgrades available
Join us at our new upmarket home in brilliant Blackpool, where we have refined, comfortable accommodation in a beautiful location overlooking the sea, and with a large free car park… The 4-Star Imperial Hotel, The Promenade, Blackpool, FY1 2HB.
The Imperial Hotel is one of the jewels in Blackpool’s Crown, the hotel where people of note choose to stay, with guests over the years including Charles Dickens, Winston Churchill, Tommy Steele, Bruce Forsyth, Fred Astaire and Errol Flynn!
We are thrilled to be able to enjoy our Cavalcadian Festival at this prestigious venue, located on the promenade, overlooking the sea, with both bus and tram stops immediately outside the property, making it an easy journey into Blackpool to visit the town, Pleasure Beach, Piers and Tower
Our concerts will be in the historic Washington Room, a ballroom added to the hotel in 1901 so guests could waltz under the stars! We will enjoy the refined luxury of this historic venue, and savour beautiful food, served to our tables, no queuing required!
As with all of our Cavalcade Festivals, we shall enjoy days and evenings packed with our favourite keyboard and organ artistes, more each day than you will hear at any other festivals, plus our usual morning tutorials, dealer exhibitions and more!
Confirmed Players include PETER BAARTMANS, JEAN MARTYN, KEVIN MORGAN, BYRON JONES BEM, NICHOLAS MARTIN BEM, ELIZABETH HARRISON, RICHARD BOWER, TONY STACE, PETE SHAW and many more! PLUS, spend time with the YAMAHA XPERTS ON TOUR, the KORG Pa PROFESSIONALS, WERSI, RINGWAY & LOWREY ORGANS with ALLENS MUSIC CENTRE, TRX SYSTEMS with MUSICLAND, Software and Music with STRAWBERRY MUSIC.
THE YAMAHA WEEKEND 2022
This year’s Yamaha Club Weekend was a bittersweet affair, as it was a truly marvellous, relaxed and enjoyable weekend, but it was to be the last with Yamaha Club founder, Glyn Madden at the helm, as he has decided it is time to take life a little easier and, from the summer, will be closing the Yamaha Club but, in a piece of related good news, this means he will have more time to return to the stage, so being able to see and hear more of him on tour will be a joy.
open to everyone, so do book your place now.
The 2022 weekend opened, as they have done for many years, with Glyn taking the stage and setting us all up for an enjoyable event. This year he was followed by Musicland’s Genos Organ maestro, David Harrild, who really put his TRX through it’s paces with his happy and light-hearted programme.
To close the Friday stage appearances, something rather special, a concert by one of the UK’s most popular players, the globe-trotting Chris Powell, who was re-united with an EL-700 Electone for a dynamic performance, which included music from many genres but included some Blackpool Tower memories and the Widor wedding Tocatta, which was breathtaking. It is many years since Chris last played a concert on an Electone but the instrument
Our Host - Glyn Madden
The event itself will continue into the now have greater involvement from the Music Europe GmbH UK, still in association here at Cavalcade Productions Ltd. increased input will, I’m sure, improv above and beyond the joy that it was this are thrilled that they have already said of the world’s top players with Yamaha Weekend Xperience 2023, as Peter Baartmans will be flying in to play shall also have the phenomenal Martin Harris making an all too rare stage appearance, showing his musical brilliance, which we all enjoy so much in our Yamaha keyboards, which he designs for us. Now there is no ‘club’ involvement, the weekend will be very much
er, night bar, where the inimitable James Sergeant entertained us each evening, both solo and with many highly enjoyable, spontaneous duets.
IN WORDS & PICTURES
Photos by Daniel Watt Words by The EditorSunday saw another day of daytime tutorials and hints and tips, but one highlight for many of us was enjoying an afternoon presentation by Paul Thirkettle on the CVP-809 and the super new CSP-170 Smart Piano. This instrument looks much like a CLP Clavinova, one of the ones that is designed to just be a piano, no frills, no buttons to fiddle with, but connect your iPad or Tablet to the CSP and you transform your basic piano to a very advanced instrument with voices, styles, music and more available through your device. Paul did a brilliant show with it, much enjoyed by all in the room.
The daytimes on Saturday and Sunday were both busy, packed with plenty of very informative, friendly and helpful sessions about how to get more out of our Yamaha instruments, with hints and tips about the instruments and playing techniques.
Something new this time, which I hope will continue for 2023, we had two Yamaha Discovery Rooms. These areas were packed with all the latest instruments and manned all day by the Yamaha team, providing somewhere to spend time with a cup of coffee and to ask questions, or just enjoy soaking up the atmosphere and hearing what everyone else had to say. There was no schedule as such for these rooms, as there was something going on all of the time, so they were great to just drop in to every now and then.
Saturday evening’s concerts featured Yamaha Xpert Paul Thirkettle, who played a superb concert - so nice to see him on stageand he was followed by the incomparable Rod Pooley (right), who these days plays in some of the UK’s very top jazz venues, including appearing at Ronnie Scott’s, but for us played a very wide ranging mix of popular music.
Last but not least (perhaps?) was yours truly, playing the EL-700 Electone.
I played a typical ‘me’ mix of music from shows and big bands and everyone said very kind things about afterwards, so it must have been okay and thanks everyone for the warmth of your applause.
More late night music rounded off a lovely day.
Sunday evening kicked off in great style with music from one of Yamaha’s top team, Daniel Watt, who is now more often found being one of the Yamaha Xperts Team on the helpline, and continued with a wonderful show from James Sergeant.
At the end of his performance, James took the opportunity, on behalf of Yamaha and all of us, to thank Glyn for everything he has done to help us all enjoy our music-making over the years. Glyn will be missed but we all hope it is just ‘au revoir’, until we meet again.
To close off the concerts, we enjoyed the always entertaining Tony Stace playing his Yamaha HX-1 Electone. He was as brilliant as always, and rounded off the concerts superbly.
The end of an era - Glyn Madden, Lorraine Collier and Michael
1685 was a rich year for music, with three famous babies arriving in the world: Bach, Scarlatti and Handel. Young Handel grew up in Halle, a salt-mining centre in Germany. His father was a barber and surgeon (a common combination represented by the red and white striped barbers’ pole). Lots of top musicians came to this lively place until the Thirty Years War left it virtually wrecked - sadly, how familiar that now sounds!
Father Handel was violently opposed to music and, though his son showed enormous talent, he did everything he could to prevent the boy from learning and playing. Little Georg Frideric, though, got round the ban by teaching himself secretly.
One day, a nobleman overheard the lad playing on an organ and was hugely impressed. He talked Handel’s father into letting his son have organ lessons. Eventually, the boy took his studies to University level. His father having died, he was free to follow his ambitions at last.
Now let’s leap forward to 1710. Handel was busy ‘churning out’ very popular pseudo-Italian operas. The English were some of his greatest fans, and in 1710 he came to London for the first time. Two years later, he moved to the English capital permanently. But all those operas were getting him down, to the point he had a breakdown. Once he’d recovered, he swapped over to writing the oratorios, anthems and other works for which he is now so well known.
King George I, just before his death in 1727, signed the papers to naturalise ‘George Frederick Handel’ as a British Citizen. On the monarch’s death, Handel found himself with the urgent job of writing music for the coronation of the new King George II and Queen Caroline. What a rush that must have been!
He penned four special anthems, and one of them has become probably his most popular work - Zadok the Priest. It was a huge hit in his lifetime and has been ever since. Rather unfairly, because of its sheer scale, Handel found himself dubbed as a composer who only wrote for enormous orchestras and choirs. In fact, Berlioz described Handel’s style as ‘a barrel of beer and pork’ but one must bear in mind that British coronations call for grand music, which will fill the cavernous spaces of Westminster Abbey. Handel’s other works include plenty which demonstrate his versatility with forces large and small.
Astonishingly, Handel wrote Zadok in only one month, finishing it just in time for the big day. It has been used at every coronation of a British monarch ever since.
The text which inspired the work comes from the Bible, in 1 Kings chapter 1. This was originally used at the coronation of King Edgar in 973, so it had a long pedigree at such occasions. Reading the verses, one can see at once why it would be deemed appropriate.
The chapter tells how the hugely popular King David was nearing death, laid on his bed in his chamber. David had taken several wives in his lifetime. His fourth son Adonijah (by his wife Haggith) had decided to ‘jump the gun’ by declaring himself king in place of his ailing father. He was throwing a big noisy party to celebrate. The raucous guests kept shouting ‘Long live King Adonijah!’
Hearing about it, David’s other (and favourite) wife, Bathsheba, went to see King David and object. She reminded him that he’d already said he wanted their son, Solomon, to succeed him as king. He needed to get that organised fast to stop Adonijah’s underhand plan!
King David agreed, and told Zadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet to get it arranged at once. They took Solomon to Gihon on the king’s mule. The verses which follow are those which inspired Handel:
‘Zadok the priest now took the horn of oil out of the tent
and anointed Solomon, and they began to blow the horn, and all the people began shouting “Long live King Solomon!” After that, all the people followed him and went up, playing flutes and rejoicing greatly, so that the earth was split open by the noise.”
All this was going on just a stone’s throw from where Adonijah and his chums were feasting. One can just imagine their reactions!
So what is it that makes Handel’s Zadok the Priest so appealing? One aspect is that it lulls one with its gentle undulating strings at the start, then blasts one out of the seat when the massive choir and trumpets come in fortissimo! Also, although it may look a bit daunting on the page, the piece is not too harmonically complicated. It couldn’t afford to be, with only a month to write it and virtually no rehearsal time. Anyway, Handel always wrote tunes one could hum after just one hearing!
Handel’s later years were difficult. He had never married and kept himself very much to himself. In 1750 he was injured badly in a carriage crash on the way back from visiting Germany. The following year, he started losing the sight in one eye with a cataract. A quack doctor operated on it and it got worse. He couldn’t see at all for the last seven years of his life. The final thing he did was to attend a performance of his own biggest hit, ‘The Messiah’.
As a sign of the regard in which he was held, Handel was buried with a state funeral in Westminster Abbey and over three thousand crowded into the building to pay their respects.
I hope you love today’s featured music - Zadok the Priest - as much as I do, whether you’re a player or a listener. You can enjoy a performance by musicians from the original venue on YouTube (type ‘Zadok the Priest - Choir of Westminster Abbey’ in the YouTube search box), or, if you play yourself, have a go at my heavily abridged arrangement. As usual, I’ve scored it so it should work on keyboard, organ or piano, reading either chord symbols or bass stave. For keyboards and organs, use quiet strings in both hands until the song starts, then you could change right hand to a choir, an organ or both. Just make it loud!
Happy New Year!
To contact me:
Email: penelopeweedonkerr@gmail.com
Website: www.weedonmusic.com
Post:
10 Clanna Country Park
Alvington
Lydney
Gloucestershire
GL15 6AN
ZADOK THE PRIEST
George Frederick Handel Abridged and.Arranged WeedonJOIN US FOR OUR SPRING SPECTACULAR
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Monday 20th to Friday 24th March - Four Nights Dinner, Bed and Breeakfast
Choose from smart, new, modern caravans or luxury lodges, real homes from home, with prices from £299 per person.
Confirmed artistes include RICHARD BOWER, MARK THOMPSON, PETE SHAW, ANDREW NIX, IAN GRIFFIN, TONY STACE, NICHOLAS MARTIN BEM, DAVID INGLEY, JON SMITH, PAUL THIRKETTLE, DAVID HARRILD, CHRIS JONES, ANDY CARVILL, MICHAEL WOOLDRIDGE PLUS - NEW FOR 2023 - SPECIAL FEATUREDUETS GALORE! Every day at Hemsby will feature DUET CONCERTS, sometimes even more, perhaps a trio, and with the promise of a spectacular quartet performance for the YAMAHA LATE NIGHT PARTY!
To find out more and to book your holidays call Lorraine on 07842 573 913 between 10am and 12noon on a Monday or a Thursday morning (if the line is busy, leave your name and number and we’ll call you back later on that same day), or visit www.CavalcadeProductions.co.uk
FABULOUS ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL
4 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast from £299 per person. Please call to discuss your accommodation, as we have a wide range of lovely options, from smart modern caravans, through apartments, bungalows and luxurious lodges - some even come with private hot tubs!
One of our most popular venues, previously known as the Seacroft Festival, we are delighted to be back once again at Richardson’s Hemsby Beach Holiday Village, with it’s luxurious array of accommodation types. We have an unmissable all-star cast ready to entertain you morning, noon and night, plus, of course, tasty half-board meals and all this set in a lovely traditional seaside resort, just a short walk away from the beach and near the Norfolk Broads. Hemsby Beach Holiday Village, Beach Road, Hemsby, Great Yarmouth, NR29 4HR.
To find out more and to book your holidays call Lorraine on 07842 573 913 between 10am and 12noon on a Monday or a Thursday morning (if the line is busy, leave your name and number and we’ll call you back later on that same day), or visit www.CavalcadeProductions.co.uk
Hints & Tips for Digital Pianos &Arranger Keyboards with our resident Doctor of Music
PIANO MAGIC with CHRIS STANBURY
Hello everybody, and here’s wishing you a Happy New Year full of music, enjoyment and good health. It’s been a frantic but enjoyable festive season so far, with hardly time to stop and think, but one thing I am looking forward to is watching the New Year’s Day concert from Vienna.
As we’re just about to start 2023, I thought I would begin celebrating this popular musical tradition by sharing one of my favourite Strauss waltzes. As usual, I’ve arranged it in full score as a piano piece, but keyboard players can also enjoy it by simply playing the right hand part and using the chord symbols above. But first, a little history lesson! Did you know there were actually three gentlemen called Johann Strauss? It turns out that Grandfather, Father and Nephew were all musicians, entrusted with keeping the legacy alive over three generations.
Johann Strauss the elder (1804 - 1849) was the composer of the famous Radetzky March, but it was actually his son (1825 - 1899) that became the more prolific and popular composer at the time, much to his father’s annoyance!
Johann Strauss III (1866 - 1939) was also pretty good musician, which is handy if you happen to be a member of a family that boasted more than five composers in total!
For this edition, I’ve chosen one of the most famous works by Johann Strauss II,
The full version is actually one of Strauss’ longest pieces, but I’ve arranged the most well-known theme to give us an opportunity to explore some of the more orchestral sounds on your digital piano or keyboard. As mentioned earlier, it is possible to play this piece simply by using a piano tone. You’ll notice that I have included some dynamic markings along the way and you’ll see that the piece should begin moderately loudly (mf), fading out a little during bar 16 and 17 (the diminuendo sign), so that when the original tune starts again it is a little softer.
The piece gets a little louder later on, where there should be a brief swell in volume at bar 34, just in time for the dramatic D sharp diminished chord in bar 27.
You achieve changes in volume either by playing more forcefully on the keys (if you are playing this as a piano piece) or by using an expression pedal if you are performing in keyboard style. Pianists might like to practise the left hand slowly and separately first, taking care with bars such as 2 and 3, and 8 and 9, where your fifth or fourth finger may need to move around a bit to get the right notes on the first beat of the bar. Try not to stretch out your hand to cover all three left hand notes in the bar at the same time - move your whole hand down to play the first beat of the bar (using the suggested fingering), then move back so as to be able to play the second and third beats comfortably.
If you’re going to play this piece from chord symbols, and are wondering what notes to play for D sharp diminished, you need to play D#, F#, A and C together (D# being the lowest note). Diminished chords can be a bit of a handful, but your piano or keyboard may not recognise it properly unless the notes are played in this order. It might need a bit of practice to get this right, but the result is worth it in the end!
The final few bars are the loudest part of the piece, a trick often used by Strauss to send a rousing message to the dancers that it was time to stop and change partners! However, as the music repeats, I would only do this the second time around.
If you’d like to use some orchestral sounds to play this piece in keyboard style, you’ll notice that I’ve made some suggestions as to what tones to select.
The arrangement starts with Strings and Woodwind Ensemble, and then I add a Glockenspiel at bar 29. Of course, you’ll need to have a Glockenspiel selected as the RIGHT 3 voice before you begin to play, just make sure it’s selected but switched off until we get to the right point in the music. Switch the Right 3 part on before you play the staccato quavers in bar 29, and be sure to turn Right 3 off again when the phrase ends at bar 32. You’ll see that the same thing happens in bars 37-40. Of course, you could save these changes as registration memories (or Performance memories for Korg users) to make things easier.
Something else that’s always effective when playing orchestral music is the HARMONY (or ENSEMBLE) feature. As the name suggests, it’s where the keyboard adds extra notes to what you are playing in the right hand so as to create a bigger, more professional sound. I’ve suggested introducing this after the long C melody note in bar 45, just before you go back to the beginning and play the piece through for the second time.
There are lots of different options to explore when using the Harmony feature. On Yamaha instruments, hold down DIRECT ACCESS whilst pressing the HARMONY button (on Korg, it’s SHIFT and ENSEMBLE). This will then show you a screen that lets you decide which notes will be added. I think the best option for this piece is called Duet, where a single note is added below the melody note you are going to play (this is usually the default setup, so you may not need to choose anything else, just check that this is the selected option).
Finally, you’ll see that I’ve chosen a brisk Viennese Waltz accompaniment style. Strict ballroom tempo suggests a speed of 192, but if you prefer it can be slower to make the playing easier.
(Ed - When I play for a Viennese Waltz at dances, I usually play them at 172 beats per minute, so you could try that tempo)
If you would like to play from chord symbols with an automatic accompaniment, be sure to switch this mode on first by pressing ACMP ON, and begin the piece by switching on the SYNC START button, which will start the accompaniment when you play your first chord in bar 2. This means that you should play the solo D sharp, in the right hand in bar 1, before playing your first chord of C in bar 2.
And that’s it! I hope you enjoy happily waltzing into 2023 with this piece. As always, I’m always happy to receive emails at chris@stanburymusic.co.uk but, for now, Happy New Year!
TALES FROM THE VIENNA WOODS
A VENUE WORTH VISITING! - CRA
Crawley Keyboard Club meet at 7.30pm on the last Friday of Centre, Ashburnham Road, Furnace Green, Crawley, RH10 6QZ.
Founded in 1989, they have always been a friendly group and this is perhaps why people travel from far and wide to attend their concerts, with some regulars over the years travelling twenty miles or more to enjoy the concerts.
Top artistes are featured at each concert, with the 2023 programme beginning with one of the UK’s favourite organists, Nicholas Martin BEM, on January 27th, then Korg wizard Pete Shaw on February 24th, Music and Mirth with Andrew Nix on March 31st and globetrotting organist Chris Powell on April 28th.
For more information call Brenda on 01293 784 166 or Peter on 01293 530 276. Do go along, you’ll be made very welcome and have a lovely evening.
This arrangement © 2023 Chris Stanbury Chris Jones in concert at Crawley on 28th October 2022What we will be learning?
In this article, we would like to talk about instrument ranges and where you should and should not play a voice, which we know sounds obvious but this is, we think, one of the differences between the professional player that you may see at your local Organ Club or a Festival and the home player.
Instrument Ranges
With modern keyboards like the ‘Genos’, every voice on the keyboard, whether it is a ‘Flute’ a ‘Violin’ or a ‘Trumpet’ has the ability to play on every note of the keyboard from the very lowest note to the highest key. However, this does not mean that if, for example, you play a ‘Trumpet’ at the very bottom of the keyboard, it will sound like the real instrument that we are trying to imitate.
This is because although a keyboard like Genos will allow you to play a note this low, a Trumpet player cannot physically play this note and, in an Orchestra or a Big Band, these lower notes would then be taken over and played by the ‘Trombone’ player or another instrumentalist.
Now we know this is an extreme example that we have just given, and most of us know this already and would never do this, but it is quite easy to play a few notes either lower than or higher than the instrument we are trying to sound like can physically play and you may think “That Trumpet sounds a bit squeaky," which is quite often because you are playing higher than the instrument should be able to play. Every instrument that is within an Orchestra or a Band has a specific note range that is unique to that instrument, which they cannot play above or below. When we play for example a ‘Flute’ on a keyboard, it will make a sound on every single key of the keyboard but, unlike the ‘Genos’, a ‘Flute’ player does not have a 76-note range!
One of the great things about modern instruments is that they are now sounding closer and closer to the real instruments they are trying to imitate, but only if they are played in a way that the real instrument can play. Hopefully, the chart below is a quick way to get you started on thinking about the range of notes that some instruments have. This has most of the instruments that you will be playing regularly:-
How can this improve your playing and what impact will this have on our arrangements?
When you start to think about the key range of the instruments you are trying to sound like, when you are playing, you will soon find that your playing starts to very quickly sound more realistic and closer to the real instrumentalist that you are trying to imitate, for example a Saxophonist or Flautist. Another favourite mistake that we have heard so many people make, both home playersand professionals over the years, is to hold a note for way too long when playing a Brass or Woodwind instrument!
Yes, certain instrumentalists, like for example Dizzy Gillespie or trumpeter Chris Botti, have an amazing ability to hold a note for a very long time, they do this using a technique called ‘Circular Breathing’, but there are limits to how long even they can continue to play a note before running out of air. So, if you are playing an instrument that someone would have to blow through, remember that we are trying to imitate a real instrumentalist (a real Human Being), and that they have to breathe at some point!
Adding small pauses at the end of a musical phrase to imitate this breathing, again, can also make a huge difference to your playing and make you sound closer to a real instrumentalist, and this is what we are going to be talking about in the next issue.
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Pa5X: Playing Freely Without Styles
This time, Korg's Adam Whittle takes a playing step back in time!
I remember many years ago learning on the electronic organ and most of the time I would play without using a Style. This was particularly true when learning a new piece, playing around with sound combinations and drawbar presets. I used to love setting up a full string sound and playing all my favourite Rodgers & Hammerstein pieces for hours on end, without even looking at the Style section.
I’ve really missed those days but am thrilled that they are now back!
With Korg Pa keyboards you now have the option to do this once more, with a feature called Bass & Lower Backing. This allows you to play any chord with your left hand and the bass from the selected Style will play automatically without using the style - just like an organ!
This feature can be switched on or off using the control buttons under the new OLED strip:
Alternatively, you can use the Control section from the main screen:
You can also check if this feature is activated from your chosen Keyboard Set.
It’s a really useful feature for learning a new piece of music or for allowing greater expression. Bass and Lower Backing works well for Ballads, Orchestral pieces or (great for this time of year) Christmas Carols. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Korg UK.
Happy New Year! As always it seems strange to be writing this greeting at the end of November but such is the weirdness of putting together a magazine article for future publication. By the time you read this Christmas will have come and gone and (I believe, but could be wrong!) that the New Year festivities are about to take place… or have just happened! Whichever it is I hope you have enjoyed the celebrations and we are all looking forward to 2023… which, as I say every year recently, is hopefully better than the year just ending. Can this be true this year please…!
One of my personal celebrations is that by the time you read my wife will have returned from working in the United States (US) and is now at home pretty much full time. I say ‘pretty much’ because typical of her she is not yet ready to retire and will continue to work for the same company in the US but be based at home - what a marvellous thing Zoom is. There will be the occasional trip over to the US rather than the other way round, which is much better for all concerned. Of course the pandemic was a nightmare period where she couldn’t travel and was effectively stuck in the US. Thankfully all behind us now.
On to this editions piece, ‘A Pint of Schlager’. This song is designed to blow the cobwebs of the festivities away with a bright, up tempo piece in a Euro Pop style. Schlager is a form of Euro Pop that has almost taken over from the very traditional German style ‘Oom-Pah’ music. In my working life I used to visit Europe’s largest music show which was (and still is as far as I know is) held in Frankfurt, known as Music MESSE. I visited Frankfurt every year for some 40 years and, in the early years, when visiting various Beer Hall’s in the evening, was entertained (if that’s the right word…) by traditional ‘Oom-Pah’ bands. Then one year it all changed and suddenly it was a very different type of ‘Oom-Pah’ which has a very strong (but simple and repetitive, like ‘Oom-Pah’) Disco style beat; this was my introduction to Schlager. I always relate Schlager to Germany because of visiting Frankfurt but it is actually very popular all over Europe, although I have to admit I don’t really see why!
This piece is my tribute (again not the right word really) to this genre and I hope that at least some of you enjoy
playing it. And maybe we have all enjoyed the odd pint of Schlager, or another favourite tipple, over the Christmas period, so it’s sort of appropriate. I played this song at some of the festivals I attended last year and received some very nice comments, so I thought I’d put it in the magazine to start the year off with something up-tempo and positive - if not very sophisticated. It is a little bit of an ear worm, so you may find yourself humming the tune at some unexpected times. As always, the best thing to do first is to have a listen to the piece to get an idea of how it goes. To do that, visit www.cavalcadeproductions.co.uk and click the ‘Tracks’ tab at the top of the page. Then look for ‘A Pint of Schlager’ and have a listen - listening in will help when you start playing the song to know what your aiming for.
What accompaniment style to use?
Well, this is really easy - Schlager! Most modern instruments (let’s say over the last 5 years approximately) have a Schlager style and assuming it’s in 4/4 time, which most are, and works at around 124 beats per minute, all will be good! If you have an older organ, say a Roland Atelier, there is a good chance you won’t have Schlager style. In that case try some of the Disco or Euro Pop options, which could work well.
On my Korg, the style is situated in the ‘World’ style category, which given its European nature seems a logical place to put it. On your instrument it may be somewhere else, perhaps in the Pop or Disco categories?
When you listen to the recording you will notice I used one of my little tricks, which is to use the auto Introduction once again in the middle section of the song. This does make the Introduction seem more like a part of the piece and allows you to have a little rest as well. You will hear that I used this break to use the transpose button to go UP one semitone (always go UP for an upbeat effect) for the last section of the song. Both of these are totally optional and may or may not work on your instrument (depending on the nature of the introduction etc) but could add some interest into your performance.
Which sounds to use?
I was lucky. With the Schlager style on my Korg Pa1000 there are some perfect right hand sounds for this song located in the Keyboard Sets (One Touch Settings for Yamaha owners). I used these in the recording, so take a listen.
They are:
Reg 1 - Synth Bells (a synth pad with a bell effect on top)
Reg 2 - Electric Guitar + synth pad
Reg 3 - A Synth Pad with Strings
I have indicated in the score where to select these registrations. Be aware that the right hand melody
moves along pretty quickly, so you may need to practice getting the registrations in the right place at the right time. My first choice is to use the left hand to change registrations, as the memory feature will keep the accompaniment style playing.
As always, registrations are an individual thing and you may have some different ideas or sounds that you like using - feel free to experiment and choose the sounds you like. My suggestions are only guidelines.
Playing tips
Some aspects of this piece are very straight forward. The chords are really easy and I’m sure you will have few difficulties in that department. There are no odd timing issues like triplets or difficult time signatures, and the key is C major with no accidentals - it’s all on the white notes.
The one challenge is keeping up with the right hand melody, which as I mentioned, does move along pretty quickly, particularly if you’re playing the double notes as written. Whilst the double notes are (I hesitate to say this…) sort of easy-ish, you must be careful with the fingering, which can get a little involved. You always have the option of just playing the top notes if the double notes prove too challenging. If that is the case, a feature you could look at is the ‘Ensemble’ (or ‘Melody on Chord’ or ‘Harmony’ or whatever it’s
different options and usually (note, usually!) have a double note option that could help.
Definitely use my suggested practice routine and with this piece focus on the right hand. Get confident with that first, be it double notes or single notes you are using. I think if you can manage the double notes, only practice with the double notes. If you start with the single notes and then move to the double notes, your fingering and hand positions are going to be totally different, so there’s no real advantage of practicing the single notes in this situation.
Having become confident with the right hand, add the chords (no style as yet), trying to get the timing right slowly…yes, slowly. When you read the ‘Korg PaProfessionals’ article in this issue, you’ll get some possible help with this stage, as it’s about using Korg ‘Bass & Lower Backing’, (like Yamaha ‘Free Play’ Styles) if you fancy stepping up the sound a notch. Next you could maybe add a simple metronome pulse to help with the timing. Then add the style (slowly) and, when you feel confident with both hands, increase the tempo every time to feel comfortable.
I hope all the above make sense and that at least some of you enjoy playing ‘A Pint Of Schlager’. That’s all for this edition and I’ll be back with you in the early Spring when we will be heading towards the Hemsby ‘Spring
Celebrating 50 Years of Music
JEAN MARTYN
Ed - Something very special this time. This year, the UK’s Boogie-Woogie Queen, Jean Martyn, is celebrating 50 years in music. Always much loved whether playing theatre, church or electronic organ, piano or keyboards, and with huge TV success through the experiences Britain’s Got Talent has brought her, we are pleased to congratulate Jean on this amazing milestone.
This year you will be able to join Jean’s celebrations, as we are much looking forward to seeing her appear at both our Blackpool and Pakefield Festivals. We asked Jean to tell us her story…
College London, gaining her Associate of Trinity College London degree at 15 years old. She studied music at Trent Park College London gaining a teaching diploma, followed by the prestigious Licentiate of the Guildhall School of Music, where she studied Jazz with the late Johnny Dankworth. Her knowledge of music, both theory and practical shows through her performances in the way she creates music which has luscious harmonies, chords, and her improvisation.
Jean taught in schools in Staffordshire, but her love of music meant she had to be out there performing to audiences, whether that was in churches, small halls or just in the classroom. To this day her pupils use social media to remind her that she was their music teacher, and some have even visited her at her hotel in Blackpool. Lets turn the clock back though.
In 1986 Jean played at the Keyboard Cavalcade festival for the first time in Hemsby, followed then by Caister and Pakefield.
Jean Martyn ATCL LGSM
When you reach the milestone in your life of retirement age you normally slow down, but our featured artiste this issue is the ever popular Jean Martyn, who has delighted audiences from the age of three to now at the age of 71, and she has no intention of slowing down!
Jean began her musical career at the age of 3, and having devoted her life to music she is now known worldwide through television, radio and social media for her performances on piano, electronic organ, classical organ and theatre organ.
Her love of music has over the years taken her to many prestigious venues, which include all major arenas the length and breadth of the UK, including Royal Palaces and the Houses of Parliament.
Jean was an appointed church organist at the age of 11, and her Christian faith carries her throughout her life. She obtained all her piano exams through Trinity
An early Cavalcade Festival appearance alongside the award winning Keyklix duo, Ian Griffin (left) and Richard Bower
In 1987 she gave her first performance on the Blackpool Tower Wurlitzer and that began her concerts on theatre organs. Her first concert on a theatre organ was at the 3Js at Gomersal, and many more concerts followed on Christie, Compton, Wurlitzer and Rutt theatre pipe organs, and, overseas, in Germany on the Welte organ and on various theatre organs in the Netherlands, Switzerland and, of course, throughout the UK.
She was elected Patron of the Cinema Organ Club, and has been patron of many organ societies and clubs during her 50 years.
At the world famous Wurlitzer in the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool Music has taken her to many famous venues and stages and her charity fund raising has made over onehundred thousand pounds (£100,000) for various charities, as proven by Thames television when she was being considered for Britain's Got Talent. Chosen to audition from 60,000 entrants, Jeans life changed with the publicity of television and she became a household name worldwide. Her smile and personality as Ant and Dec stated. “Lights up the whole Room," as she most certainly did with her 'Classical/Boogie audition.
Above - Jean on stage at Britain’s Got Talent
Jean is no stranger to the Royals either, having performed at the Royal Windsor Horse Show on grand piano on the bandstand, where she met Princess Anne, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Prince Edward and Prince Harry, The Duchess of Wessex and many celebrities of stage, tv and radio. Jean laughs when even now she gets recognised, the most recent occasion on a Blackpool Tram!
Jean played for a wedding of an MP which took her to the Houses of Parliament, where she played a grand piano in the Speakers private’s residence followed by a reception. She has performed on stage in Drury Lane theatre for the cast of Shrek, and played a concert on Hammond in Vauxhall London.
Above - Memories of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent with Ant & Dec
In 2010 Jean raised £5,000 for 'Help the Heroes' and 'The Royal British Legion'. This led to Jean being invited to play at St James’s Palace in London for veterans of the wars, where the late Queen Elizabeth II allowed them to hold their Christmas Party. Jean met many celebrities during these performances and she also attended Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace.
Jean has owned various instruments from Yamaha, Korg, Eminent, Cavendish, Gulbransen, Hammond, Kawai, Lowrey, and of course, cherishes her beloved Steinway piano.
She has been featured on the BBC programme the “Organist Entertains” on many an occasion, and German television filmed her playing the Welte organ in the television studios in Hamburg, At one of her concerts in Germany she was asked to play the Dambuster’s March and she made headlines in a German newspaper because she did play it!
Jean was the first organist to appear on ITV's "Britain's Got Talent", where she was chosen from 60,000 entrants, and this exposure brought her, with her smile and fun loving performances, into our homes. Amongst some 400 video clips of her on YouTube, you can see and hear her on piano and various instruments.
Life sometimes can be a bit challenging and Jean experienced this in 2011 with the loss of her mother whilst she was on the BGT Tour, followed by the death of her dear Dad who reached 100 years. She then became widowed herself, and following a year of grieving and depression, she received an invitation to play in the Netherlands. She was no stranger to the Netherlands, having played there for 20 years, but this was a journey that she never imagined would bring so much happiness. On her first concert of the tour, a gentleman in the audience, a musician himself, approached her regarding her love of music, and he became the love of her life; she has been married to her
beloved Hans (pictured below) for three years in March. She lived in the Netherlands with Hans for a year, as Brexit and Covid meant she could not return to England. During that time she streamed her music to keep people happy every night for 7 months, from the Studio Hans built for her, and when Covid returned, she played again. She felt a little homesick, so came back to England and surprised everyone by becoming the owner of a hotel in Blackpool. News soon got around that she was living there and before she knew it she was invited to play again in the Tower Ballroom for the local hospices, and helped to raise £86,000. She continues to play an hour of music on her Jean Martyn Music page when time allows.
Music always has been, and will continue to be, a very
important part of Jean’s life, sharing her joy of music with Hans and her many followers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Thanks to Ian Wolstenholme, her theatre organ performances can be heard on Community Radio, and if you fancy a trip to the Netherlands, she will be doing a tour for the Netherlands Organ Federation (NOF) again. Most importantly, she will be with us at our Brilliant Blackpool Festival at the Imperial Hotel in May and at our Pakefield September Spectacular, as part of
celebrating this special milestone in our world of music. Jean is grateful to all who have supported her over the years through her love of music, and hopes to meet you all during 2023, which she very much hopes is a good one for us all.
Now back in the UK, Jean is looking forward to getting back to playing for clubs and societies. To engage her to play for your event, email jeanmartyn@yahoo.com or, if you don't have access to email, call us at Keyboard Cavalcade and we will put you in touch.
Join us at our Pakefield September Spectacular Festival
Monday 18th to Monday 25th September 2023 - NOW A WHOLE WEEK OF GREAT MUSIC!
7 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast from £419 per person, Single Supplement from £30
We're back at our sea-view cliff-top home in Suffolk, Pontin’s Pakefield Holiday Park, London Road, Kessingland, Lowestoft, NR33 7PF.
Pakefield has the most picturesque unspoilt coastline, with the most wonderful stretches of beach & cliff-tops. The holiday centre is set in grounds with beautifully kept gardens and located by the seaside!
We all had a fabulous time at Pakefield in September, so we are delighted to be returning there again, with many people who attended in 2022 having already booked their accommodation for 2023!
Once again, we have the biggest line up of artistes at any UK keyboard and organ festival, with lots of top players, including the superb Jean Martyn celebrating her 50 years in music, plus we have another variety night, this time featuring the UK’s busiest entertainer, Andy Eastwood, and another optional coach trip, as all who went on the trip last time seemed to really enjoy it and said it would be good to do it again.
Trade displays include the KORG Pa Professionals, the YAMAHA XPERTS ON TOUR, organs from WERSI, RINGWAY and LOWREY with Allens Music Centre, TRX ORGAN SYSTEMS for Genos and Tyros with MUSICLAND and much more.
Classic Apartments offer a variation of bedrooms and their bed layout options. Some apartments have a petite kitchenette including: microwave, toaster, kettle, small sink and some utensils. Check-In from 4pm * TV with limited channels * Private bathroom *
Towels provided * Linen provided with beds made up * Electricity Included Club Apartments provide you with a host of additional benefits. You enjoy the extra luxury of early check-in from 2pm just to make your stay more comfortable and convenient. Early Check-In From 2pm * Voucher for a free bottle of wine * Daily Newspaper Voucher *
Towels provided * Linen provided with beds made up * Electricity Included
Classic Apartment £419 Per Person (2 people = £838) Club Apartment £449 Per Person (2 people = £898)
Single Pricing Classic £449, Club £489
To book your place, call us on 07842 573 913 between 10am and 12noon on a Monday or a Thursday morning, or leave us a message and we'll call you back to take your details and a small deposit by debit or credit card (you can post us a cheque if you prefer).
DISK WANTED FOR TECHNICS KN7000
Can anyone help enthusiast Michael Capp?
He says, “I was wondering if you could help me please? I have a Technics KN7000 and have just bought a Technote workstation, which comprises a stand, Ketron K8 pedals, a Technote expression pedal and leads, but unfortunately it does not have the Technote workstation Vol. 1 Disk. If anyone can lend me or copy me a copy of this disk, I would really appreciate it.”
Do you have this Technote disk? If so, let us know here at Cavalcade Productions, by email or phone, and we’ll put you in touch with him. Thank you.
CONCERT DIARY
Organ Society Concerts for future listings should be entered on our ‘Events Submission’ web page, which can be found using the link from the ‘Concerts’ page of our website www.CavalcadeProductions.co.uk If you have any issues or need us to enter them for you, please contact us by e-mail or post. Events for the Mar/Apr 2023 issue must be uploaded by Noon on 3rd FEBRUARY 2023 Before traveling to a concert, do please call the number given to check that the event is taking place as described, as we cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies or changes.
Sunday 1st January 2023
BARNSLEY, 2:30pm, Astoria Centre, Unit 16a Metro Trading Centre, Barugh Green Road, Barugh Green, S75 1JT, KEVIN GRUNILL, DECLAN POOLE & STEPHEN FOULKES, Astoria Centre, 07944 566 972
Friday 6th January 2023
WOODALL SPA, 7:30pm, Coronation Hall, Spa Road, LN10 6PZ, ROBERT DAVIES, Woodhall Spa & District Organ Society, 07419 998 158
Sunday 8th January 2023
BRIGHTON, 3:00pm, Singing Hills Golf Course, Muddleswood Road, Albourne, BN6 9EB, JAMYMA HANSON & LEWIS SCOTT, Theatre Pipe Organ Preservation Society, 01903 817 116 (office Hours Mon-Fri)
Monday 9th January 2023
RAINHAM, 7:30pm, Parkwood Community Association, Long Catlis Rd, Rainham, ME8 9PN, MICHAEL WOOLDRIDGE & drummer GARETH THOMPSON, Medway Music Club, 07795 576 294
Tuesday 10th January 2023
LOWESTOFT, 2:00pm, The Parkhill Hotel , Oulton, NR32 5DQ, ANNIE THREADKELL, Lowestoft And District Organ And Keyboard Club , 01502 716 101
LYMINGTON, 2:30pm, All Saints' Church Hall, Greenbank Close, Milford On Sea, SO41 0SQ, DAVID HARRILD, New Forest Organ Society, 01590 644 415
CARDIFF, 7:30pm, Discovery Ph, Celyn Ave, Lakeside, CF23 6FH, ELIZABETH HARRISON, Cardiff Keyboard Club, 07791 149 532
Wednesday 11th January 2023
DRONFIELD DERBYSHIRE, 7:00pm, Dronfield Civic Hall, Civic Centre, S18 1PD, DANIEL WATT, World Of Music, 07899 020 367
HORSHAM, 7:15pm, The Roffey Club, Spooners Road, RH12 4DY, PETE SHAW, Horsham MelodyTimes, 07925 383 744
Thursday 12th January 2023
SLEAFORD, 2:30pm, Leasingham Village Hall, Chapel Lane, NG34 8LB, NICHOLAS MARTIN BEM, Sleaford Organ Club, 01205 480 791
BURNTWOOD, 7:30pm, Memorial Institute, Rugeley Road, Burntwood, WS7 9BE, DAVID INGLEY, Burntwood Music For All, 07999 475 040
Saturday 14th January 2023
BELPER, 2:00pm, Congregational Church, Church Walk , DE56 1DB, ELIZABETH HARRISON, Live Music For Belper, 01773 827 204
CAMBRIDGE, 7:30pm, Quy Village Hall, High Street, Stow-cum-quy, CB25 9AB, MATTHEW BASON, Cambridge Keyboard Concerts, 01223 263 304
UCKFIELD, 3:00pm, East Sussex National, Little Horsted, TN22 5ES, PHIL KELSALL MBE, Theatre Pipe Organ Preservation Society, 01825 880 088 Ext.2
Wednesday 18th January 2023
BOURNE, 7:30pm, Corn Exchange, Abbey Road, Burghley Centre, PE10 9EG, ELIZABETH HARRISON, Bourne Organ Club, 01778 424 947
Thursday 19th January 2023
ANDOVER, 7:30pm, Fairground Hall, Weyhill, SP11 0QN, ANDREW VARLEY, Weyhill Eos, 01264 323 213
HARROGATE, 7:30pm, Manhattan Club Harrogate, Bottom Beech Avenue, Off Leeds Road, Oatlands, HG2 8DY, MATTHEW BASON, Harrogate Keyboard Club, 01423 562 705
Monday 23rd January 2023
BRENTWOOD, 2:15pm, Mountnessing Village Hall, Roman Road, Mountnessing, CM15 0UG, Artiste TBC, Brentwood Organ And Keyboard Club, 01277 824 380
Tuesday 24th January 2023
CARDIFF, 7:30pm, Discovery Ph, Celyn Ave, Lakeside, CF23 6FH, MEMBERS EVENING, Cardiff Keyboard Club, 07791 149 532
Thursday 26th January 2023
KINGSWINFORD, 8:00pm, Royal British Legion Club, Summerhill, Kingswinford, DY6 9JG, PETE SHAW, Kingswinford & Dist. Organ Society, 01384 274 500
GAINSBOROUGH, 7:00pm, Trinity Arts Centre, Trinity Street, DN21 2AL, JOHN COOPER, Gainsborough Organ & Keyboard Club, 07877 481 424
Sunday 29th January 2023
BOGNOR REGIS, 2:15pm, Jubilee Hall, Elmer Road, Middleton-on-sea, PO22 7SR, STEVE HUBBLE, Bognor Regis MelodyTimes, 07925 383 744
BRENTFORD, 2:30pm, The Musical Museum, 399 High Street, TW8 0DU, DONALD MACKENZIE SILENT FILM SHOW, The Musical Museum, 0208 561 8108
Monday 30th January 2023
DERBY, 7:30pm, Littleover Social Club, 61 Blagreaves Lane, DE23 1FQ, PHIL BROWN, Derby Organ & Keyboard Club, 01332 514 887 or 01332 731 676
Thursday 2nd February 2023
WESTON-SUPER-MARE, 7:30pm, Bleadon Coronation Hall, Coronation Road, Bleadon, BS24 0PG, DAVID INGLEY, Weston Organ & Keyboard Club, 01934 812 759
Friday 3rd February 2023
WOODALL SPA, 7:30pm, Coronation Hall, Spa Road, LN10 6PZ, ANDREW NIX, Woodhall Spa & District Organ Society, 07419 998 158
Sunday 5th February 2023
BRIGHTON, 3:00pm, Singing Hills Golf Course, Muddleswood Road, Albourne, BN6 9EB, DAVID LOWE, Theatre Pipe Organ Preservation Society, 01903 817 116 (office Hours Mon-Fri)
PETERBOROUGH, 2:30pm, Stilton Pavilion, High Street, Stilton, PE7 3RA, TONY STACE, Stilton In Tune Keyboard Showtime, 01480 474 282 / 07918 602 600
OSSETT, 2:30pm, Town Hall, Market Place, WF5 8BE, CAMERON LLOYD & ALEC
WALTERS, Northern Theatre Organ Trust, 08450 340 824
HENLEY, 3:00pm, Town Hall, RG9 2AQ, MICHAEL WOOLDRIDGE, Henley & District Theatre Organ Trust, 0118 724 988
Wednesday 8th February 2023
DRONFIELD DERBYSHIRE, 7:00pm, Dronfield Civic Hall, Civic Centre, S18 1PD, LEWIS SCOTT, World Of Music, 07899 020 367
HORSHAM, 7:15pm, The Roffey Club, Spooners Road, RH12 4DY, CHRIS POWELL, Horsham MelodyTimes, 07925 383 744
Thursday 9th February 2023
SLEAFORD, 2:30pm, Leasingham Village Hall, Chapel Lane, NG34 8LB, PHIL BROWN, Sleaford Organ Club, 01205 480 791
BURNTWOOD, 7:30pm, Burntwood Memorial Institute, Rugeley Road, Burntwood, WS7 9BE, ELIZABETH HARRISON, Burntwood Music For All, 07999 475 040
Saturday 11th February 2023
WOKING, 7:00pm, Leisure Centre, Woking Park, Kingfield Road, GU22 9BA, PHIL KELSALL MBE, ATOS Woking Wurlitzer, 01923 720 511
BARNSLEY, 2:30pm, Astoria Centre, Unit 16a Metro Trading Centre, Barugh Green Road, Barugh Green, S75 1JT, IAIN MCGLINCHEY, Astoria Centre, 07944 566 972
BELPER, 2:00pm, Congregational Church, Church Walk , DE56 1DB, LEIGH WILBRAHAM, Live Music For Belper, 01773 827 204
CAMBRIDGE, 7:30pm, Quy Village Hall, High Street, Stow-cum-quy, CB25 9AB, BRETT WALES, Cambridge Keyboard Concerts, 01223 263 304
Sunday 12th February 2023
GAINSBOROUGH, 7:00pm, Trinity Arts Centre, Trinity Street, DN21 2AL, BRETT WALES & CHRIS POWELL, Gainsborough Organ & Keyboard Club, 07877 481 424
Monday 13th February 2023
RAINHAM, 7:30pm, Parkwood Community Association, Long Catlis Road, Rainham, ME8 9PN, DAVID HARRILD, Medway Music Club, 07795 576 294
DERBY, 7:00pm, Littleover Social Club, 61 Blagreaves Lane, DE23 1FQ, SOCIAL NIGHT - ALL WELCOME, Derby Organ & Keyboard Club, 01332 731 676
Tuesday 14th February 2023
CARDIFF, 7:30pm, Discovery Ph, Celyn Ave, Lakeside, CF23 6FH, TBA, Cardiff Keyboard Club, 07791 149 532
LOWESTOFT, 2:00pm, The Parkhill Hotel, Oulton, NR32 5DQ, ANDREW NIX, Lowestoft & District Org.&Keyboard Club, 01502 716101
MILFORD-ON-SEA, 2:30pm, All Saints' Church Hall, Greenbanks Close, SO41 0SQ, MICHAEL WOOLDRIDGE, New Forest Organ Club, 01425 611 438
Wednesday 15th February 2023
BOURNE, 7:30pm, Corn Exchange, Abbey Road, Burghley Centre, PE10 9EG, MATTHEW BASON, Bourne Organ Club, 01778 424 947
Thursday 16th February 2023
ANDOVER, 7:30pm, Fairground Hall, Weyhill, SP11 0QN, STEVE HUBBLE, Weyhill Eos, 01264 323 213
Sunday 19th February 2023
WORTHING, 2:30pm, The Assembly Hall, Stoke Abbott Road, BN11 1HQ, MICHAEL WOOLDRIDGE, Sussex Theatre Organ Trust, 01903 206 206
Thursday 23rd February 2023
GAINSBOROUGH, 7:00pm, Trinity Arts Centre, Trinity Street, DN21 2AL, HOWARD BEAUMONT, Gainsborough Organ & Keyboard Club, 07877 481 424
KINGSWINFORD, 8:00pm, Royal British Legion Club, Summerhill, , DY6 9JG, BYRON JONES BEM, Kingswinford & District Organ Society, 01384 274 500
Sunday 26th February 2023
BOGNOR REGIS, 2:15pm, Jubilee Hall, Elmer Road, Middleton-onSea, PO22 7SR, ROD POOLEY, Bognor Regis MelodyTimes, 07925 383 744
Monday 27th February 2023
DERBY, 7:30pm, Littleover Social Club, 61 Blagreaves Lane, DE23 1FQ, CHRIS & JOANNE POWELL, Derby Organ & Keyboard Club, 01332 731 676
Tuesday 28th February 2023
CARDIFF, 7:30pm, Discovery Ph, Celyn Ave, Lakeside, CF23 6FH, MEMBERS EVENING, Cardiff Keyboard Club, 07791 149 532
BRENTWOOD, 2:15pm, Mountnessing Village Hall, CM15 0UG, DAVID THOMAS, Brentwood Organ and Keyboard Club, 01277 824 380
CLASSIFIEDS
FREE TO ALL SUBSCRIBERS
Non-Subscribers £15, Two for £20 Mar/Apr 2023 Deadline - Noon on 3rd FEBRUARY
WE REGRET WE CAN ONLY ACCEPT CLASSIFIED ENTRIES IN WRITING BY E-MAIL OR LETTER. WE CANNOT TAKE ADS OVER THE PHONE
Advertisements should be submitted by e-mail to info@CavalcadeProductions.co.uk or by post to Classifieds, Cavalcade Productions Ltd., PO Box 3403, Littlehampton, BN16 9JR
PLEASE ALWAYS REMEMBER WHEN BUYING FROM A CLASSIFIED ADVERT TO BE SURE THAT THE VENDOR OWNS THE PRODUCT, THAT THERE IS NO OUTSTANDING FINANCE AND ENSURE YOU THOROUGHLY CHECK AND AGREE ALL ASPECTS OF THE ITEM’S CONDITION BEFORE AGREEING A SALE
KORG
Pa700, Condition still ‘as new’, owner had a stroke just after purchase, new price £1,300, only asking £400 for a quick sale, Only used twice from new, Proceeds of sale will be donated to a struggling local keyboard club, Ken 01306 883 648, Dorking
Pa4X Keyboard, 76-note, with PASS sound system, V.G.C., £2,150, Geoff, 01685 881 408 (South Wales)
ORLA
Digital Grand 120 Piano, Home use only, mint condition, less than two years old, £1,500.00, John 07582 507 256 (Manchester)
Sport 2 with wood cabinet, speakers, amplifiers and 13-note pedalboard, key cover and stool, home use, £275., Also, Yamaha PASS 300 sound system, 2 speakers, mixer and leads, home use only, £250, Dave 01332 731 676 (Derby)
TECHNICS
KN7000 Keyboard in excellent condition with manual and music rest, £400 or near offer, Jean, 01733 601 456
SX-KN7000 in A1 condition, you won’t find a better one! Best offer around £400.00, or swap for Yamaha, Trev 0116 260 4942 (Leicester)
GA3 Organ, Good Condition, Any trial, Complete with floppy disks, stool, manual and DVD instructions, Buyer Collects, £450 o.n.o., 01303 873 883 (Kent)
KN7000 in excellent condition, Comes with hundreds of extra styles on SD and disks, Plus DVDs, CDs. and manuals, £635.00, Frank, 01629 825 600 (Matlock)
WERSI
Spectra DX700 T CD with 5 octave keyboards, 25 note pedalboard, bench, T base, 7-channel output, rhythm unit and reverb, Collection from between Newmarket and Cambridge, Any reasonable offer considered, Mary, 01449 771 360
YAMAHA
Tyros2, Keyboard with Speakers, Owner’s Manual and Stand, In working order, sold as seen, £120 or offers, Ken, 0117 965 9202 (Bristol)
OTHER ORGANS/KEYBOARDS
Viscount Empire Digital Theatre Organ - FREE - for MIDI
PROJECT I purchased this instrument in walnut finish over fifteen years ago but it was too large and heavy to move to a secondfloor flat, so I had a local Conservation Joiner rebuild the organ in parts (Antique White finish) which could be re-assembled as they were completed. The organ has recently developed a fault where the Diapason, Strings and Diaphone ranks no longer play Because of this fault I am offering the instrument free to anyone, perhaps to MIDITZER, Hauptwerk etc. I would assist with dismantling it but the collection would need to be arranged by the new owner. Mark 01873 858 750 (Abergavenny, S. Wales)
MISC. & ACCESS
T.T.T. V3 Ultra Plus (Total Transformation Technology), The whole kit, Complete with full instructions for installation and operating, Loads of genuine sounds: Wurlitzer, Compton, Andre Rieu Orchestra and many, many more, instrumental sounds of all kinds, (Like new), Sadly I can no longer use it due to health issues, Will sell for £600 (no offers), Buyer collects or pays postage, Terry
07925 939 661 (Neath, S. Wales)
Yamaha PSR-S series USB sticks, Various USB sticks from Strawberry Music including:- Instrumental Block Busters and A Touch of Class, £20 each including P&P, For full list contact Peter 07855 985 396 (Barnstaple)
Hammond XM-1 module and XMC1 drawbar controller - MIDI these to your set-up to get the genuine Hammond B3 sounds! Complete with leads and manuals, £150, Call Tony on 07761 471 130 (Glos)
Viscount full MIDI pedalboard and bench - new unused, light oak, Two swell pedals, Save £700 - £1,650. Penny 07761 471 130 (Glos)
Yamaha L7S Keyboard Stand, £100, Geoff 01685 881 408 (S. Wales)
Frontallini accordion black & chrome, 13.6 couplers, mutes to reduce sound, 120 bass & new straps, also Hohner Electravox N with Elmat midi fitted 16 channels, also Solton MS40 module, or Orla XK9000 module for sounds along with module adjustable stand & 30 watt amplifier with reverb, also Roland BK7 module, Yamaha PSR 2000 in box, Solton MS60 keyboard in zip padded bag, All in first class condition, sensible offers or £2,500 o.n.o. the lot, Bill 01691 671 760 anytime (Shropshire)
Yamaha PASS 300 sound system, 2 speakers, mixer and leads, home use only, £250, Dave 01332 731 676 (Derby)
Tyros 4 Software Super Elite Upgrade by Musicland, 112 new registrations, Cost £299 when new, very impressive, offers invited, Stan 07804 450 795 (Lancashire)
64 New Plug and Play Registrations for Ringway RS600eu, Organstars 1&2 Big Band and Classical, Complete on USB stick, £25 (includes P&P) or download £15. Also available registrations and Vintage organ samples for Yamaha Tyros/Genos Korg PA-4X, Wersi (Prices Vary) email: organaut@hotmail.co.uk Phone 07526 909 677, Search ‘organaut’ on YouTube for demos
WANTED
Wanted – Keyboards bought for cash, Christine, Countrywide Music Centre, 0191 704 2026 (T)
Wanted – Electric Organs bought for cash, Christine, Countrywide Music Centre, 0191 704 2026 (T)
Wanted – Digital Pianos bought for cash, Christine, Countrywide Music Centre, 0191 704 2026 (T)