PLAY Day

Play day 2020

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphonies 1, 2, 4, 5?, 6, 7, 8

Conductor - Johathan Lyness

Sunday 5 July 2020
Acton Scott Village Hall

Gustav Holst
The Planets

Conductor - Thomas Payne
1-6pm Sunday 14th July 2019
Moor Park School, Ludlow SY8 4DZ

Play day 2018

Sunday 15 July 2018 at Moor Park School, Ludlow

Thanks very much to you, Sarah, and to your army of helpers for organising the play-day so successfully. It's not often you get the chance to play the Rite of Spring. And thanks to the flute section of the orchestra who were very supportive and encouraging throughout the workshop. I think it was extraordinarily ambitious to attempt the Rite in one afternoon but entirely worth it. I believe that we all make a pretty good attempt at it in spite of its complexities. Thanks also to Tom who did a great job with the conducting.

It was an amazing day, thank you for having me. And, incredible coincidences dot com, I am currently on a train on the way to Exeter where I am spending the next 3 days rehearsing and performing RoS. I didn’t know I was doing it until 11 this morning when I got a call from a somewhat panicked orchestra manager whose 6th horn had been taken ill!!!

“It was an experience of a lifetime for me. The Rite is one of my top favourites, must have listened to it hundreds of times, and love it. To have played it, is just unbelievable. Tom deserves so much credit for his work and ability to put it together. He has an unbelievable ear (sometimes though I think I may get him some ear plugs for Christmas!), knows the music, and lives for the music, no ego, and his comments are so helpful. We are extremely lucky to have him.

Another fabulous Play Day with Ludlow Orchestra - it certainly was a different challenge to last year! Thanks to all who made it happen and for the lovely cakes!

Thanks for putting the photos on the Ludlow site. I like the one that shows me looking completely baffled. It must have been taken only a few moments after I had been given the alto flute, just as I was trying to guess which finger goes where...

See Gallery for photos

Thank you for organising yesterday's play-day. I enjoyed working with your conductor who I thought was brilliant both with the music and with the orchestra. Thank you to the members who provided the tea and the delicious cakes and the folks who organised everything so smoothly and unobtrusively.

We really enjoyed yesterday - music is still buzzing in our heads and sight of you and the hammer is still vivid in the memory. And a lovely group of people

Thanks for a fantastic afternoon of playing - I think I am now a Mahler convert! Thanks to everyone for making me feel welcome, the tea and cakes we're a welcome treat too. A special thanks to Becky for letting me borrow and play the bass clarinet - I said yes before realising there were solos and transposition but other than one high note eluding me I think I did an alright job. I would definitely like to join the orchestra on a more permanent basis if possible and would also be happy to come and dep if needed for rehearsals/concerts.

The photos and footage of the hammer are a great way of remembering the event, I’m not sure I've ever seen so many horns in one place before and I had the pleasure of sitting by them too.

Congratulations on a great day and best wishes to everyone.

Thanks very much to everyone for the hard work you all put in to make the play day such a success. As a visitor, I felt we were all made very welcome. Tom did a terrific job directing everyone. Mahler symphonies are the ideal choice for such an event as they are wonderful pieces and give everyone lots to play. I was very impressed by the hammer. Have you thought of loaning it out to other orchestras?
We went to a brilliant performance of Mahler 6 at the Proms a couple of years ago, and it is great to have a go at playing it. When I looked on imslp at how frightening the part is (especially the 4th movement), I nearly decided not to come, but am very glad that I did.

I hope to come to future play days, so please keep me informed.

Thank YOU to all concerned, it was a great treat for me and I’m sure all the other day trippers would agree. I was surprised to learn this was your first big workshop - the organisation was so smooth and comprehensive I’d assumed you’d been doing it for years. Whoever planned it and made all the practical arrangements did a superb job.

I’ll certainly hope to come again. I’d personally love to have a crack at Mahler 7 which is rarely done. Though you probably won’t want to do another Mahler straight away. Shostakovich 4 or 8 would great too. Or Bruckner 8 or 9 if you can get hold of a set of Wagner tubas (and horn players willing to play them.) Thanks again, and do keep me on the list for future events.

Many thanks for your email and thank you also for a lovely day. Everybody was really friendly and Thomas was great. Unfortunately, I live too far away to join you, but I’m already looking forward to your next Play Day – I’ll drink plenty of camomile tea in advance this time to steady my nerves for Jimmy’s Hammer!!!

Thank you so much for this general letter. It was truly wonderful to have the opportunity to play that symphony with your orchestra and Tom. I have worked with Tom before and also know him as a super violinist. Lovely day and great to see my ex pupil from school, cellist Lisa, very good cellist. Pity she is so tied up that she can't go every week. She is also a wonderful pianist. Thank you again, please keep my details and I would love to hear of other events. I am sure it was by accident, but I was greeted by a cellist called Elspeth, she is so friendly and welcoming.

I saw the fb post about the Mahler hammer and would love to take it off your hands!