Haydn’s March for the Royal Society of Musicians, composed 1792

We have received a message from our friends at the Royal Society of Musicians about the 20th Annual Jacqueline du Pré Charity Concert at Wigmore Hall on 3 March which we are pleased to share with you here.

Haydn was invited to the annual dinner of the Royal Society of Musicians in 1792. For the occasion, he composed a march for orchestra, the autograph of which is still preserved by the Society.

Three short marches for 3rd March 2015 have been composed especially for the 20th Jacqueline du Pre Charity Concert in aid of the Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain. The marches have been written by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, the Society’s President, Robert Saxton and Toby Young, who are active Members of the charitable organisation. Toby is the Society’s youngest Member.

Two of Britain’s finest award-winning string quartets, the Sacconi and Navarra, are joined at Wigmore Hall by top British cellist, Guy Johnson in a programme of contrasts – the brilliant textures and vibrant colours of Bridge and Ravel and the titanic Classical quintet by Schubert.

This will be the 20th Annual Jacqueline du Pre Charity Concert at Wigmore Hall, being performed in what would have been, poignantly, the cellist’s 70th birthday year.