Review of Chipping Sodbury Music Society concert (From Gazette Series)

Review of Chipping Sodbury Music Society concert

10:28am Monday 11th January 2010 in

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MORE than thirty hardy souls, braving snow and ice, attended the January concert in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall. They were rewarded by some delectable woodwind playing in a wide-ranging programme given by Nicola Dowton, flute, Gillian Taylor, oboe and cor anglais, and Christopher Vale, bassoon – The New Horizons Trio.

Woodwind arrangements of string trios by Haydn and Mozart received committed performances with well-sprung first movements, sensitive slow movements and buoyant finales. Lesser known contemporaries Devienne and Cambini wrote trios specifically for woodwind and these pieces proved to be charming with lively rondos full of wit and sparkle.

A sonatina by Pierre Gabbaye showed the strong influence of Poulenc with skittish allegros and a soulful slow movement. The very difficult bassoon part was played with great technical assurance throughout.

Three fugues by Bach, transposed from piano to woodwind, proved surprisingly successful, whilst more modern works by Albeniz and Gordon Jacob demonstrated the fine interplay of the various instruments.

The main event, however, was music by a living composer Roma Cafolla. Her three pieces were melodious, well-crafted, and played with obvious affection. A brand new sonata, completed just before Christmas, proved a major work with a weighty first movement, nostalgic slow movement, and an effervescent finale.

The audience went out into the snow and ice warmed by a thoroughly enjoyable concert. The next concert, on February 9, will feature the prestigious Bridge String Quartet who are celebrating their 20th anniversary season this year.