The Cedars, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 1DD, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1773 824157 Fax: +44 (0) 1773 825573
Email:Neil_Wayne@freedmus.demon.co.uk
The Wheatstone bicentenary: 6 Feb 2002
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1. Introduction: 2. Circulation List: 3.Events and Publications: 1. Introduction - This 'round robin' is a very early planning notice for the events, meetings, and exhibitions and performances that may take place during the year of the bicentenary of Sir Charles Wheatstone's birth, to be commemorated in 2002. I have circulated this preliminary Notice to all my contacts in the scientific and musical world who may have an interest in Wheatstone and his life and works, and I will produce, mail out and post on the internet a regularly updated copy of this planning document, and I willingly offer to act as clearing house for news of all of the events planned around the world for the Wheatstone Bicentenary. If you received this by email or snailmail, you can see a fully linked WebSite version at: http://www.freedmus.demon.co.uk/cwbicent.htm Though the world will be fully occupied with Millenium affairs until the year 2000 is finally upon us, I feel a little forward planning for Wheatstone's commemoration may be useful at this stage. This may, I hope, give rise to a Bicentenary Planning Committee being formed, (involving many of the interested parties mentioned below), somewhat nearer to the event itself! Many of you will remember the events and exhibitions held during 1975, on the centenary of CW's death - exhibitions at the Science Museum and at King's College, the first edition of Brian Bowers' Life of Wheatstone, lectures at IEE and at The Royal Institution, special articles in the scientific & popular press, and the special centenary edition of Free Reed magazine. It would be splendid to build on the successes of 1975 with an even more thorough programme of commemorative events, publications and media features to enhance the name and achievements of Charles Wheatstone during the year of his bicentenary. 2.Circulation: Museums and Scientific Organisations - Dr Frances Palmer, Horniman Museum, London (now the home of the Wayne Concertina Collection and Archive). Dr Brian Bowers, The Science Museum, London (Biographer of Sir Charles Wheatstone, Senior Curator of Electrical Engineering) Professor Henry Daniels, University of Cambridge Dept of Statistics The Institute of Electrical Engineers, London Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, USA The Royal Institution, London - attn David H Gay The Smithsonian Institution, Washington - attn P W House Professor Ron E Burge, King's College, London (Wheatstone Professor of Physics, Custodian of King's College's Wheatstone Instrument Collection) Concertina Makers and enthusiasts' Organisations - The International Concertina Association, England Jenny Cox, 'Concertinas at Witney' Tuition Courses Director Steven Dickenson, Owner: C Wheatstone & Co, Concertina Makers, Suffolk C & R Dipper, Concertina Makers, Wiltshire Hamish Bayne, Holmewood Concertina Makers, Leicestershire Bob Tedrow, Homewood Concertinas, Alabama Sean Minnie and Hugo Radley: Researchers and players of traditional Boeremusiek, Pretoria, South Africa. San Francisco Concertina Club, c/o Garry Wiegand Media, Performance and Publishing Alistair Anderson, c/o FolkWorks, Newcastle John Kirkpatrick, Bishop's Castle, Shropshire Douglas Rodgers - Classical Concertinist, London Professor Allan Atlas, University of New York Marie Robson, Lea Nicholson and all of the other Contributors to Free Reed Music's forthcoming 4-CD set of 'The Music of the Concertina' - planned for 1999/2000. Musical Traditions Internet Magazine - and Rod Stradling, Editor WorldWideWeb: Concertina & Folk Music Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.squeezebox: rec.music.folk: rec.uk.music.folk: Concertina FAQ Adminstrator, Chris Timson. Stephen Rowley - Playwright and Author: preparing a commissioned Play on the life of Wheatstone. Peter Wheatstone: descendant of CW, researching Wheatstone's life. Channel Four Television: Special Projects Norman Hull, Director: Amber Valley Film & Television Productions David Corser, Specialist Music Producer, BBC Radio James Lloyd, BBC 'Folk on Two' presenter 3. Events, Recordings, Concerts & Publications planned for the bicentenary: 3a: Horniman Museum Concertina Exhibition. - The Horniman acquired The Wayne Concertina Collection and Archive in March 1996, and has now (Sep 97) completed the initial re-cataloguing, photography, fumigation and preliminary conservation on the 600-plus concertinas and wealth of archive materials from that collection. Some instruments may be shortly placed upon display at the main galleries at Forest Hill, and the bulk of the Collection is in their reserve store and Study Centre at Greenwich, where the computerised resources at the Study Centre has a set of CD ROMs featuring colour images of every instrument in the Wayne Collection. Research visits are welcome by prior appointment, initially by email to Horniman Enquiries or by letter to Dr Frances Palmer at The Horniman Museum, 100 London Road, London SE23 3PQ. Though the Museum's Planning and Funding Schemes have not yet considered plans as far advanced as 2002, it is hoped to have major sections of The Wayne Concertina Collection on permanent display by then, and for there to be a possible further exhibit during 2002 dedicated to the musical works of Wheatstone, subject to Mueum approval. 3b. CD ROMs of The Wayne Concertina Collection - commercial release. Free Reed Music is discussing with the Horniman Museum the possibility of a commercial release of their CD ROMs of the images of the entire Collection, together with full cataloguing, historical data and musical examples, as a set of interactive CD ROMs on the Free Reed label. Sales of this set would benefit the Museum's funds, and further publicise Wheatstone's inventions and the Museum's newly added Collection of Concertinas. 3c. 'The Music of the Concertina' - a Four-CD and book Commemorative set. Plans are well advanced for the production of this definitive survey of the world's concertina music, from the earliest pieces written for the Symphonium, through the Victorian classical repertoire, concertina bands, Music Hall, traditional players, through to the worldwide and continuing revival of the past thirty years. There will be a breathtaking range of musical examples, featuring both historic recordings and new performances, and the set will include a detailed and scholarly survey of the music and history of the instrument in book form. A draft schedule of possible selections in consideration for this monumental set of recordings is on Free Reed's Concertina CD website, at: (http://www.freedmus.demon.co.uk/Conccd.htm) and this proposed track selection list is regularly updated as comments and suggestions of music for inclusion are received from players and collectors around the world. Production is planned for late 1998, with a release in late 1999 or early 2000. 3d. TV Documentary on the Concertina and Charles Wheatstone. A draft Treatment of this subject for a proposed TV programme was prepared by Neil Wayne and John Kirkpatrick in 1994 (the 150th anniversary of Wheatstone's 1844 Concertina patent). This was not produced at that time, so the draft Treatment will now form the basis of a possible programme for the Wheatstone Bicentenary. The working notes for this programme are at: http://www.freedmus.demon.co.uk/conctv.htm 3e. New Biography of Charles Wheatstone Dr Brian Bowers, Senior Curator, Electrical Engineering at the Science Museum, London, is to publish a new edition of his 1975 biography of Wheatstone some time before the bicentenary. 3f. Wheatstone Bicentenary Website This site will be updated regularly, and all new information about bicentenary events posted here, URL is - http://www.freedmus.demon.co.uk/cwbicent.htm 3g. 'Wheatstone and the Concertina' - new edition in book form. Neil Wayne is to publish a revised and much expanded version of his Galpin Society Journal paper 'The Wheatstone English Concertina', with many more photographs, and with much information on other concertina makers in the 19th & 20th centuries. This publication will also serve as a companion to and commentary on The Horniman Museum's exhibition of instruments from The Wayne Collection in a few years time. The text of the Galpin Journal paper is available on-line at: http://www.tcp.co.uk/~hmitchell/g0.htm,together with information on The Horniman Museum and The Wayne Concertina Collection. 3h. Stephen Rowley's play on the life of Wheatstone This is now in active preparation, and further details as to its content and performances can be got from Stephen Rowley. 3i.Wheatstone genealogical research A distant relative of Sir Charles, Mr Peter Wheatstone, is engaged in genealogical research upon his ancestor, which we hope will be published. 3j. Sir Charles - a commemorative British stamp - or Banknote?? We have approached the Royal Mail and Royal Mint to raise the possibility of featuring Wheatstone on a stamp or banknote in 2002 - but help, support and advice from those of you on the Circulation List will be vital if this request is to bear fruit!
That concludes the current news and information about the Wheatstone Bicentenary, as at 3rd October 1997. Please write or email with further comments and suggestions. An updated email of the above will be periodically sent to you (unless you request no further information), and regular updates will be made to the website and to newsgroup postings, as new information and plans are revealed - please keep in touch, and see you in 2002! Neil Wayne Concertina Research & Resources [Homepage | Derbyshire Holidays | The Cedars Bed &Breakfast | Antique Straight Razors] [Free Reed Mail Order | Music of the Concertina | Concertina Magazines | Collectors' Vinyl Service]
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Neil Wayne, The Cedars, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 1DD, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1773 824157 Fax: +44 (0) 1773 825573