Mix Margaret Dylan Jones

MY  PERFORMANCES

October 2019: concert in Hopetoun (south coast of WA, 150 km west of Esperance). Piano solos plus lots of accompanying Toni Arndt (soprano), and lots of accompanying the Qualup Choir directed by Chenda Goldfinch. Toni premiered the latest version of Beside the Foyle, to which I had just added an extra verse with a new melody. My piano solos were Rainbows Over Hovea and Puck at Parkerville (originals I completed in 2017), Song Without Words, Op. 19, No. 3 in A (Felix Mendelssohn), Solace - a Mexican Serenade (Scott Joplin), and the slow movement of Beethoven's Pathétique Sonata. See the blog post about the short holiday in Hopetoun. At some point I plan to do a blog post about the actual concert.

August 2019: The Perth Discovery Choir (PDC), which I founded in 1989 and conducted for five years, presented their 30th anniversary concert in Nedlands (see the blog with lots of pics). I conducted my work, Beside the Foyle, with my new lyrics. The music is based on an arrangement I made for this choir in its first year.

May 2019: The Hills Choir, mid-year concert at Eastern Hills Senior High School (EHSHS) auditorium in Mount Helena. I played piano for the World Premiere of the 3-part version of my Beside the Foyle, My Enby (an arrangement of the tune of Londonderry Air or Danny Boy, with new inclusive lyrics for the twenty first century). I played the piano accompaniment for two more items and conducted the choir in an item where the choir's chief conductor, Storme Reeves, sang a solo over the choir. This was the first time I had conducted anything since I founded and ran a couple of choirs decades ago (Perth Discovery Choir and The GGO Quire: Girls, Guys & Others).

December 2018: I began a residency gig at The Bay Tree Cafe & Restaurant, Chidlow (next door to the tavern). Ca. 5.45pm to 8.15pm most Saturday nights. I played mostly classical piano, playing softly in the background, plus I snuck in a few originals and some pop, jazz, movie and musical theatre numbers. A very similar repertoire to what I used to play at the Soul Tree Organic Cafe in Glen Forrest (which exists no more though there have been other eateries there since then--see below). I kept playing in Chidlow until 15 June 2019 after which the restaurant stopped opening at night because of the cold weather. In November the owner told me she would not be resuming night openings.

10am Friday 12 October 2018: House Concert in a lovely heritage-listed home in Guildford.
Four original works, plus pieces by Bach, Debussy, and Schubert. We also had a sing-along of my in-progress arrangement of Londonderry Air, with new my new 'Beside the Foyle' lyrics. See blog/2018/10/13/house-concert

Mid-2018: I cancelled my solo piano recitals in September & November 2018 so as to concentrate on composing and publishing my music. Every time I sat down to practice I soon picked up a pencil and tinkered with a composition, so I could see I would never get much practice done. For details of my previous recitals click on Mix Margaret & Friends or see below.

July 2018. Wedding performance. Margaret Forrest Centre, John Forrest National Park.
I played a large programme of classical piano before the ceremony, during some parts of the ceremony, and after the ceremony. The couple specifically requested I play (in its entirety) my original composition, Rainbows Over Hovea, holding up the proceedings for 3 minutes. It was a wonderful event.

May 2018. Solo piano recital. Classical Music, Old and New. Mundaring Uniting Church.
J. S. Bach, Prelude in A flat major from The Well-tempered Clavier, Book 1.
Scott Joplin, The Easy WInners (1901, ragtime).
Claude Debussy, A Little Cake Walk (1909, first published in Méthode élémentaire de Piano by Théodore Lack).
Margaret Jones (originals from Colourfast Piano Music, 1994), Ferrous Fanfare, Song of Shadows, Hovea Air, Prayer of the Swinging Mantis.
Margaret Jones (originals from Child's Play, 1987), Upside-Downs, The Greedy Row Snake, Reuben's Big Day Out.
Franz Schubert, Impromptu in A flat, Op. 90 No. 4.
Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), Intermezzo, Intermezzo & Capriccio, No. 4, 6 & 7 from Fantasien Op. 116.

Saturday 24 March 2018. TOODYAY MUSIC FEST. Solo piano recital.
3pm to 3.45pm at St Stephens Anglican Church, 132 Stirling Tce, Toodyay WA 6566. My programme will be chosen from the music played at my previous recital. Click HERE to see lists of the performers, times and main venues (current as at 20 March 2018).

March 2018. Solo piano recital. Classical Music, Old and New. Mundaring Uniting Church.
J. S. Bach (1685 - 1750), Prelude and Fugue in D major from The Well-tempered Clavier, Book I, No. 5.
Scott Joplin (1868 - 1917), Maple Leaf Rag (1899).
Claude Debussy (1862 - 25 March 1918),
A Rag Doll’s Cake Walk (1906-08), from Children’s Corner, and
La Cathédrale engloutie / The Sunken Cathedral (1910).
Margaret Jones (originals), Androgyne Prophecy (1977) (score was available for purchase at the venue in original and easy versions),
Puck at Parkerville (based on Shakespeare), and
Sonatina (1981, rev. 2011, neo-tonal).
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), Sonata Op. 2 No. 1 in F minor (I & III).
Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), Capriccio in G minor, No. 3 from Fantasien Op. 116.
Franz Schubert (1797 - 1828), Scherzo in B flat, Allegretto, and
Impromptu in E flat, Op. 90 No. 2.
Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937), Menuet, from Le tombeau de Couperin (1914 - 17).

November 2017. Solo piano recital. Classical Music, Old and New. CWA Hall, Toodyay.
Repeat of October 2017 programme.

October 2017. Solo piano recital. Classical Music, Old and New. Chidlow Hall.
J. S. Bach (1685-1750): Prelude and Fugue in C minor (Book I, No. 2 of The Well-tempered Clavier);
Scott Joplin (1868-1917): Pine Apple Rag (1908, typical rag form: Intro, AABBACCDD); 
Solace, a Mexican Serenade (1909, same form with a tango bass);
Claude Debussy (1862-1918): Première arabesque (1888); Rêverie (1890);
Margaret Jones: Hymn to the Valley (original 1994 to 2017, from Parkerville Dreaming);
Song & Dance of the Conscious & Subconscious (original 2010 to 2017);
Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881). From Pictures at an Exhibition (1874):
Promenade I;   The Gnome;   Promenade II;
The Old Castle;   Goldenberg and Schmuÿle;
The Market Place of Limoges;
Catacombs (Roman Sepulchre / Tomb);
The Great Gates of Kiev (finale).

July 2017. Solo piano recital. Classical Music, Old and New. CWA Hall, Toodyay.
J. S. Bach (1685-1750): 2-part Inventions in C, Dm, F, G, A, Am, B flat;
Franz Schubert (1797-1828): Impromptu Op. 90 No. 3 in G flat;
Claude Debussy (1862-1918): From Preludes Bk I:
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair;
The Submerged Cathedral;
From Suite bergamasque: Clair de lune ;
Margaret Jones: Rainbows Over Hovea. 2016 original (complete with coda);
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): Sonatine (1905, complete in three movements);
Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881): From Pictures at an Exhibition:
Promenade; The Gnome; The Great Gate of Kiev.

June 2017. Solo piano recital. Classical Music, Old and New. Chidlow Hall.
See my YouTube video of excerpts. My first full-length solo piano recital.
J. S. Bach (1685-1750): 2-part Inventions in C, Dm, F, G, A, Am, B flat;
Franz Schubert (1797-1828): Impromptu Op. 90 No. 3 in G flat;
Claude Debussy (1862-1918): The Girl with the Flaxen Hair (from Preludes Bk I);
Claude Debussy: Clair de lune (from Suite bergamasque);
Margaret Jones: Rainbows Over Hovea, 2016 original (complete with coda);
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): Sonatine (1905, complete in three movements);
Béla Bartók (1881-1945): Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm (complete, from Mikrokosmos, 1926 - 1939). Time signatures are 4+2+3/8,  2+2+3/8,  5/8,  3+2+3/8,  2+2+2+3/8, and 3+3+2/8.

May 2017. Yallambee Aged Care Nursing Home (Mundaring).
Mother's Day performance for the Gidgannup CWA.
Puck at Parkerville, 2016 original by myself, depicting Puck and other mischievous characters from Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer Night's Dream; Debussy: Prelude: Girl with the Flaxen Hair; Schubert: Impromptu Opus 90, in G flat (MDJ’s premiere); Ravel: Sonatine (1905) complete, ie I, II, III (MDJ’s premiere of I & III); Song & Dance, original by myself (incomplete; excerpt ca. half) (premiere); Debussy: Clair de Lune ENCORED (MDJ’s premiere); Debussy: Prelude: Engulfed Cathedral (MDJ’s premiere); Rainbows Over Hovea, 2016 original by myself (complete with coda); Androgyne Prophecy, 1977 original.

February 2017. Woodlupine Community Centre.
Recital for Forrestfield Senior Social & Travel Club.
Mendelssohn: Song Without Words in A; Androgyne Prophecy by myself; Mozart Piano sonata in C, K. 309, I only; Puck At Parkerville by myself; Ravel: Sonatine (II); Rainbows Over Hovea, by myself; Bartok: Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm (complete).

November 2016. Classical Music, Old and New. CWA Hall, Toodyay.
Naomi Millett, guitar. Margaret D. Jones, piano.
I played music by Felix Mendelssohn; Androgyne Prophecy, 1977 original by myself; music by Mozart; Puck at Parkerville, 2016 original by myself, depicting Puck and other mischievous characters from Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer Night's Dream; music by Ravel; Rainbows Over Hovea, 2016 original by myself (complete with coda); Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm (complete, from Mikrokosmos, 1926 - 1939) by Béla Bartók.

May 2016. Mix Margaret and Friends: Classical Music, Old and New. Chidlow Hall.
Naomi Millett, guitar. Toni Arndt, soprano. Margaret D. Jones, piano (soloist and accompanist).
We were so pleased to have such a large and appreciative audience. See my blog with pics: http://mixmargaret.com/blog/2016/05/26/chidlow-recital-may-2016/
I played Piano Sonata in C, K309 (I) (1777) by W.A. Mozart; Androgyne Prophecy (1977) by myself; No. 6 of Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm (from Mikrokosmos, 1926 - 1939) by Bela Bartok; Song Without Words, Op 19, No. 3 in A (1829-30) by Felix Mendelssohn;  Sonatine (II) (1905) by Maurice Ravel; and Puck at Parkerville by myself (2016).

June 2015. Zig Zag Art Gallery Exhibition music. Background music. See my blog with pics:
http://mixmargaret.com/blog/2015/06/24/zig-zag-art-gallery-exhibition-music/

September 2015. Played piano to accompany students in public at Ellenbrook Secondary College.

A performance exam at the school in front of a public audience. I played for a flautist and a solo singer (who I believe achieved the top mark for the night). Each student had two rehearsals with me in the preceeding week (though I would recommend at least three, spread over a longer period). There were about eight year 11 and year 12 students, with the year 11s using it as a kind of 'mock' exam in front of a public audience and a panel of internal and external examiners. The singer received the top mark. Many weeks later I accompanied her for her end-of-year exam at the school.

Saturday 24 October 2015. Played piano at the 5th Open Studios event

I played classical music live in the background 1.30 to 5.00pm in Judy Kotai’s artist studio in Hovea. See www.mundaring-hills-open-studios.org.au and Judy's site at www.mountolivegallery.com.au

Artist Judy Kotai, with Mx Margaret at the piano

June 2015. Played piano at the Zig Zag Cultural Centre Art Gallery in Kalamunda. For a couple of hours I played classical music live in the background for the opening of the three-artist exhibition called M.A.M.A. I played my own Androgyne Prophecy (1977) and lots of Bach, Chopin, and Schumann and one work by MacDowell. The three artists were Anne-Marie Wharrie, Christiana Gagiano and Sultana Shamshi. See http://www.wharrie.com and photos etc on my blog at www.mixmargaret.com/blog/2015/06/24/zig-zag-art-gallery-exhibition-music

On Sunday 28 September 2014 I began a piano residency at The Soul Tree Organic Cafe. This continued until December 2015. I had a lovely time playing lots of my favourite music. After 14 months I discontinued playing there because the business was up for sale.

I played mostly classical piano solos (and originals) as background music in this wonderful cafe behind the Glen Forrest Post Office. 12 noon to 3pm, initially on every Sunday. From June 2015 this was changed to the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month. In early 2015 I shared the residency with my friend, Naomi Millett, a very fine classical guitarist (that is, she played some dates instead of me). See .../soul-tree-organic-cafe-glen-forrest.html Or see short videos of Naomi or myself playing in the cafe and interviewing diners. See photos etc on my blog at www.mixmargaret...blog/....piano-performances/soul-tree-organic-cafe-music

Saturday 16 August 2014. Hills Choir Inc. Annual Soup and Sing

(in rehearsal venue at Uniting Church, Mundaring).

Piano accompaniment (without rehearsal) for singers from the Hills Choir for their own "Soup and Sing" private function. Members of the choir entertained each other and provided lunch.

Saturday 8 June 2014. Eastern Hills Senior High School, 2.30pm. Piano solos in the Hills Choir Inc.'s Mid-Year Concert, sponsored by Bendigo Bank (Mundaring Branch). The choir's first performance with new conductor Elizabeth Aitken. Ravel (Sonatine, 2nd movement), Chopin (Revolutionary Etude).

Saturday 4 May 2014. Private residence in Parkerville (WA).

Classical piano solos as background music for the Hills Choir's private Farewell Party for departing musical director Jean Bourgault. Played originals and many other pieces by Schubert, Bach, Ravel, Satie, Chick Corea etc.

Saturday 14 December 2013. Private residence in Wundowie (WA).

Classical piano solos as background music for the Hills Choir's private End-of-Year party. Played originals and many pieces by Schubert, Bach, Ravel etc.

Sunday 8 December 2013. Eastern Hills Senior High School, 2.30pm.

Piano accompaniment in the Hills Choir Inc.'s Christmas Concert, sponsored by Bendigo Bank (Mundaring Branch). Accompanied the choir and a xylophone soloist.


7 June 2013. REHEARSAL of Hills Choir

Saturday 12 January 2013. Private residence in Sawyers Valley (WA).

Piano solos at a musical soiree/going away party. Mussorgsky (Pictures at a Exhibition, excerpts), Bartok (Hungarian Dance No. 6), Debussy (Claire de Lune).

Sunday 2 December 2012. Eastern Hills Senior High School, 2.30pm.

Piano solos in the Hills Choir Inc.'s Christmas Concert, sponsored by Bendigo Bank (Mundaring Branch). Hunting Song by Felix Mendelssohn (Songs Without Words Op. 19b, No. 3), and my own Androgyne Prophecy (1977). I sang in the choir in the tenor section, too.

Saturday 15 September 2012. Morrison Lodge, Midland.

Accompanied vocal solos by members of the Hills Choir Inc. and played pre-concert entertainment (piano solos): Chick Corea (Where Have I Known You before?), Schubert (Moment Musicaux in F minor, Op 94 No. 3) and Bach (2-part Invention in B flat). And I sang in the choir in the tenor section.

Saturday 30 June 2012. Hills Choir Inc. Annual Soup and Sing (in rehearsal venue at Uniting Church, Mundaring).

Piano accompaniment for solo and duet singers in the Hills Choir for their own "Soup and Sing" private function. Members of the choir entertained each other and provided lunch. Piano solos: Androgyne Prophecy and Rustle of Spring.

Sunday 10 June 2012. Eastern Hills Senior High School, 2.30pm.

Piano accompaniment for two solo singers in the Hills Choir concert, sponsored by Bendigo Bank. I accompanied Toni Arndt (soprano) and Brendan Grinter (tenor) in songs by Haydn, Mozart & Schubert. And I sang in the choir in the tenor section.

Tuesday 17 April 2012. Midland Town Hall, 10am  

Memorable Movies In Midland. Piano solos for twenty minutes before a screening of The King and I.

Friday 30 March 2012. The Hub, Craig Street, Mundaring, 6.30pm

An Introduction to the Three Bs. I played a few piano or keyboard (harpsichord) solos by Bach, Beethoven and Brahms, and briefly talked about them, as part of a talk by Michael Wilkinson-Cox, who also played a few CDs. 6.30pm - 8.30pm, free. This was the first act in the Shire's inaugural Mundaring MusicFest. The next day there were other festival musical activities in the Sculpture Park nearby.

Saturday 24 March 2012. Notre Dame University, Fremantle

I gave a talk for an hour to education students on vocal health and speech restoration for school teachers, for the Notre Dame Education Society (a student run organisation within the School of Education).

Saturday 17 March 2012. The Hub, Craig Street, Mundaring, 10am.

Homeschooling with the Home Based Learning Network. I played classical piano and keyboard (harpsichord), on and off between 10am and 1pm for HBLN's Hidden Treasures Inaugural Art Exhibition.

From the HBLN's website: "All home based learners -  Including  parents...... if you sculpt, paint, create then we want to provide you with an opportunity to share your gift with the broader community there will be two sections competition and community with a special people's choice award.

"Or come along on the day and enjoy the music, or join a class, or simply enjoy the displays over a Devonshire tea."

Tuesday 20 December 2011. Midland Town Hall   

Christmas for Memorable Movies In Midland. I played piano for the Christmas carols sing-a-long, led by Wim Hultink. After watching the film "The Gods Must Be Crazy" I played classical piano solos over lunch.

10 December 2011. Lawrence's 56th Birthday Party

I played classical digital piano for my oldest brother's party, in Greenmount. I was the 10-minute opening act of a show that continued until after midnight, featuring blues and other bands. My programme: Rustle of Spring, Androgyne Prophecy, Hunting Song.

27 November 2011. Private Performance Practice

My students' second performance practice in the hills, again held in a private venue in Mount Helena. I played The Rustle of Spring by Sinding and Hunting Song by Mendelssohn.
 
23 October 2011. Whim Festival in Mount Helena

With a day's notice I played piano solos on the second stage for about 20 minutes, using my portable digital piano. My programme consisted of The Rustle of Spring (Sinding), Nocturne No. 2 in E flat (Chopin), Where Have I Known You Before (Chick Corea), Hunting Song (Mendelssohn), and Pineapple Rag (Joplin). Pic one of my instrument is below; see also pic two.

20 October 2011. Midland premises of MIFWA

At the invitation of a friend who works for the Mental Illness Fellowship of WA (writing and implementing carer programmes), I played for several hours at the MIFWA Carers Expo (Carers' Pamper Day). I used my portable digital piano and provided many well-known classiclal favourites by many famous composers such as Chopin and Schubert, as well my own Androgyne Prophecy (1977) and music by Chick Corea.

20 September 2011. Midland Town Hall

I entertained the pre-film audience for Memorable Movies in Midland with five piano solos: The Rustle of Spring (Sinding), Androgyne Adagio (an original, since re-titled as Androgyne Prophecy), Hunting Song (Mendelssohn), excerpt from the famous slow movement of the Pathetique Sonata (Beethoven), and No. 6 of Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm (Bartok).

The film, by the way, was Every Which Way But Loose (Clint Eastwood). It was originally intended I should accompany Wim Hultink, a fine baritone, in a couple of songs but Wim was not well after an accident so I did the whole programme alone.

26 June 2011. Private Performance Practice

My students' first performance practice in the hills, held in a wonderful private venue at the home of a couple of students in Mount Helena, using their superb grand piano. At this private performance to a gathering of sixteen students and friends I played my Song of Shadows, in a new version freshly devised that morning. See pic one, pic two.

02 April 2011. South Perth

Fire Relief 'WOW' Concert and Charity Fund Raising Auction

Clara Helms, outstanding soprano and actress, will perform beautiful songs in various languages on Saturday night, April 2nd. Live and silent auctions will be held throughout the evening. Clara will be supported by David Wickham at the piano and other musicians, including local composer and music teacher, Mix Margaret Jones.

In December Margaret, an androgyne, accompanied Clara in Roleystone Theatre's WA premiere of  the musical, Nine. Margaret told the Echo she jumped at the chance to help the fundraising for the survivors of the recent fires. She grew up in Parkerville and has a keen appreciation of the long-standing threat of bushfires. Recently she returned to live and teach in the Hills. "Just being in the Hills gives me so much energy, it's a wonderful environment," she said.

Margaret has many compositions published by the biggest Australian classical music publishers including works selected for the AMEB examinations list. She will play a work she composed in a very accessible classical style as a 16 year old growing up in Parkerville, and a famous and very uplifting piece by Rachmaninoff, his 18th Variation on a Theme of Paganini. See www.mixmargaret.com and www.rotaryperth.org.au

Kelmscott-Roleystone Fire Relief 'WOW' Concert and Charity Fund Raising Auction. 7pm - 11pm, Saturday 2nd of April 2011, at South Perth Church of Christ (corner Murray St & McNab Loop, Como). Parking on site. Tickets 1300 303 677 or your local Rotary Club. Bookings to soneill...

The concert is presented by the Australian Trades College WA and Perth Rotary, and supported by Rod Slater's Eurocars and many other firms and individuals. All proceeds to Lord Mayors Disaster Relief Fund to aid the fire victims.

The concert has its own facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149451145119668

 

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December 2010

I played piano in Roleystone Theatre’s (Perth premiere) of Nine (the musical). Directed by Paul Treasure, with choreography by Emma Davis and musical direction by Sarah Cosstick. Assistant MD (and trumpet) was Feidhlim Bennetts. I was répétiteur for the rehearsals and then pit pianist for the ensemble in the shows.

We rehearsed at the theatre from mid-August and gave eight night time performances in December, practically all sold-out. A thoroughly enjoyable cast and crew to work with, especially Sarah. The talent, training and experience of the fairly young cast were unusually impressive, with many fine singing voices, plus great acting and dancing. And we had a fabulous set. This is where I met Clara Helms, who later invited me to perform in her bushfire benefit concert after a large number of homes in Roleystone and Kelmscott were destroyed in early 2011. See my pics of Nine at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=100000925471606&aid=44870

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