AT the Chipping Sodbury Music Society March concert the audience was treated to a musical feast offering three courses for the price of one. First - Men with Horns Paul Sawbridge, Steve Macallister, Alistair Smith and Allen Cheshire; second - baritone Niall Hoskin and pianist Steven Hollas and third - a Men’s Choir conducted by Mike Daniels.

It soon became apparent that this was to be an evening to remember. The natural horn is notoriously difficult to play but any technical difficulties were overcome with ease, and hunting music by Rossini, Berlioz, Neukomm and Schumann brought vividly to mind horses, riders, hounds and the chase.

Songs by Schubert, Vaughan Williams and Ireland were sensitively done and a first performance for 200 years of the riotous drinking song King Wine was delivered with great gusto.

The men’s choir excelled themselves in Elgar’s Greek Anthology with expressive phrasing and clear enunciation. The rarely played introduction to the Blue Danube Waltz was a delight before the piano was joined by the choir who sang with obvious enjoyment, encouraged by a consistently animated conductor.

The final item, five hunting songs by Schumann, provided an exciting end to a well received concert.

The penultimate concert of Chipping Sodbury Music Society’s 67th Season, in the Town Hall at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 7 April 2015, will be given by 4 Girls 4 Harps; a unique opportunity to see and hear four of these glorious instruments at the same time.. Keziah Thomas, Harriet Adie, Eleanor Turner and Elizabeth Scorah will be performing a programme entitled 'A Journey Around the World' and it will include music from Africa, Spain, France and the Middle East by composers such as Handel, Piazzolla, Ravel and pieces composed by the group’s own members.

Gerry Philp – 13 March 2015