u3a

Abergavenny

Music Appreciation

Status:Active, open to new members
Group leader:
When: On Friday afternoons
3rd Friday at 2pm

This well-established Group meets for ninety minutes at 2.00pm on the 3rd Friday of the month and is devoted to sharing the joys of classical music in a very informal way. Further information contact Ian 01873 737876 or by email smithid37@gmail.com.

There is either a subject for the month for which members are invited to bring music accordingly, e.g. Italian music or The Music of Brahms, or there may be an illustrated talk from a member.

2026

16th January at 2.pm - 'January Jazzaround' - Bryn Seabourne

20th February at 2 pm - 'Music of Hungary' - Sari Davis

20th March at 2 pm. 'Out of Africa' - Chris Madeley

17th April at 2 pm.  'Seasonal Music' - members' choice

15th May at 2 pm. 'A Touch of French Polish' - Ian Smith

2025

17th January at 2 pm. 'Colour in Music' - Ian Smith
21st February at 2 pm. 'Composers in Love' - Chris Madeley
21st March at 2 pm Members' Choices - Bring your own CDs of 'Music Composed in the 18th Century'. 
18th April. No meeting (Bank Holiday)
16th May at 2 pm. 'Birds and Beasts in Music' - Chris Madeley
20th June at 2 pm. 'The Many Faces of Stravinsky'' - Ian Smith
18th July at 2 pm. 'Music at Court - members' own choices
15th August at 2 pm. 'The Art of Conducting' - famous conductors on film - Ian Smith
19th September at 2 pm. 'The Scottish Connection' - Chris Madeley
17th October 2025 at 2 pm. ''The Noise of Time' - music  by Dmitri Shostakovich interspersed with readings from Julian Barnes'  acclaimed fictional account of the composer's turbulent life.
21st November at 2pm. 'Music inspired by Nature' - members' own choices
19th December - No meeting

2024

January 19th - 'Joseph the Genial Genius' (Haydn his life and music) - Chris Madeley

February 16th - 'Otto Klemperer: a life full of music, drama - and scandal!' - Ian Smith

arch 15th 2pm - 'Cardiff Singers of the World' - members' choices

April 19th 2pm - 'Members' Desert Island Discs' - First Castaway Ian Smith

May 17th 2pm - 'Brahms, Sunny Side Up' - Chris Madeley

June 21st 2pm - Mechanicals: Music inspired by Trains and Clocks - Ian Smith

July 19th 2pm - Summer Music - members' own choices

August 16th 2pm - Who's afraid of Beethoven String Quartets? - film of an iconic String Quartet

September 20th 2pm - 'Scherzo' Humour and Wit in Music - Ian Smith

October 18th 2pm - 'Members' Desert Island Discs' - Second Castaway Chris Madeley

November 15th - 'Members' Desert Island Discs' - Third Castaway Rosemary Mackley

Dec 20th - Festive music (with fizz and nibbles) - Members' Choices

 
 
 

Past Programmes

2023

January 20th at 2pm - Rachmaninov: his life and music - Chris Madeley

February 17th at 2pm - 'Let Slip the Dogs of War' - Lindsay McDougall

March 17th at 2pm - 'Celibidache and the Essence of Bruckner'- film from the iconic Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache

April 21st - 'Spring Song' - Members' choices of seasonal music

May 19th - 'Those the Gods Loved'. Music from composers who died young - Chris Madeley

June 16th - Bach from St Davids on film

July 21st - 'The young Beethoven - a great composer at his most genial' - Ian Smith

August 18th - 'Outdoor Music' - Members' choices

September 15th - 'Viva España' - Lindsay McDougall

October 20th - 'Latin American Baroque (and Roll)' - Chris Madeley.

November 17th - 'Gloria' How composer responded to this section of the Mass over the centuries - Ian Smith

December 15th - Festive music (with fizz and nibbles) - Members' Choices

Possible future meetings: all suggestions and offerings will be gratefully received

Beethoven and Friends (Members' Offerings)

Orchestral and chamber music by opera composers