One of our favourite Interest Groups in the U3A is the Classical Music Appreciation Group. We have been members since it was started in late 2010 and attend the meetings every Saturday afternoon. We listen to a 2 hour pre-prepared programme of music ranging from the 16th to the 20th century.
The true definition of "Classical Music" is that wich was written between the years of about 1780 to 1825 but the term has come to mean all music of a similar genre and our choices have included composers from Bach through to John Williams.
We normally meet in the apartment of David and Graham Evans, in San Miguel. They live in Spain from October to April then leave for their other home in Hastings for the English summer. They have some beautiful hi fi equipment and a vast collection of music.
Unfortunately David has been unwell of late and his doctor has forbidden him to leave England so we have been holding our meetings at the home of Norma and Tommy Hood in Villamartin. I take the hi fi gear and speakers and they provide the venue and tea and biscuits at half-time. I have been making up most of the programmes with contributions, requests, and suggestions from some of the other members. We altered the frequency to once per fortnight as I do not have such a large collection of music.
Tommy and Norma also leave Spain for the summer so happily Terry and Maureen How stepped in and offered us the use of their home in San Luis.
And what a venue this is (see above picture). The previous owner of their house had built an extra building in the grounds which was designed to be a Spiritualist Church. It is fully equipped with kitchen, toilets, a dais at one end, and enough space to comfortably seat about sixty people. It is ideal. We have had several meetings there up to the end of May and enjoyed the freedom of being able to play the music as loud as we need without disturbing the neighbours.
Many thanks to Norma and Tommy, and Maureen and Terry for enabling us to continue our Group meetings.