Reading Chronicle - Memorials
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Published on 28/10/2021
KINGON WARD Martha Isobel Died October 16, 2021, aged 93. Martha was a professional clarinettist and played as a soloist for many orchestras, including the Reading Symphony Orchestra, and other groups. For 30 years, she organised and directed the Mozart Summer Festival, which took place in historic buildings all over the UK, such as the Banqueting House and Highclere Castle. Most concerts featured Sweet Harmony, a sextet, which played 18th century music in 18th century costume. These history-based entertainments included over 60 songs and stories, all of which she wrote. She was a prolific composer, most notably of her cantata, Godec. Martha was a Mozart scholar and many of her articles about Mozart's instrumentation were published, as was her book, Immortal Mozart. Teaching was another of her interests, and many from the Reading area knew her as a patient and perceptive teacher. She will be much missed by the music fraternity as well as by her other friends and admirers.
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