Chamber Music

Trios

Duos

Other combinations

Jenny loves to play chamber music. There is so much beautiful music for harp with other instruments which together produce a myriad of colours and contrasts. As well as the classics by Debussy and Ravel, there are many fascinating pieces to explore, from Bach to the present day, and some particularly rewarding music from the inter-war years which we are now rediscovering. Contemporary composers are writing ever more adventurously and skilfully for the harp, so it is always exciting to work on new music. It is particularly pleasing to have been asked back to play further concerts at, for example, the Buckingham and the Harp on Wight Festivals.

Bergina Leka 2014

Trios

Trio Sospiroso

Flute Clare Mellor, Viola Sue Black

Over twenty years, Jenny has explored the rich flute, viola and harp repertoire with Trio Sospiroso www.triosospiroso.com giving wide-ranging programmes in concerts in venues from Grimsby to Penzance. Composers Edward Lambert, Edward Watson and Steve Crowther have written trios for them, and their repertoire includes everything from Bach to Thea Musgrave. In their lively presentation, the trio take care to introduce the audience to the music so that they get the best from what is perhaps inevitably less familiar music.

Repertoire for flute, viola and harp trio:

Alexander Orange & Aureolin on Blue
Eduardo Angulo Danzas Sibilinas
Bach Sonatas in G minor and E flat major
Bax Elegiac Trio
Beamish Between Earth and Sky
Beethoven/Maayami Serenade Op 25
RR Bennett Sonata after Syrinx
Bizet Minuet (L’Arlésienne)
Steve Crowther Shadow’s Dancing
Nathan Currier A Sambuca Sonata
Debussy Sonate
Four Preludes
Children’s Corner Suite
Fauré Sicilienne
Edward Lambert Short Story
Paul Lewis Divertimento
Jolivet Petite Suite
Thea Musgrave Sunrise
Elizabeth Poston Trio
Rawsthorne Suite
Rohozinski Suite Brève
Ravel/Salzedo Sonatine en Trio
David Snell Lyric Sonata
Telemann arr Dickstein Trio Sonata in G minor
Tocchi Arie e danze tedesche
Edward Watson Aegean Dances

 

Bergina Leka 2014

‘Excellent ensemble always prevailed, and there was a marked feeling for style. Close empathy with great care for detail coupled to graceful execution, resulted in an extremely satisfying account.’

‘The achievement of the players and the success of the evening can be judged by the fact that what was perhaps the most familiar piece (‘La fille aux cheveux de lin’) sounded as if it was written precisely for this combination.’ Debussy Preludes

‘…it has clearly become a favourite and they revelled in its wild and syncopated rhythms, delighting both themselves and the audience.’ Watson Aegean Dances

‘What a great opportunity to hear this talented trio. As well as some familiar pieces, there were also some which were new and I found Cuatro Danzas Sibilinas by Eduardo Angulo particularly enjoyable. We were also very interested in the workings of a concert harp shown to us by Jenny Broome. I hadn't realised that it had six pedals, each having three positions. How lucky we are that GAF provides us with such entertainment on our own doorsteps. This again showed how superb the acoustics in the chapel are for small scale chamber groups.’

‘It is lovely to know that you enjoyed us, almost as greatly as we did you! It was a glorious afternoon, beautiful music perfectly played. A wonderful combination of instruments - and what repertoire. A joy to hear the modern composers and a pleasure to meet Edward Lambert, not to mention yourselves. We look forward to next time!’

Sample Programmes      A        B        C  

A :

Bach Sonata for Flute
Beethoven arr Maayami Serenade Op 25
Fauré Sicilienne
Debussy arr Salzedo Childrens’ Corner Suite
Watson Aegean Dances

Arpatagora

Violin Frances Mason, Cello James Halsey

In Arpatagora Jenny combines the harp with the Tagore String duo, to explore the unusual repertoire for violin cello and harp. Frances and Jenny have worked together for many years and are delighted to be working with James on new programmes.

James has performed all over the world in chamber groups including the Auriol and Bingham quartets, and the Tagore string trio. He has also performed unaccompanied Bach and Beethoven sonatas in Japan and Australia as well as in the UK. He coaches on ten annual chamber music courses, as well as running two cello courses and numerous one-off cello events.

He has been teaching cello and chamber music at RCM Junior department since September 1986, and his ex-students from JD include the current cellist in the Allegri String Quartet, cellists in all areas of the profession, and students at all the major UK conservatoires. James is director of the Aboyne Cello Festival.

Repertoire:

Corelli Sonata
Fauré Pavane
Ibert Trio
Pillney Notturno
Ravel/Salzedo Sonatine en Trio
Renié Trio
Spohr Trio in F minor

 

‘...fantastic....beautiful performance.’

‘The best [concert] we’ve ever had!’


Duos

Arcangeli

Helena de Rijke harp

The combination of two harps gives great richness and far more chromatic possibilities than a single harp, as well as being great fun to work with someone who completely understands the problems of the harp! Arcangeli was formed after both harpists played at separate concerts in the same church in Southampton, the church of St Michael the Archangel. Arcangeli were delighted to be invited to play at the inaugural Harp on Wight Festival in 2014.

Helena de Rijke, born in Haarlem, studied in France with Marie-Louise Marcelin, in Germany with Helga Storck and Ruth Konhäuser and in Holland with Edward Witsenburg. She had a distinguished career in Germany as Principal Harpist in the opera houses of Bonn, Dusseldorf, Mannheim and Westfalia and the symphony orchestras of NDR and Bamberg. After a career break to bring up her children in London, Helena is enjoying rediscovering the harp.

Repertoire:

Andrès Le Jardin des Paons
Andrès Parvis
Couperin Tic-Toc-Choc
Debussy La Cathédrale Engloutie
Debussy Images
Fauré Berceuse
Franck Prélude, Fugue, Variation
Handel The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Ravel Ma Mère L’Oie
Ravel Alborada del Gracioso
Thomas Grand Duet (slow movement)
Bergina Leka www.berginaleka.com

‘Facing each other and holding two magnificent instruments, they began a programme of French music...La Cathedrale Engloutie brought out the best of the esoteric chime like sounds of the two harps...it called for delicate note production, which the two harpists managed to execute neatly. Cesar Franck’s Prelude, Fugue, Variation, allowed for plenty of give-and-take between the two players which they handled with skill and imagination. Helena de Rijke, obviously a very experienced and subtle harpist, often handled the bass lines showing great attention to detail and Jenny Broome had many opportunities to show her skill at melody and harmony....Andres’ Cortege et Danse, another exercise in atmospherics, portrayed a cortege approaching slowly and segueing into dance. I’m not too sure about the likelihood of such an occurence, unless it was for a New Orleans funeral but it was all exquisitely played.’
Newbury Weekly News

Violin and Harp

Frances Mason violin

Frances and Jenny met when they were both invited to perform for a charity concert in Old Heathfield, Sussex where they discovered a mutual interest in the music of Spohr for violin and harp. Subsequently they have given many concerts together including four concerts at the Buckingham Festival over the years. For one of these they commissioned Edward Lambert’s piece Speed Matters. More recently they have been working on a CD, due for release in 2017, exploring the repertoire of Marianne and Clara Eissler, the Victorian sisters for whom Saint-Saens wrote his Fantaisie.

Frances Mason was born in Hampshire and was taught as a child by Albert Sammons. She was a scholar at the Royal College of Music where she was awarded the Violin Prize, the Worshipful Company of Musicians’ Silver Medal and the Tagore Gold Medal. She was a prizewinner in the Carl Flesch International Violin Competition and the BBC Violin Competition and received the National Federation of Music Societies’ Award for Young Musicians. Frances has appeared as soloist at several BBC Proms and broadcast as a soloist many times. She has also broadcast and performed most of the repertoire for violin and piano and has always been involved performing, recording and teaching chamber music with the Music Group of London, the Tagore String Trio, the Rasumovsky Quartet, the Beethoven Broadwood Trio and the Dartington Trio. She has been a Professor at the Royal College of Music since 1971.

Repertoire for violin and harp:

Bax Cavatina
Boieldieu Sonata
Corelli La Follia
Damase Sonata
Donizetti Sonata
Gorb Liebeslied
Handel Sonatas
Kreisler Alt-Wiener Tansweisen
Lambert Speed Matters
Lewis Rhapsody
Marin Duo Op 8
Marson Excursions
Mendelssohn Songs without words
Naderman Sonata Op 47 no 1
Natra Music for Violin and Harp
Paganini Six Sonatas
Rossini Andante con variazione
Saint-Saens Fantaisie Op 124
Spohr Sonata Concertante Op 113
Spohr Sonata Concertante Op 114
Spohr Sonata Concertante Op 115
Spohr Fantasie Op 118
Spohr Sonata Op 16
Spohr Sonata C minor
Stravinsky Chanson Russe
Vaughan Williams Studies in English Folksong
Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending
Viotti Sonata
J. Williams Themes from Schindler’s List

 

‘Much appreciated…the audience were delighted with the concert which I myself enjoyed tremendously’ Buckingham Festival Committee

‘Frances Mason, évidemment très sollicité, fait valoir un style plein d’élégance et une sonorité bien charnue.’ Répertoire [“Frances Mason, clearly very persuasive, presents a style full of elegance and a full-bodied tone."]

‘The work could not have had a more persuasive soloist than Frances Mason whose graduation of tone colour and sensitive phrasing enhanced her reputation as an outstanding interpreter of 20C music.’ ( V Irkanda IV Sculthorpe.) Glasgow Herald.

‘Frances Mason played with wonderful intensity and beauty of tone.’ Guardian

‘Frances Mason is a violinist whose notes were as pure as silk against the orchestral texture. Most of all it was the cadenzas that revealed her talent,there was no hint of roughness nor of mere exhibitionism but a smooth flow of sound that effectively concealed the difficulties with which they abound.’ (Beethoven Concerto) Scotsman.

‘So extremely beautiful and varied, with wonderful descriptions of the context…Lovely concert with most interesting introductions…. Enjoyed it immensely…. Fantastic performance – Looking forwards to next year…Absolutely marvellous….Fabulous…’
Audience reaction from Harp on Wight concert.

Sample Programmes      A        B        C  

A : Early Nineteenth Century

Donizetti Sonata
Viotti Sonata in B flat
Marin Duo Op 8
Parish-Alvars (solo harp)
Mendelssohn Songs without words
Paganini Sonata
Spohr Sonata
Rossini Andante con variazione

Flute and harp

Jenny has worked with several flautists, including particularly Clare Mellor, from Trio Sospiroso, and Jenny’s CD with Rachel Smith, Summer was in August (www.dimusic.co.uk) continues to be well received.

Repertoire:

Alwyn Naiades
Andrès Narthex
Bach Sonatas in E flat and G minor
Bax Sonata
Damase Sonatas 1 and 2
Chausson Les Oiseaux
Cras Suite en Duo
Debussy Preludes
Francaix Cinque Piccoli Duetti
Hilse Suite
Harty In Ireland
Ibert Entr’acte
Lauber Quatre Danses Médiévales
Paul Lewis Norfolk Idyll
Marson Suite
Marson Two Waltzes
Maxwell Davies Two Dances from Caroline Mathilde
Mozart Andante
Piazzolla Histoire du Tango
Ravel Pavane pour une Infante Défunte
Rohozinski Quatre Pièces
Saint-Saens Romance Op 37
Watson La Fontaine aux Dauphins
Rehearsals sometimes have to be held in surprising venues!

‘The playing throughout was beautifully skilled and sensitive, and the church acoustic added its customary brilliance, although also its slight attenuation beyond the baffle of the western tower arch.’ ‘...a happy and memorable evening.’


Oboe and Harp

Rachel Porter oboe

Jenny has given several recitals with oboist Rachel Porter, with music ranging from the baroque to the present day. Rachel likes to use all the instruments of the oboe family to bring a wide range of colours to her programmes.

Repertoire:

Alwyn Suite
CPE Bach Sonata
Michael Berkeley Second Still LIfe
Debussy Bruyères
Pasculli Omaggio à Bellini
Rossini Andante con variazione

Other Combinations

Jenny is a member of West Forest Sinfonia (www.westforestsinfonia.org) and has performed with them on several occasions when it is possible to explore repertoire for other combinations. With the Hilser Ensemble Jenny has played chamber music in London, Lewes and Bramber. She has also played with members of the Philharmonia and with English Serenata (www.englishserenata.com).

Repertoire for other combinations:

Bax Sonata for Viola and Harp
Quintet for Harp and Strings
Berlioz Trio from The Childhood of Christ
Caplet Conte Fantastique (harp and string quartet)
ETA Hoffman Quintet (harp and string quartet)
Ibert Two Interludes (fl, vln, hp)
Jolivet Pastorales de Noël (fl cello and harp)
Lambert Concerto Cubico (trombone, marimba and harp)
Mozart Adagio and Rondo for Glass Harmonica
Pierné Voyage au pays du tendre (fl, vln, vla, cello, hp)
Ravel Introduction and Allegro
Paul Reade The Kitchen Garden Suite (clarinet and harp)
Ropartz Prelude, Marine et Chansons (fl, vln, vla, cello, hp)
Roussel Serenade (fl, vln, vla, cello, hp)
Tippett Dreaming (viola and harp)
Vaughan Williams Studies in English Folksong (violin, viola, cello or clarinet)

 

‘The harp sparkled….ethereal was a word I heard bandied about’ (Hilser Ensemble)

‘The trio made light of a series of ever faster rhythmic complexities, finally bringing the piece to a brilliant ending’ (Concerto Cubico)

‘Next on the horizon was the harp, in the hands of Jenny Broome…driven by her immense experience and professionalism…the harp was truly orchestral’ (Concerto Cubico)