JUNE’S LAST FRIDAY IS BARBERSHOP NIGHT!

Doors 1900, music starts 1930. Seats are not reserved, so come early!

Barbershop comes to Cricklewood! Experience the sublime close harmonies of the Peridot Quartet.

Peridot is Héctor, Aurélie, Duncan and Matthew, who hail from Spain, France, Australia and Britain respectively, and came together as a quartet in March last year. They sing a capella – that is, with no instrumental accompaniment, and usually without amplification – representing music in its oldest and primeval form. They have more years of chorus and quartet singing experience between us than they care to add up, and share a small but treasured haul of gold, silver and bronze medals from a number of chorus contests.

For this event, Peridot is looking forward to explaining to you how four-part vocal harmony works and demonstrating lock and ring, overtones (and possibly some undertones), illustrated by songs from the quartet’s repertoire, ranging from barbershop settings of popular songs from the 30s up to arrangements of chart toppers from this millennium. And there’ll be an opportunity to learn a “tag” (tags are short phrase of music sung by barbershoppers all over the world) – audience participation not compulsory, but encouraged!

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Trio Taliesin are our Last Friday at the Library

Trio Taliesin take their name from Celtic mythology: Taliesin was a renowned bard who entertained at the courts of the Brythonic kings. The trio formed in 2017 with the aim of engaging audiences in piano trio repertoire through collaborative performances and programming that link works with an underlying narrative. They have given concerts in London, Oxford, Sedbergh and Llanidloes, collaborated on performances with actress Holly Walters, and performed Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with the Cobweb Orchestra.

Many of you will recognise pianist Tara Clifford from her performance with cellist Clare Graham at our Winter Piano and Cello Concert in December. This time Tara is joined by cellist Alice Jones, and violinist

Alice Jones studied Music at Dartington College of Arts, graduating in 2006 with a 1st class honours degree. She went on to study at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance on Pearson and TCM scholarships, graduating with a Music Performance Masters in 2011.

Alice has played recital concerts and concerti around the UK and abroad. She has worked extensively with the Cobweb Orchestra covering repertoire such as Dvořák’s Cello Concerto (Sage, Gateshead, 2013), Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C (Tuscany 2014) and Elgar’s Cello Concerto (Alnwick 2010 & Sedbergh 2018). In 2013-14 she performed and recorded a Cello Concertino written for her by the composer, John Hawkes. In addition to her work as a soloist, Alice has performed with various ensembles including the English Fayre Quartet (around the UK, Norway and Iceland) and the Evelina De Lain Trio (UK and the Maldives).

Alice teaches a wide range of cello students privately and in schools around London. She is a cello and Early Years music teacher at Junior Trinity. In 2017 she qualified as a Dalcroze practitioner.

Kirsten Wilson started playing violin at the age of 7. She was a music scholar at Headington girls’ school, and attended the Royal College of Music Junior Department, before winning a scholarship to the Royal Northern College of Music, where she studied with Yossi Zivoni and Ben Holland. She then went back to the Royal College of Music for her post-graduate studies, studying with Rodney Friend. Kirsten has played in many professional orchestras including the BBC Philharmonic and orchestras for various film soundtracks. In addition to her orchestral playing she regularly performs with the Barber String Quartet. As well as her busy performing schedule she teaches at Sutton high school and Fulham Prep School. She has also taught at the Royal Academy of Music Junior Department.

To book tickets go here.

January Jazz

Jazz in November was great – what will Jazz in January be like? You’ll have to come along and see!

The Brent Jazz Orchestra Quartet are back.  We can’t fit the full 17 piece orchestra in the library, but a hand picked quartet of musicians will perform a lively and entertaining set of swing, latin and bebop numbers. The perfect way to ease into your weekend. Those who saw them in November at the library will know they’re not to be missed!

There will be a donations bar, and pizzas can be ordered in advance. If you don’t see the pizza you like on offer, requests are accepted. We order from Basilico. Pizza sales end the day before the concert to give us time to place the order.

Brent Jazz Orchestra on Facebook

When placing your order, you will get a confirmation email – please check your spam for this as these often go astray. Rest assured that if your payment is successfully taken, you’ll be on the door list on the night.

Shared Reading comes to Cricklewood Library

From Wednesday 1 February, a group of people, one of them a trained Reader Leader, reads a great novel, short story or poem aloud. We stop and talk about what we have read. There is no need for group members to read aloud or speak – it’s fine to just listen. The idea is to create a space where people feel at ease.

Reading the literature aloud in real-time, means that everyone is involved in a shared, live experience. Group members are encouraged by the Reader Leader to respond personally, sharing feelings, thoughts and memories provoked by the reading.

Everyone experiences the text in their own way, but the literature provides a shared language that can help us to understand ourselves – and others – better.

Shared Reading helps us to understand our individual and collective inner lives, round the same table, at the same time.

A Series of Festive Events

We’re sincerely hoping that our relaunched monthly Third Friday music events does not become a series of unfortunate cancelled events after last year’s Covid-related shenanigans. because we have a fest of fun planned for you between now and the end of the year.

The festive season kicks off with Jazz at the Library on 25 November. Ticket link.
Then we follow up with Carols by Candlelight on 11 December. Info link.
Next, it’s a free Family friendly concert on Friday 16 December. For parents and kids only. Free, but you MUST reserve. Reservation link.
Finally, later the same evening we have our postponed Winter Piano and Cello Recital. Ticket link.

Don’t miss any of them – bound to be loads of fun!