Oxford May Music Day 2 – From the Centre of Europe
2 – 3.30 pm
Concert 2 – A Baroque Afternoon
G.F. Handel Sonata in D Major for violin and basso continuo HWV 371
A. Vivaldi Triple Concerto for violin, cello, organ (accordion), piano and string quintet
J.S. Bach Double Keyboard Concerto in C minor BWV 1060 arranged for accordion, piano and string quintet
G.F. Handel Concerto Grosso in A Major Op. 6, No.11, HWV 329
Performers
Jack Liebeck, violin; A. Raikhlina, violin; B. Roskams, viola; L. Anderson, viola; A. Brendel, cello; D. Djordjevic, cello; S. Watton, double bass; K. Chong, piano; J.Crabb, accordion.
Our first afternoon concert is a treasure-trove of baroque music in chamber-music arrangements from three of its greatest masters. It features our resident accordionist, James Crabb in concertos and joining our Musical Director, Jack Liebeck, in one of Handel’s famous Op. 1 group of violin sonatas.
5.30 – 6.30 pm
Codes, Computers & Quantum Physics
Professor David Lucas, University of Oxford
Quantum mechanics describes how matter behaves at the atomic scale and is one of the most successful theories of physics that we have. A surprising discovery of the late twentieth century was that it could also give us access to a completely new (and very powerful) way of processing information: the idea of the quantum computer was born. In this talk I will introduce the basic ideas of quantum computing, its links to code-breaking and code-making, survey the current state of the art, and describe recent work at Oxford on building and using an elementary quantum network.
8-10.30 pm
Concert 3 – From the Centre of Europe
G. Kurtag Selected String Trio and Solo Cello Miniatures
Virág az ember
A Flower for Dénes Zsigmondy
Hommage à J.S. Bach
Perpetuum mobile
Homage à John Cage and In Folk Style
G. Ligeti Selected pieces for four hands at piano
Three Wedding Dances
Sonatina
Polyfönetüd
F. Schubert Fantasie in F minor for four hands at piano, D. 940
Interval
J. Brahms Piano Trio No. 3 in C minor, Op. 101
J.S. Bach Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043
Performers – The Festival Players
J. Liebeck, violin; A. Raikhlina, violin; B. Roskams, viola; L. Anderson, viola; D. Djordjevic, cello; A. Brendel, cello; S. Watton, double bass; K. Chong, piano; D. Driver, piano; J. Crabb, accordion.
Kurtag and Ligeti make an acerbic introduction to Schubert’s haunting Fantasie. Its mood changes, from melancholy to grandiose and back again, are as quicksilver as the composition is inspired. The second half is much sunnier, with Brahms’ final string trio and the well-known Bach ‘Double’ Concerto.
