Piano Play-Day

I've been trying to put together a few special offers for Friday's Piano Play-Day, and I think I've cracked it this time!  How about this for an offer :-

1x Privia PX 150 Piano @ £599

1x Permanent Stand for PX 150 @ £99

1x 3 Pedal Unit for PX 150 @£49

Total price £747 

Special Price (while stocks last) only £499

There will be discounts and special payment terms on all Keyboards and Digital pianos on Friday and Saturday, but if you want to ask Chris Stanbury, Casio's special demonstrator, for any technical or musical advice, come on Friday, because he's only here for the one day.

Attention Sax Players with Bad Backs !

A Standing Height Sax Stand.

We’ve just taken delivery of some new Sax Stands that can be adjusted for height. The sax is stored safely on a secure folding tripod base, at anything up to playing height for anyone up to about six feet tall. It can be used for alto or tenor sax.

Anyone with back problems could benefit from a stand like this – either by playing with the sax on the stand, or by not having to keep bending down to a conventional stand.

And it costs less than twenty pounds !

Takemitsu Shocker !

Thursday evening saw us selling CDs in the Apex, Bury St Edmunds. The event was a fairly well-attended piano recital by Noriko Ogawa.

It's a shame the hall wasn't completely full, because her performance was wonderful. The Mozart and Beethoven would each have justified the entrance money on their own, but in the second half, this tiny, twinkling, utterly charming lady absolutely thundered through the Liszt B minor sonata, exploring the heights and depths of emotions, extremes of power and delicacy, and the absolute summit of virtuosity.  It just didn't seem physically possible.

After the performance, Miss Ogawa was kind enough to come and sign copies of the CDs that we sold, and meet the audience. First question - "do you work out at a gym? Surely you must do special exercises?" I cannot reveal the answer, because I didn't hear it, but I bet she spends more time practicing the piano than she does at the gym.

We were surprised that we sold all the copies we had of her recording of the complete piano music of Toru Takemitsu, who doesn't often feature on "Desert Island Discs".   She opened the second half with his "Rain Tree Sketch II", and it was a captivating, utterly beautiful sound world. It was so beguiling that we sold out and took orders for more.

The other sell-out was of her box set of the complete piano music of Debussy. Six CDs by a world-class artist for the price of two!

We have a number of her CDs at special prices on offer until March 16th, including her latest release of Mozart Sonatas.

Unfortunately all the signed ones have gone, but the music is utterly beautiful !

Brilliant New PA System

Barnes & Mullins has just announced the release of two new products from Chinese PA manufacturer, Musik Yang.

The new MYamp MY100 is a lightweight vertical line array consisting of eight 3" Audio Piston speakers. The unit's features include a high-efficiency power amp providing 220 watts RMS of Class-D power; two hybrid XLR-1/4" inputs; switchable pantom power for condenser mics; -10dB switchable gain pad on each channel and folding stand and padded nylon carry bag. The MY100 weighs in at approximately 25 pounds and retails for £339.
The MY101 subwoofer is a compact, 100-watt powered sub. The unit features an adjustable gain control. adjustable low-pass crossover from 200Hz to 500Hz and comes with a mounting pole (for the MY100) and padded carry bag. The sub retails for £199.

An ideal compact PA - we have one in stock  for you to try with your favourite microphone or instrument.

Copyright Licence to save schools time and money

As I’m sure you are aware, the photocopying of printed has been a thorny problem within schools.


Music publishing is one of the few industries that does not currently issue licences to authorise the currently illegal activity of photocopying. The law is widely misunderstood, and commonly broken.

The Music Publishers Association has decided to develop a Schools Printed Music Licence. The licence authorises the making of copies or practical arrangements of printed sheet music for use in schools. It has clearly defined parameters and has been designed to legitimise current activity whilst protecting composers’ and authors’ rights.

Needless to say there are limitations to the right to photocopy:

-There is an overall prohibition on using the licence to substitute for purchase of a publication

-Schools must own a copy of any publication they copy

-Copies can only be used for school purposes and must not be used for individual or group instrumental or vocal teaching

-Borrowed or hired publications may not be copied

-Only members of staff may make copies

-Choral leaflets may not be copied

-Only 10% of the items in anthologies, albums and multi movement vocal scores can be copied

-Publishers may exclude publications if they wish

The licence is in the experienced hands of the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) who have administered educational licences for nearly 30 years. The Schools Printed Music Licence will complement their existing portfolio of licences and comes into effect on 1 April 2013

The licence has already been purchased centrally by the Department for Education for all state supported schools in England thereby leaving school departmental budgets intact and allowing schools to continue purchasing sheet music. We understand that Academies are also covered by this licence, but for the avoidance of doubt, it might be best to confirm this!

Schools will be encouraged to continue purchasing music legitimately whilst new resources currently being developed by the MPA will explain to all users of printed music that photocopying and otherwise reproducing scores is illegal without an appropriate licence.

Andy Sheppard’s Saxophone Massive

Do you want to play alongside Andy Sheppard and huge numbers of other saxophonists on the opening night of the 2013 Bury Festival?

It doesn’t matter whether you are 7 or 77 or whether you have been playing for just a  few weeks or whether you are a seasoned professional, or whether you play soprano, alto, tenor or baritone…..you are all welcome.

If yes, then you will be part of Andy Sheppard’s Saxophone Massive of hopefully over 100 saxophonists all playing together on the opening night of the Festival (Thurs 16 May 2013).  If you are under 16 you will need to be accompanied by a parent or a responsible adult (preferably someone who will also be able to join in as a saxophonist).

Since its first outing in Bristol in 2006, the Saxophone Massive has now appeared at the London Jazz Festival as well as Norwich, Leeds, France, Norway and Switzerland.  A documentary was made by the Festival in Norwich which will give you more of an idea and you can watch it here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok8_Z69FeBo

If you think you might like to take part then please register your interest by emailing Michelle at info@buryfestival.co.uk with your name and email address and put Saxophone Massive in the subject field.  Alternatively, you can call her on 01284 758101.  

Digital Piano Bargain of the Century !

OK, so the century's only a dozen years in, but we haven't seen anything better than this so far.

A full sized, 88-note keyboard, with Scaled Hammer Action for authentic Grand Piano feel, an incredibly realistic piano sound, in a traditional cabinet, all for £499-99.

Anyone looking for a good -quality piano, particularly parents of young learners, need look no further than the Celviano AP-220. It never needs tuning, doesn't mind the heat or the cold, and can be easily moved about by two normally fit adults without undue exertion! It can be played at unsocial hours using headphones, and has a range of voices and digital effects including transposition, pitch tuning, metronome, recording, duet mode, and, believe it or not, 16 different temperaments.

Most importantly, it's a decent piano at an absolute bargain price. Order yours now - they'll probably all be gone by Christmas!

The Famous P- Bone !

Yes, it's here at last, in stock at Balaam's Music, the famous plastic trombone, the P-Bone !

It really works like a traditional Brass trombone, it's a fantastic, fun instrument, and it's a lot more resistant to everyday wear and tear than your average 'bone. Immensely appealing to the kid in all of us, it's also being taken on as an instrument for whole class learning at KS2.

Pitched in Bb, and available in six different colours, it's yours for just £119.

find out more at www.pbone.co.uk

Peculiar customers

Many years ago, we started keeping a collection of tales of some of the funniest things that have happened in the shop. I came across the folder by accident this morning, and had a look. Some of the entries are hilarious. Some are so un-hilarious you wonder why anybody bothered to write them down. Some of the funny conversations with customers have been repeated so often that they’re no longer surreal, merely routine. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been asked if I know who wrote Pachelbel’s Canon.

Many of the best ones are telephone conversations. I remember picking up a phone call one night just after we’d closed. The voice said “Is that Mr Pullman?”

“No we don’t have a Mr Pullman. Perhaps you have a wrong number. This is Balaams Music on 766933 “

“Are you a trombonist?” asked the caller, in a baffling non sequitur.

“No I’m not..”

“Then how do you know that 766933 is Balaam’s Music ?”

“Because I am answering the phone from there”

Caller hangs up…..

No it doesn't make sense, does it?

Diddley Bow

Around a hundred years ago Delta Blues musicians made and played their own basic one-string ‘guitars’ and created powerful music. Sometimes known as ‘diddley bows’, ‘jitterbugs’ or ‘one-strings’ , the instruments were built from a wide variety of available (often discarded) materials. The single string was either hammered or plucked and different note pitches were obtained by sliding a bottle neck (or a key or any hard object) along the wire or guitar string .

It has been re-invented as the Nineboys Wedge, and we have it in stock, full of amazing possibilities. Watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktPPZKe6cBg  and then come in and try ity out!


Next to it in the shop is another amazing guitar innovation.............but I'll tell you about that another day!

A World of her Own....

A friend of mine was recently asked to accompany a soprano singing at a funeral. Meeting up before the service, they had a fairly routine run-through of Schubert's Ave Maria.
"That'll be fine" she said, "but I don't know what to do if they want an encore...."

Improve your Sax Life !

Here's a way to make your sax sound like a Yanagisawa (if it isn't already!) without spending a fortune:
1 Try a Yanagisawa mouthpiece on your Sax. £95  for the Alto
2. Try a Yanagisawa Crook on your Sax. £175 for the Alto, £195 for the Tenor.
Simple really.............
(These prices for stock items only)

Something Good Made in England !

Now that we’re so used to the high quality of some of the stringed instruments coming from China, it came as a surprise to find decent hand-made violins made in England for less than one might expect.

The Wessex Violin Co. aims to offer young musicians going to University or Conservatoire the opportunity to own a handmade modern interpretation of the English school of Violin making. The company is building on a tradition of English workshop craftsmanship, lost since the middle of the last century, and reinvigorated by the excellent tradition of the Newark school.

The instruments are made to the highest standards using Balkan maple and Bavarian spruce, and they are finished with a traditional chestnut-brown oil-based varnish that is intended to recreate the look of the great English makers Kennedy and Hill.

We have a pair in stock at the moment. They would be eligible for the Take it Away scheme if purchased for a young person under the age of 18.

Rebecca Clarke

I've been spending the last few days getting to know the viola music of Rebecca Clarke, which I first heard "blind" so to speak, not knowing who the composer was.

She was born in 1886, and as far as I can see, must have been one of the first really professional female musicians, working as a violist first in London, where she'd been taught composition by Stanford, and then in the USA. She must have been hot stuff, because she appeared with the likes of Heifetz.

Her most famous composition was the Viola Sonata of 1919 - which was considered too good to have been composed by a "mere woman" - but there are other absolute gems in her admittedly rather small output. Try "Morpheus" or "Lullaby on an Ancient Irish Tune". Each one is a real pleasure.

Try them all - there's a good CD of her compositions on Naxos, played by Philip Dukes and Sonia Rahman, along with Daniel Hope, and our one-time customer Robert Plane (he bought his first wooden clarinet here.)

Ironically in this week of International Womens Day, Rebecca Clarke appears to have been ignored by BBC Radio 3. But her work is so good it doesn't need special pleading.

And Now Some Good News ....

The entire UK music industry is celebrating after the Live Music Bill passed its third reading and report stage in the House of Commons. The Bill, introduced by Lib Dem Peer Tim Clement-Jones and promoted in the Commons by Bath MP Don Foster, should now proceed to Royal Assent.

As a result, small venues wanting to host live music events will no longer need a local authority entertainment licence – cutting bureaucracy and expense, and making it easier for pubs and clubs to host live performances.

The current Licensing Act has created an excess of bureaucracy - making it almost prohibitive for pubs and other small venues to host live gigs. Good to see politicians now doing something constructive, even though a lot of pubs amd small venues have already been closed down for good.

John Myatt Memorial Concert

You may like to know that Janet Myatt is planning a Memorial Concert for her late husband John. It is planned to take place on February 4th at Blythburgh Church. The programme is to include Mahler Symphony No 5, Strauss Serenade for Wind Instruments and Bach Orhestral Suite in C
Accomplished string players are welcome to come and play - rehearse on the day and concert in the evening.
It should be a memorable event in a wonderful setting - Blythburgh Church is worth a visit itself!
Further details from Janet on janet@windchambermusic.org.uk

Drummers Wanted for Olympics Opening Ceremony

London 2012 Ceremonies Ltd are seeking volunteer drummers for the Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

The organiser is looking for people with good percussion and drumming experience, enthusiasm, personality, a positive attitude, a great deal of energy and a willingness to perform in front of a stadium audience and to millions of people around the world.

Applicants must be 18 years or older on March 1st 2012 and able to meet the commitment requirements for rehearsals. Previous performance experience is not required.

To find out how to apply for an audition and for full detail on the commitments involved go to http://www.london2012.com/ceremoniescasting

The closing date for applications is January 9th 2012

NAXOS - Going Up !

Naxos CDs have announced a price rise from January 2012. It's the second price rise in 14 years - the swine! From January 3rd the normal retail price will be £6-99, so stock up now with our Special Offer of Five Naxos Single CDs for £25 - that's a saving of £9-95 on the new prices !
Doubles count as two (obviously!) and special orders after December 31 won't be included in this offer.

Wherever You Are

It’s not too late to include what will be (with any luck!) the Christmas number 1 in your choir’s Christmas Concert – we have the music in stock!
Written for SSA chorus and Piano. This is the original arrangement as sung by the Military Wives Choir.It’s also available for SATB or TTBB or as a solo/unison songCommissioned by Gareth Malone for Series Four of BBC TV's 'The Choir' and first performed by Malone and the Military Wives' choir as part of The Royal British Legion's Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on 12th November 2011 in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen.A favourite for the 2011 Christmas Number One, with support from radio DJ Chris Evans who has suggested every choir in the country should sing this song, it's the biggest threat to X-Factor chart domination this year.The text is taken from poems, letters and prayers written by the Military Wives, selected and adapted by Paul Mealor, and a passage from the Book of John. A lovely tear-jerker in support of a good cause.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0hR6O7VxKaQ

Sad News

Older customers ( and many ex-employees) will be saddened to hear of the death, at the age of 93, of Ron Ely.
Ron was working for H.M. Bonniwell and Son when Albert Balaam bought the business in 1956. His professional training was as a piano tuner, at which he had few equals. He also turned his hand to the repair of most instruments that came his way, including the early guitar amplifiers and electronic organs.
Ron was also an extremely accomplished musician, having performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto as soloist in Sheffield, and he led countless orchestras, and bands for shows at the Theatre Royal in his native Bury St Edmunds. He was also a very tidy sax player, having appeared in some of the top professional dance bands of the early fifties.
Ron was much loved by the members of local groups in the sixties and seventies, who often depended on Ron to get their equipment working for gigs at the weekend. To the end he maintained that one particular regular, now an internationally famous film star, had run off with his favourite screwdriver in one such crisis, and this was never forgiven!
Ron was a man of enormous skill, prodigious technical knowledge and musical accomplishement. He had a kind heart and a great sense of humour, and will be mourned by all who knew him.

Ron's funeral is at St John's Church, Bury St Edmunds on Friday 16th December at 12 noon. No flowers, but donations to Musicians' Benevolent Fund, c/o Clutterhams Undertakers.