Temple Music

A concert curated by John Ashton Thomas28 June 2021

Temple Music Monday 28th June 2021 7.00pm Temple Church

A concert curated by John Ashton Thomas

Anna Noakes fluteAmy Dickson saxophone

Robert Smissen violaHugh Webb harp

Chris Laurence double bassTrans4mation String Quartet

Roger Sayer organ

John Ashton Thomas River Thames SextetJohn Ashton Thomas Temple Trio

John Surman PolperroJohn Surman Tintagel

trad Wild Mountain ThymeDebussy Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp

John Ashton Thomas TrioJohn Ashton Thomas If You’d Seen This

John Ashton Thomas Temple Meditation and Echos

This concert is generously supported by The Master Treasurers of the Honourable Societies of the Inner and Middle Temple

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BIOGRAPHIESJohn Ashton ThomasJohn was born in Devon in 1961. He has been a working musician since he first sung in the choir at Exeter cathedral in 1969. John has composed several hundred pieces either for performance or commercial use, and has contributed as a composer, orchestrator or conductor to the scores of over 160 feature films. John’s music has been performed at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall (at a Proms concert in 2018), the South Bank Centre, the Barbican, the ICA, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glastonbury Festival and Temple Church. As a teacher, John has been a member of the composition faculty at Trinity Laban Conservatoire since 1994, and was a member of the jazz faculty at the Royal Academy of Music for 12 years. He taught Composition at the Dartington International Summer School several times in the 2010s. He was made an Honorary Associate of the R.A.M. in 2004, and an Honorary Fellow of Trinity Laban in 2019. As a conductor he has worked with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Diana Ross, Michael Buble, Cat Stevens / Yusuf and Oscar-winning composer Stephen Warbeck amongst others, both in the concert hall and in the recording studio.John has written music that has been heard on dozens of TV productions including Country File, Top Gear, Coast, Oprah and countless others.As a pianist, John has performed in several of the venues listed above, as well as in recording studios in London and Los Angeles.

Anna Noakes fluteAnna Noakes, concerto and recording soloist with BBC Concert Orchestra and RNSO has performed at the QEH, Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician as well as at many of Britain’s most respected Festivals, such as Cheltenham, Brighton, Leicester, Salisbury, City of London and Dartington.Her playing has inspired composers such as Simon Holt, Martin Yates, Cecilia McDowall, John Ashton Thomas, Dave Heath and Martin Butler to write for her.Anna has recorded numerous CD’s for Dutton, ASV, Naxos and Guild of both solo and chamber music, many of which have received Gramophone Magazine’s coveted “Critics Choice”.Anna broadcasts for BBC Radio3 and Classic FM and works as Guest Principal Flute with the LPO, Philharmonia, RPO, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and ENO’s together with ECO, Northern Sinfonia, CLS, Locrian Ensemble and Britten Sinfonia.She is also in demand to record the music for Film and TV, scores that include, Kingsman, Golden Circle, James Bond, Lord of the Rings, Stardust, Hugo, Arthur, Chicken Run, Golden Compass, Black Swan, Narnia series, Harry Potter, Shrek, Da Vinci Code, Bridget Jones and Love Actually to name a few.Anna is a founder member of the South American Folk Ensemble ‘INCA’ and was for ten years the Artistic Director of the Yoxford Arts Festival.

Amy Dickson saxophone Twice nominated for a Grammy™ award, British-Australian Amy Dickson made history by becoming the first saxophonist to win a Classic BRIT Award, for Breakthrough Artist of the Year. In 2016 she was named the UK’s Young Australian of the Year and was invited to judge the final of BBC Young Musician. Recognised for her remarkable, distinctive tone and exceptional musicality, Amy has since been acknowledged by BBC Music Magazine as one of the world’s six best classical saxophonists ever. Amy Dickson began her musical studies at the age of two and took her first saxophone lesson in Sydney aged six. She made her concerto debut at 16, and on her 18th birthday made her first recording as soloist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. That year she moved to London to study at the Royal College of Music, then at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Whilst proving to be a brilliant interpreter of contemporary music, she is devoted to the development of new repertoire for the saxophone. Having commissioned many living composers, she has already made a substantial contribution to the legacy of the instrument’s concerto, chamber and solo repertoire.

Robert Smissen viola“the subtlest, sweetest solo viola in the world.” The TimesAfter playing with the European Community Youth Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe Bob took the position of principal viola with the Northern Sinfonia before joining the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, with whom he has been principal viola for over 30 years. He often performs as a soloist with the orchestra, and as a member of the ASMF chamber ensemble and the Pro Arte Piano Quartet, he has performed, broadcast and recorded all over the world. Recent recordings include the complete Brahms piano quartets and Dittersdorf duo concerto. Robert is regularly invited to play with the Brodsky and Allegri quartets, the Fleesensee Festival with Julia Fischer and friends, and the World Orchestra for Peace.

Hugh Webb harp“arpeggios or runs, virtuosity or sheer feeling, Webb is master of them all.” GramophoneHugh was principal harp of the Philharmonia Orchestra and now freelances as guest principal of the major London orchestras and is active in the film and television music world. He has worked extensively in the contemporary music field and Javier Alvarez, Robert Keeley, Paul Archbold and Ian Dearden have all written solo works for him. Classical CD recordings include Bax’s Concerto for Flute, Oboe and Harp with the ASMITF (Chandos), Bach Flute Sonatas(Guild), Villalobos’ Quartet (Clarinet Classics), Bax’s Fantasy Sonata (Koch International) and the complete Spohr Violin and Harp Sonatas (Naxos). His most recent recordings are a CD of French Renaissance songs with Joglaresa and a recording of solo and chamber music by Nino Rota for Zitto Records.

Chris Laurence double bassChris Laurence was born in London and studied at the Guildhall School of Music. Since then he has maintained a dual career in both jazz and classical music.He plays regularly with John Surman, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor and Norma Winstone. In the classical world he was principal double bass with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields until 1995, playing on many of their famous recordings ranging from the film “Amadeus” to Benjamin Britten’s “Curlew River”. Jazz artists he has recorded with include trombonist J.J.Johnson, Tony Coe, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Clark Terry and Johnny Mathis. Most recent recordings are John Surmans “The Spaces in Between” , Kenny Wheelers “Waiting”, Norma Winstone’s “Manhattan In The Rain”,and most recently the CD “Babelfish” with singer Brigitte Beraha. He also spends a lot of time recording music for TV, film, most notably ” Leaving Las Vegas”, ”Looking For Eric”, ”The Constant Gardener”and “The Man who Cried” with the Kronos Quartet. He has recently recorded a CD with his own jazz quartet titled “New View”, released on the “Basho” label. As well as jazz and classical music Chris has also featured on albums with many stars including Elton John, Sting, Peter Gabriel, and guitarist John Williams.

Trans4mation string quartetTrans4mation string quartet formed in 1999 invited by legendary English jazz musician, John Surman, to collaborate in his strings project. With Chris Laurence on bass they have recorded two critically acclaimed CDs for the ECM label, ‘Corruscating’ and ‘The Spaces In Between’.The group has performed at many of Europe’s important jazz festivals, including North Sea Jazz, Umbria Jazz. At the London Jazz Festival they have appeared at the Wigmore Hall, and at Kings Place which featured a premier of a suite commissioned by Australian recorder player, Genevieve Lacey. 2016 saw them at the Châtelet, Paris in a concert also featuring Jack DeJohnette. They returned to Paris in February 2020 to record a concert at Maison De La Radio - Studio 104 for Radio France which turned out to be their last outing before Europe went into its Covid 19 lockdown. Todays concert with John Ashton Thomas marks Trans4mation’s first concert since the Covid restrictions began to ease.

Roger Sayer organRoger Sayer has been Organist and Director of Music at Temple Church since 2013 having previously held the same role at Rochester Cathedral. For 10 years he was accompanist and deputy chorus director of the London Symphony Chorus working with many of the world’s leading conductors. He relinquished this position to concentrate on his work at Temple Church and his organ playing. His playing and choral directing have taken him to many parts of the globe.His numerous recordings have recently included the twenty organ sonatas of Rheinberger and, this year, the six organ Symphonies of Louis Vierne. His most well-known recording to date is as organist on Hans Zimmer’s soundtrack for Christopher Nolan’s 2014 film Interstellar.

PROGRAMME NOTE

John’s relationship with Temple Church goes back a number of years. Since meeting Roger Sayer (organist of Temple Church) in 2016 whilst working on a project for Decca records, John has been involved in two Temple Music concerts, three further albums with Roger, and has written several pieces for the Temple Church choir.

This concert was originally scheduled to take place in November 2020.It will feature a number of works by John Ashton Thomas, some of which are premieres, as well as pieces by Debusssy, and British Jazz musician/ composer John Surman.

John was in touch with Amy Dickson, the well-known saxophonist during the early part of the 2020 health crisis. Amy put together a series of videos of new works for solo saxophone for YouTube. John wrote a set of three pieces for Amy’s very enterprising project, called “If You’d Seen This” (parts 1-3). These pieces will receive their live premiere at this event.

Also being played tonight is another piece of John’s which has now received several performances: the “Trio” for Flute, Viola and Harp written for Anna Noakes (flute). The trio of musicians playing this piece will also play Debussy’s Sonata.

A revised version of John’s “River Thames Sextet” (originally a quintet) will be performed by Amy Dickson, the Trans4mation string quartet and Chris Laurence (Double Bass). This original version this piece was premiered by Martin Speake and the Smith Quartet at Trinity Laban Conservatoire in 2019.

The Trans4mation quartet has worked extensively with well-known British Jazz Saxophonist and Composer John Surman. Tonight they will play the piece “Tintagel” from John Surman’s album “The Road to St. Ives” with Roger Sayer (organ) and Chris Laurence (Double Bass).

John has composed a piece especially for tonight’s concert, called “Temple Meditation, and Echoes” for all the performers in tonight’s concert, and Roger Sayer (organ).

TEMPLE MUSIC FOUNDATION SUPPORTERSWe are immensely grateful to those whose generous support and enthusiasm is vested in the Temple Music Foundation and its work. The Honourable Societies of Inner Temple and Middle Temple offer a significant contribution, particularly through their in-kind support which is invaluable. We are indebted to all and every one of our supporters, who give generously in so very many different ways. Every single gift, at any and every level, is greatly welcomed and valued.

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The Brian Mitchell Charitable SettlementThe Michael Cuddigan TrustThe Morris-Venables Charitable FoundationThe Roger and Ingrid Pilkington Trust

PatronsClyde & CoRussell-Cooke SolicitorsOne Essex Court

PresidentSir Richard Aikens

Board of Trustees Guy Beringer CBE QC (Chairman)Katie Bradford Sir Christopher ClarkeThe Hon Philip Havers QCRosamund Horwood-Smart QC Penny JonasThe Hon Michael McLaren QCSir Martin SpencerDaniel Toledano QCRobert Venables QC

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