If you are the kind of person that enjoys the special individual qualities of handmade crafts, arts and locally produced foods a visit to the Artisan Market in Canterbury will not disappoint. The market operates every 4^th Saturday of the month (except December when a pre Christmas market will take place) from St George’s Street Canterbury by the famous clock tower of the ruined St Georges Church. Between 0900-1700 on market days visitors have the opportunity to discover the work of some of Kent’s most talented crafts people and food producers.

Artisan Market days for 2011 are:

Saturday 23^rd April, Saturday 28^th May, Saturday 25^th June, Saturday 23^rd July, Saturday 27^th August, Saturday 24^th September, Saturday 22^nd October, Saturday 26^th November and Saturday 10^th December.

During Holy Week the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend Dr Rowan Williams will deliver a series of three evening lectures at the Cathedral. Dr Williams will be discussing C.S. Lewis’ Narnia stories on Monday 18^th, Tuesday 19^th and Wednesday 20^th April 2011.

Following the lectures there will be a short performance of Easter music by the Canterbury Cathedral Choir. The talks will start at 1930 and while they will be free to attend it is probably a good idea to phone the Cathedral on 01227 762862 to confirm ticketing arrangements.

Spring is in the air in the heart of Canterbury meaning that the cricket season will soon be upon us. Kent’s first official fixture of 2011 is away to Essex on Friday 8th April but it won’t be long until there is cricket at the St Lawrence ground. The first home game of the year is a one day match, scheduled for Tuesday 26^th April 2011 against Gloucestershire.

If you would like to find something unusually to do over the Easter period why not go to the Player’s Open Day on Easter Monday (25^th April 2011) at the St Lawrence ground? As well as practice sessions for the children with the players and there will be a bouncy castle, face painting and an opportunity to visit the souvenir and equipment shop.

The event is free and open from 1300 until 1500.

]]> http://www.canterburytourguide.com/kent-county-cricket-club-2011-players-open-day/feed 0 http://www.canterburytourguide.com/tribute-to-mahler-at-canterbury-catherdal http://www.canterburytourguide.com/tribute-to-mahler-at-canterbury-catherdal#comments Fri, 14 May 2010 17:35:42 +0000 admin http://www.canterburytourguide.com/?p=510 Tonight at 1930 the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Chamber Player will perform a tribute to Mahler at the Cathedral.

Scottish Mezzo Soprano Karen Cargill and  Maltesse Tenor Brian Cefai will led the conductorless orchestra in the last weekend of the Sounds New Contemporary Music Festival.

Three major works will be performed at Canterbury tonight:

Prélude à l’après-midi d’un Faune by Claude Debussy,

Verklärte Nacht by Arnold Schoenberg,

Das Lied von der Erde  by Gustav Mahler.

Local rumour has it that there are a handful of £20 tickets still available so it is well worth heading along to Canterbury Cathedral to see if you can get in.

Geoffrey Chaucer, like his fictional pilgrims was a Londoner but his life has far from ordinary as he was a Courtier in the time of Edward III and the King’s son, John of Gaunt was his literary patron. Chaucer’s family were wealthy merchants in London and he began his career as a diplomat. He had strong court connections and his descendants were featured in the line of succession for the British Throne. Chaucer is thought to have retired from court life and moved to Kent in the 1380’s to begin work on his Canterbury Tales. Written in Middle English, the language of medieval London, his collection of tales are told by a diverse group of pilgrims who decide to amuse themselves while they travel from London to Canterbury Cathedral by telling each other stories. Chaucer is often referred to as the ‘Father of English Literature’ and his works were unlike any form of written literature before. In today’s terms the Canterbury Tales could be likened to an early soap opera with a large number of characters who feature in some tales but not others.

St Lawrence Ground had the strange distinction of being the only first class cricket ground that had a tree within the pitch area. When the St Lawrence ground was built in 1847 the tree was incorporated into the club’s designs. Despite the all-time cricketing greats who played for Kent over the years such as Frank Woolley, Brian Luckhurst, Derek Underwood and Colin Cowdrey, Kent Cricket Club is known throughout the world for its lime tree.

In January 2005 the 200 year old lime tree was damaged in high winds but the cricket club was prepared for the loss as it had been suffering from disease for some years. In 1999 a sapling was planted just outside the boundary line and was moved in to the old trees position. The club sells wooden souvenirs made from the original tree and would make an unusual gift for any cricket fan.

If you enjoy music why not time your visit to Canterbury Cathedral to include a performance from its world famous choir. Established over 1400 years ago, the Cathedral Choir continue to perform six days each week. The choristers begin their training at the age of 8 and continue until they are 13 years old and live within the Cathedral Precincts and attend the local St Edmund’s School. The boys have a demanding schedule and each learn to play to musical instruments meaning that following their retirement from the Cathedral Choir they can continue with their musical training.

Each year the choir perform at many special events and tickets for these concerts and recordings can be purchased at the Cathedral Shop or online.

This year the Festival’s theme is Symbolism and Numerology in Music and begins on Friday 7th May 2010 at 1730 with a Festival Evensong set in the Quire of Canterbury Cathedral. The mu sic will be a celebration of contemporary music, and all works will be based on the number seven which is symbolically important within Christianity. The festival will progress through concerts, film showings, workshops and talks and will feature the a competition for young composers. The festival will show much new music and the Festival website advertises 23 World Premiers and scores by 81 living composers. Many of the concerts will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3.