Abergavenny Orchestral Society nominated James Joseph for the Lady Hilary Groves prize, awarded by Making Music “… to an individual from a Making Music member group who has made a significant positive impact on the musical life of their group or an outstanding contribution to music in the community.”, and many of his friends and colleagues contributed their thoughts towards the application. There was a space limit for the application, please forgive the editorial process that had to be undertaken, which meant that not all comments posted made it in to the application.
As it turned out, the award went elsewhere, although we all find it impossible to imagine how anyone could have made more of an impact on the musical life of a community than James in Abergavenny. However that doesn’t really matter, it is more important that people have had a chance to express what a wonderful contribution James has made to their lives, and James now has a copy of the application plus all of the supporting testimony collected via this website and elsewhere. Being such a self-effacing individual, I think he is very glad he didn’t win! But he does know how highly he is regarded!
Arriving in Abergavenny rather suddenly and feeling bleak and missing my old home I went into Abergavenny Music Shop to ask about any amateur orchestra’s around the area. I was immediately made to feel welcome and began to feel at home. That was 25 years ago and I can’t count how many other times I have been to the shop; There was just an atmosphere of calm, friendliness, love of music and people and wanting to help, however ridiculous the request. I think the more bizarre requests were seen as an exciting challenge. His free notice board for musical requirements or advertisements and the regular cups of coffee around the back were all part of the shop’s appeal. I can’t begin to think how many musical friends I have directed there. It went well beyond a normal shop with links made when someone needed more people to playing a concert for example. James did more for local amateur music anyone I can think of and there are many, many very talented musicians n the area. James helped them all.
What a brilliant nomination.
Abergavenny music was one of the first shops I wandered into when I came to settle in this area twenty years ago and just couldn’t believe that this wonderful warm friendly place was on my doorstep . As a designer of sets and costumes for opera and ballet I often need piano scores and cds at ridiculously short notice and abergavenny music has never failed ……more often than not ,producing the goods by next day .
I quickly got to know James and his music shop colleagues and of course from his time in the theatre James and I discovered that we had friends and acquaintances in common . I also discovered what a brilliant musician and musical mind this man has and that really the “shop” was a kind of hub for all the local musical activities . ……….always the first port of call on return from work trips abroad to report to James on how the first night had gone and update on good gossip .
Lately I also got great pleasure from showing James and Sarah production models in my studio before they were delivered . His child like joy at looking at a complete model theatre production with lights moving scenery and music and then many months later seeing the real thing
I know that my love of James and what he has created is shared by many many people .
The day that Abergavenny music closed was possibly one of the saddest days for the town
What a truly lovely and brilliant man and what a perfect recipient of this award
JFM
James is a wonderful, naturally gifted musician who has placed his considerable talents at the disposal of various organisations as organiser and as player of anything that looks remotely like a keyboard – I well remember him playing the typewriter with Brecknock Sinfonia in a certain piece by Leroy Anderson! His versatility is demonstrated by his ability to take up playing timpani for Abergavenny Symphony Orchestra but my own personal favourite memory is of a concert, typically given with the aim of raising funds for the National Eisteddfod when it came to Abergavenny, in which I was fortunate to play Brahms and Beethoven trios with James on the piano and Sonia Hammond on cello. His musicianship shone through and spoke for itself through all his modest self-deprecation and made for a very memorable occasion.
I was a customer of Abergavenny Music from its beginning until it’s sad closure due to James’s health. I have nothing but praise and gratitude for the remarkably friendly, willing and competent service James and his team provided. He was a supporter of most of the musical events in and around the town – the orchestra, Eisteddfod, Crossenny Festival to name but a few. An outstandingly generous character, and I heartily endorse this nomination.
I gravitated to the Abergavenny Music Shop as soon as it opened and soon realised that James would be an important part of my musical life. When I began an Opera Appreciation Group for Abergavenny U3A, he became even more pivotal as his encyclopaedic knowledge guided my choice of programme and its content. At no time did he parade his professional expertise as being superior to my amateur enthusiasm and the shop was always a joy to visit.
Others will have paid tribute to James’ great contribution over several decades to musical life in Monmouthshire, not only through through his wonderful Abergavenny Music Shop but also in his active involvement as pianist and sponsor of a wide variety of chamber music, orchestral and choral events in the county and beyond.
I myself, as one who comes and goes between London and Monmouthshire, was lucky enough to get to know James personally some 10 years ago at a chamber music event locally where with the Golden Valley ensemble he played (inter alia) the piano in Vaughan Williams early piano quintet. I asked him then whether he would be interested in an occasional 2 piano session at our home locally. Luckily for me he was, and since then I have much enjoyed playing with him on many occasions – when his shop and other multiple commitments allowed – a wide range of the 2 piano repertoire – from Bach and Mozart to Holst and Gershwin. He is a fine and very knowledgeable musician, while being himself unduly modest on his abilities and achievements which are first class. I must be one of a very large number who can say that it has been a great pleasure to know him and make music with him. His active involvement at this stage in local music making is being much missed in a great many quarters.
I have had the great pleasure of knowing James since the early days of Abergavenny Music when he would furnish a earnest music student with recordings, scores and all manner of musical paraphernalia to aid my studies and satisfy my burgeoning musical curiosities. As I developed as a composer, visits would include lengthy discussions and I will forever be grateful for his enthusiasm, encouragement and thoughts which always sparked renewed vigour in my efforts and suggested interesting developments in my music.
More recently, James brought me into the Abergavenny Symphony Orchestra fold which reawakened my enthusiasm for the trombone. Involvement with the orchestra also led to me being encouraged to write a number of pieces for the children’s concerts.
My current composition work proceeds in the light of one of the many creative impulses that burst forth from our conversations, which always left me energized and fizzing with musical ideas.
For all this, and much more, a heartfelt thank you.
Over the 25 years we have lived in Abergavenny, James has been a part of the musical community in so many ways. He was generous with his time and his considerable musical skills. On several occasions I have played in charity concerts with him, and at rehearsals for the Crickhowell Choral society, he provided reliable and sensitive musical accompaniment as well as chocolate for the continuo section.
I teach cello and he has many times, accompanied my pupils as they performed for one another and their families. He would leave his work at the shop early to do this, refusing payment or even a bottle of wine! He was an excellent accompanist and sight-reader. This gave them an invaluable first experience of performing in a supportive atmosphere. I know he also encouraged some of my young pupils with informal playing of sonatas in his home and introducing them to the piano trio repertoire. Pupils doing exams would get the experience of rehearsing with a pianist.
And of course the shop was an invaluable resource for myself and pupils alike. James managed to combine efficiency with a warm welcoming enthusiastic atmosphere. He offered saturday jobs to musical 6th formers who could listen to a wide range of music in the shop and get to know about composers and their works, while earning some money.
Local musicians, of which there are many, could rely on James to keep a stock of their cds on the shelves. This was an enormous encouragement in these days when professional musicians struggle to get their work ‘out there’. It also made visitors to the town aware of what was going on in the area. His shop was the main outlet for tickets for most of the amateur and professional music making in the area. and as such it provided an informal meeting place for musicians who would bump into one another there.
Above all, this wealth of musical generosity happened with calmness, kindness and humour. What more could one ask for?
I too would like to support the nomination of James Joseph for the Lady Hilary Groves Award.
James is an extremely talented pianist and musician who settled in Abergavenny with his wife Sarah and family many years ago and has made an amazing contribution to the musical life of the area, which has been well documented by others.
I would like to mention particularly his contribution to chamber music in the wider area. His prowess at playing almost anything at sight, with great musicality, is well known. He would say, with typical humility, that he was an expert at “fudge” – but all I can say is that no one would ever have noticed any fudge! Before coming here it seems that he hadn’t played much chamber music at all but he was a very quick learner. He is at the hub of a large group of chamber music enthusiasts all over South and Mid Wales and the Marches, many of whom are fully professional, while others are amateurs with various levels of expertise. He encouraged all of us to play at the highest level we could manage, and raised the standard of our music immeasurably.
He has played for charity anywhere when asked, raising large amounts of money for good causes. He was especially in demand during the year of preparation for the National Eisteddfod and contributed to many concerts.
We have been so lucky to have James in our midst and I feel that his influence on the quality of our musical life has been outstanding.
I am delighted to support this nomination of James Joseph for such a prestigious award. Like so many others I was introduced to new(to me) types of music several times over a cup of coffee and a chat at Abergavenny Music by this charming gentleman. He sang bass in our choir, he accompanied us expertly on organ/piano/keyboard on countless occasions with such a self-deprecating style, he was involved in and supported so many musical events he seemed to be everywhere! Even with his ill-health he has continued to attend and support concerts when he can. He inspires affection wherever he goes – he fully deserves the love and respect that many of us in the area feel for him.
I think this is a most deserved award. James has contributed so much to music in the Abergavenny area, helping with accompaniment, being part of the choir (Unicorn) and taking rehearsals when the conductor was unable to do so, or we wanted split part practices. He was always so willing to help anyone and the shop was a much missed institution! I fear many have had to resort to ordering on-line – ugh…
I know James amazingly still attends concerts when he can and it would be fantastic to be able to give him this tangible proof of the love we all feel for him
James is probably one of the most generous and versatile human beings I have ever had the pleasure to meet. In both the Abergavenny Symphony Orchestra and St Woolos Sinfonia, James has played the harpsichord, timpani and triangle with such dedication and musicianship, whilst always being dressed in the most elegant way (his hats were always amazing!). He came to the rescue when the Cardiff University Opera Society needed a continuo player for our production of Purcell’s Fairy Queen on absolutely last minute notice, saving the show although there was hardly any budget to pay him. His is most dearly loved and has been an incredibly inspiring individual for myself and for so many.
James completely deserves this recognition for such dedication, talent and generosity over many years.
I have always been in awe of his organist skills – it is no easy task accompanying from many a distant organ loft, especially when it’s works like MacMillan! And always so humble about his talents.
It was in the shop that I spent many an hour browsing piano scores, but I can’t be fully blamed, back then, for denting the parents’ bank account! “I’m just off to James’” was commonly heard in our home and James is fully-aware how much my dad loved coming in to listen, investigate, and discuss many a recording and see what deals he could find. But I am so thankful for when he was very ill in hospital, James supplied a whole range of CDs for Dad to listen to when he had no energy to do anything else. It was so generous, and it made a very difficult time that little bit easier. Thank you!
It is my great pleasure to write on behalf of James Joseph, who I believe would be a worthy recipient of this prestigious award. He is exceptional. He has a generosity of spirit that is matchless; a talent that is extraordinary both as a musician and as a person whose enthusiasm compels others to share his love of music. To witness, across the orchestra, James organizing and encouraging the percussion section was an inspiration.
One example of his creative input was his suggestion of the monumental second symphony of Gustav Mahler for a workshop for the Abergavenny Symphony Orchestra, a project which presents potentially insurmountable challenges for an organization such as ours. James took on the responsibility of organizing the massive percussion section required, in addition to which he organized an amazing chorus, soloists and choral director. Many participants traveled long distances to be a part of this project and a comment made to me by one of these that ‘it had been the best day of his life’ demonstrates just how important people like James are to the mission of bringing real live musical experiences to all.
I have considered myself very fortunate to have had a person involved in our organization who possesses such a passion for music and is so willing and immensely capable of rising to the challenges presented.
James’ musical ability requires no further endorsement. He is an exceptional musician. But it is his unstoppable enthusiasm and inspiration which should earn him this wonderful award. One of many exemplar moments – he rang me to ask if I would join him two days later in the percussion section for a performance of ‘The Planets’ with Abergavenny Symphony orchestra. I had to say ‘yes’ despite never ever having lifted a drumstick before, but with his guidance it all worked out. A top level musician, so gentlemanly and so self-effacing is a rare thing.
James has been a tireless supporter of many genres of music, over a quarter of a century, in Powys, Monmouthshire and further afield. He has been an accomplished and uncomplaining accompanist to many musicians, until his catastrophic illness. James has borne his loss of playing and mobility with good grace and has continued to support local music, in person, where possible.
James thoroughly deserves an accolade for his huge contribution to music and his immense fortitude in dealing with an unfortunate illness.
I have lived in Abergavenny for over 40 years. Although I was born here my family moved away and returned after I had finished A levels. My large extended family has had a tradition of singing folk songs around the table which has involved both singing of traditional songs and the playing of various instruments. Abergavenny Music Shop was a place that you could go to and research any song. James was never phased by any request regarding songs however obscure! His enthusiasm and delight in music of all genres was felt by everyone. The closing of the shop has been a huge loss to Abergavenny and the surrounding area. There are some people in life who inspire others almost unintentionally and James is one of those people and thoroughly deserves to receive recognition for his contribution to music.
James has been a wonderful supporter and accompanist of the Gwent Bach Society (now Gwent Bach Choir) and the Abergavenny Eisteddfod for many years. His knowledge and willingness to help in any way has been invaluable and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award.