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A Brief History of Music
The latest show from acclaimed musicians Chris Green and Sophie Matthews takes in 600 years of musical history in 90 minutes!
Beginning in the Middle Ages and ending up in the 20th century (and incorporating everything in between!) this fun and fast-moving show is a whistle-stop tour of Western musical history.
Featuring long forgotten songs and tunes (not to mention jokes!) Chris and Sophie paint a vibrant and vivid picture of our musical DNA, mixing the familiar and the obscure, the raucous and the reflective and the courtly and the commonplace.
The show combines the vigour of the medieval period, the musical intricacy of the Renaissance, the grandeur of the Baroque and the pomp and bombast of Victoriana. Add to that the wit of Blackadder and 1066 And All That and the stage is set for a veritable musical feast!
Complete with a bewildering array of instruments such as cittern, rauschpfeife and virginal (and that’s just the first 100 years!) A Brief History of Music uses tunes, songs and humour to take you on a musical journey from which you won’t want to return!
'You guys are awesome!' Bill Barclay, Director of Music at Shakespeare's Globe
'Eclectic and enjoyable… a bewildering range of instruments' English Dance and Song Magazine
Studio
£16
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other events you may be interested in
Live Music Lunch Club: Jacky Zhang (piano)
A new regular spot for lovers of live music who prefer their concerts in the daytime, alongside a little lunch, in a relaxed environment.
Performances take place in the Studio in a cabaret set up so you can come and go during the music if you want to.
The ticket price includes a pre-show two course lunch from our Café Bar.
Chopin 24 Preludes, Op.28
Chopin Ballade No.2 in F, Op.38
Chopin Mazurkas Op 33
Jacky Zhang is a young composer, pianist, songwriter, and producer. Jacky was a finalist in the 2024 BBC Young Musician of the Year competition, where he performed with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
He is a year fourth undergraduate student currently studying piano and composition at the Royal College of Music. He has won the first prize of the UK Piano Open International Competition in 2020, Premio Alkan International Piano Competition in 2022 and both Classical and Romantic sections at the Cantù International Piano and Orchestra Competition in 2023.
His broad musical interests include conducting, historical performance and music for screen as well.
Studio
£30 including a 2 course lunch
12.30pm 2 course lunch
2pm Concert starts
Our next event in the series is a concert lecture of the history of music on Thursday 27 February. Find out more here
Ainsley Hamill
With Sam Kelly and Toby Shaer.
Mix Heather Small and Julie Fowlis and you've got singer songwriter Ainsley Hamill.
One of the UK’s leading and most diverse singers, Ainsley has a long list of nods including the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Finalist and Gaelic Singer of the Year Finalist at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards.
She represented Scotland at Eurovision in Gothenburg and has appeared at folk festivals the world over, including The Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Celtic Connections and du Bout du Monde for the last 10 years. Hamill has recently been included in The List’s 2024 Hot 100, of the most influential Scottish cultural contributors.
Hailing from the West Coast of Scotland, Ainsley specialises in song writing and songs in Scottish Gaelic and English. Her love of Gaelic song was nurtured whilst studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Trad roots are close to her heart. With this new album however, Ainsley is exploring new sounds and ideas as she pushes out from these roots to create personal material that encompasses big topics close to her heart, including feminism and equality, while unearthing forgotten stories and places that deserve a voice.
For many years Ainsley performed and toured with folk bands Barluath and made appearances with The Unusual Suspects. During this time, her accomplished song writing skills were evident in Barluath’s two studio albums; Source and At Dawn of Day as well as various singles including Touch the Gate and At the Fair.
Ainsley is a current member of folk band Fourth Moon, performing Gaelic, English and her own material, as well as step dancing.
‘Her voice thick with velvet and mirk…hovering between the comforting warmth of The Breath and the whip-smart forlorness of early Adele…Hamill has a big intriguing voice, it’s Scottishness ever present’ The Guardian
‘One of the best of her generation’ RnR Magazine
Studio
£16 I £14 (Supporters)
Honey and The Bear
This British folk and roots duo bring folklore to life with delicately interweaving vocal harmonies inside a dynamic world of song writing.
With a diverse range of sounds and textures, and rhythms that flow from the fast and furious to gentle ballads, their live performances are spirited and enthralling. Conjuring stories in song, they tell tales of Suffolk folklore, courageous people they admire and their passion for nature, enchanting audiences up and down the country.
Honey and The Bear have been a tour de force on the UK festival circuit in recent years.
The multi-instrumentalist pair, comprised of songwriters Jon Hart (guitar, bass, bouzouki) and Lucy Hart (guitar, ukulele, bass, banjo, mandolin and percussion), are joined on-stage by band guests Evan Carson (percussion) Archie Churchill-Moss (Melodeon) and Toby Shaer (Fiddle/Flutes/Whistles) who also feature on both Honey and The Bear studio albums. Together they have played at many revered venues and festivals across the UK as well as travelled across the channel for European shows. They played Sold out back to back shows at the world famous Snape Maltings Concert Hall to launch their 2nd album in 2021. Third album Away Beyond The Fret was released 3rd November 2023 with a UK tour and another sold show at Snape Maltings.
Studio
£16 I £14 Supporters (applied to basked once logged in)
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Align and Flow Yoga
Led by Deborah Le Vene-Page
Align and Flow Yoga is influenced by the biomechanics and heart orientated philosophy of the Anusara Hatha style of yoga. With a specific alignment focus within the flow of postures the practice will tone and strengthen the body, improve posture and create more freedom in the body and mind resulting in a calm and relaxed state of being.
Each week there will be a different theme weaving its’ way through the session, but a typical class starts with breathing techniques to centre and ground, poses to warm up and then progresses to a fun and challenging mix of vinyasa and alignment yoga.
This class is designed to cultivate focus, stamina, strength, and flexibility. Leaving time at the end for a well-deserved relaxation.
Come prepared for an energising class that will also leave you feeling relaxed.
Age guidance: 18+ years
Spring
Sat 11 Jan - 22 Feb (7 weeks)
Sat 8 Mar - 26 Apr (8 weeks)
£12.50 per session | £73.50 per 7 week course | £84 per 8 week course
Suitable for all levels of experience. Please bring a yoga mat with you.
- 18 Jan SOLD OUT
- 25 Jan from £1250
- 12 more dates...
Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet
Haven’t Stopped Dancing Yet! put on fabulous, feelgood 70s and 80s disco nights for grown-ups at venues across London and the South East - and we’re delighted to welcome them back again after a funk-tastic sell out night here last year.
HSDY nights are recommended by everyone from Time Out and The Guardian to Stylist and Radio 4 and they have been described as 'Abba collides with Saturday Night Fever in a glorious mash up'.
DJ Lady G will be on the decks playing all your favourite soul, funk and disco tunes. Dancer Lady Boo will be showing you the moves to everything from Car Wash (complete with shiny rags) and Hey Mickey, to the 1979 Gonzales hit, Haven’t Stopped Dancing Yet, after which HSDY take their name.
If you fancy dressing up (it’s not obligatory, but lots do) there are prizes for the best retro outfits, and free sweets and ice pops too.
In the words of Shalamar, it’s going to be 'a night to remember!'
10% profits from HSDY nights go to Cancer Research UK
Party the night away until 12am - with our Café Bar also open serving drinks until then!
Courtyard Theatre
£18
This is a standing/dancing event with some unallocated seating
Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet! website
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Crafternoons - Tuesdays
Led by Creative Eye
Norden Farm's Crafternoons are relaxed crafting sessions for older people.
Get crafty with a range of activities, or bring along your own projects to work on with support from tutor Kayleigh Robinson.
You can learn new skills, meet new people and try something new, a cup of tea is included with the ticket price. Come either Tuesday or Wednesday and join in that week's craft. If you are unable to attend in person you can log on from home to chat and join in the session.
Spring Season
Tues 14 Jan - Charcoal Drawing
Tues 21 Jan - Embroidered Photos
Tues 28 Jan - Decoupage Log Slices
Tues 4 Feb - No Session
Tues 11 Feb - Polymer Clay Octopus
Tues 18 Feb - Pin Board
Tues 25 Feb - Willow Suncatcher
Tues 4 Mar - Wire Flowers
Tues 11 Mar - Felt Keyring / Brooch
Tues 18 Mar - Woven Basket
Tues 25 Mar - Wool Hoop Art
Tues 1 Apr - Book Folded Sheep
Tues 8 Apr - Fabric Flower
Tues 15 Apr - Cube Bunny
Tues 22 Apr - Embossed Foil Decorations
Tues 29 Apr - Iris Paper Folding
Social Arts Crafternoons is a partially funded project run by Norden Farm with support from The Berkshire Community Foundation.
Local transport can be provided as part of the ticket price for those attending on a Wednesday.
If you need transport to Norden Farm for the Wednesday sessions please contact Jess Thompson at [email protected] / 01628 682563 to talk through your requirements.
Suitable for ages 60+ years.
2pm - 3pm
£6.50 per session, including a cup of tea
Bollybhangra Dance Fit
Led by Nanda Sharma
Welcome to Bollybhangra Dance Fitness Party sessions! Nanda teaches her original choreographies to top hits from Bollywood, Bhangra, Belly dance and also other international music and dance rhythms.
The joyful music and movements encourage us to open our hearts and minds to possibilities, improve wellbeing and body-confidence and encourage us to embrace our individuality.
Enjoy the benefits of dance on flexibility and balance, health and fitness, and mood, memory, in a fun and friendly environment, at your own pace - no pressure. Beginners welcome.
Every class feels like a party and your place awaits! Dress up or dress down, some colour, sequins and a jingly bellydance scarf will add to your experience!
Bring water, a towel, wear dance sneakers or trainers.
Spring
Tues 14 Jan - Tues 29 Apr
3pm - 4pm
£10 per session
Norden Farm Choir
Led by Seann Wilkinson
A non-audition community choir open to all. Working on everything from Madonna to Les Mis, from gospel to pop - this is an opportunity to meet people, learn some harmonies and sing your hearts out. No experience required. Enthusiasm absolutely necessary!
Spring
Tues 14 Jan - Tues 1 Apr (exc 18 Feb)
7.30pm – 9pm
£11 per session | £110 per 11 week term
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