Page 15 - Real Rochdale Issue 05 Summer 2019

Northern Baroque Orchestra

Performing music from a time rich in creativity Vivaldi and Handel pioneer new musical styles,
and extravagance, Rochdale’s very own with instruments being grouped together in
chamberorchestra is a hidden jewel to many and a way which formed the early version of the
has been for many a year. modern orchestra.

The Northern Baroque Orchestra (NBO) was Sue Verity, a colleague and friend of Linda’s,
founded in 1985 by the late Linda Williams, played in string quartets with her in the 1980s
violinist and head of string teaching with and is the only remaining member of the original
Rochdale Music Service, who had the idea of orchestra.
forming a small orchestra with her friends and
fellow professionals. Linda sadly died at quite a young age and the
string trophy at the Rochdale Festival of Music,
The orchestra was composed mainly of strings Speech and Dance is dedicated to her memory.
with a few woodwind and brass when required.
The Northern Baroque Orchestra has continued
At first, the NBO accompanied choirs in the Linda’s vision over the past 34 years, performing
area, the Festival 80 choir conducted by the at venues around Lancashire and Yorkshire.
late Roy Lunn and accompanied by Ian Niven on
harpsichord – two local musicians. Essentially a string ensemble, the orchestra also
welcomes guest woodwind or brass players when
Their repertoire was based on the Baroque era augmentation is required. Some members travel from all around the North Over the years, the Northern Baroque Orchestra
of classical music – approximately 1600 to 1750. West to play with NBO as it is quite a unique has forged close links with a range of conductors,
The group is constantly changing, though it has organisation. recently welcoming back Paul Witkiewicz for
The period saw composers like Bach, Corelli, members who have been involved for years. their Spring concert at St Edmund’s Church in
Concerto soloists come from within the ranks March.
of the orchestra, or specially-invited friends
or colleagues. Young soloists from the Royal The choice of music is mainly from the baroque
Northern College of Music and Chetham’s era (approximately 1600 to 1750) and the early
School of Music have also had the opportunity classical era (1750 to 1820) but also includes
to play with the ensemble. Occasionally brass is music which is more familiar to their audience –
included in the repertoire. more recently Pachelbel Canon and the Arrival
of the Queen of Sheba as well as Grieg’s Holberg
Distinguished past soloists include Alfred Suite.
Pollard (oboe), Martin Wallington (viola), Stina
Bisingaliev (flute), Yuri and Dmitri Torchinsky Northern Baroque’s summer concert includes a
(who played Bach’s Double Violin Concerto first performance by Colin Bayliss. Written for
together), and Donald Clarke and the late theorchestra to celebrate his own 70th birthday,
Martin Miller (who played Mozart’s Sinfonia ‘Satirico e Concerto Grosso’ is a whimsical piece
Concertante together). that has surprises but written in Baroque style.
The programme will include also include Grieg’s
Seeing a string orchestra playing with precision ‘Holberg Suite’, ‘Air in D Major’, Bach, ‘Abdelazar’
and unison is majestic and sounds amazing, by Purcell and ‘Summer’ from ‘The Seasons,
capturing the senses for young and old alike. Vivaldi.

The Northern Baroque Orchestra performs The concert will be held at St Aidan’s Church,
two regular concerts a year at the churches of Manchester Road, Rochdale on Saturday 13 July
St Aidan and St Edmund and has two regular at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from Eventbrite.
conductors, Michael Dow and Paul Witkiewitz,
although they also welcome guest conductors. For further info, contact Sue Verity: 01706
631942 - 07801 077063 - sueverity@sky.com

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