Chamber Music Hutt Valley

Welcome to Chamber Music Hutt Valley

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 About Chamber Music Hutt Valley

The Society was founded in 1979. The purpose was to foster interest in chamber music in the Hutt Valley and to arrange professional performances for the public. We have presented a season of concerts, usually five, between April and October every year. The artists are drawn from this country and overseas. From time to time we present special concerts involving dance, light and sound, and voice.

You can become a subscriber to the Society, but anyone is welcome to attend individual concerts via the box office. Subscribers enjoy substantial benefits outlined in the season brochure on this Web site. If you have school-age children learning music, they can accompany you at no charge.

The venue for most of our concerts is the Little Theatre in central Lower Hutt. This 300-seat theatre is an ideal size for chamber music. Some concerts are held in the nearby church of St James and TheNewDowse whose acoustics are preferred by some musicians. All venues have the benefit of nearby parking, in well-lit streets and car parks.

In February the Society holds an Annual General Meeting to elect officers and conduct the formal business. The current officers are:

President	Mike Rudge
Vice-President	Beverley Tyler
Treasurer	Helen Lukes
Committee	Judy Hanley, Maria Newman, Malcolm Nicholls, Margaret Cull
Co-opted	Malcolm Crawley, Jan Heine, Lionel Sharman, Sue Barlow, Martin Rothbaum

 

 

 

What Is Chamber Music?

Originally, in the 16th century, it was music written for small groups of players, to be played in an intimate setting, literally one's chamber at home, in front of an audience of family and friends. Gradually it moved from a private, amateur, diversion to public, professional, performances. Nowadays the setting is more likely to be a small theatre or concert hall but the ensemble usually remains between two and eight players. In contrast, a symphony orchestra has over 100 people plus a conductor. Many composers have found it easier to express emotions through these small, personal groups than through an orchestra. Hence, in chamber music we find some of the greatest and most beautiful music ever written.

For the audience there is always a sense of contact with the players. Each instrument can be seen and its individual voice heard. Sometimes, one of the musicians will introduce a piece with a few words, so increasing the sense of participation for the audience as well as their understanding of what they are about to hear. For those learning music this is especially valuable.

Almost any instrument can be found in chamber music groups, but the commonest ones are piano, violin, 'cello, viola, clarinet and flute. However, one might also see a harp, saxophone, oboe or some percussion. In groups specialising in "early music" there will be lutes and viols, or even crumhorns, sackbuts and rackets!

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