THE April concert of the Chipping Sodbury Music Society had an Anglo French flavour. The woodwind quintet Harbour Winds featured Pippa Craggs flute, Charlie Mason oboe, Isabelle Clement clarinet, Justin Hayward horn and Phillipa Dunstan bassoon.

The programme got off to a good start with a wind quintet by Gustav Hoist. This long lost early work encouraged sensitive playing in the poignant slow movement and lively rhythmic attack in the finale. Claude Arrieu’s quintet was very Gallic in flavour with perky playing in the allegro and much humour in the third movement. Sir Malcolm Arnold’s three shanties for wind instruments, based on British sea songs, was a rousing piece enthusiastically conveyed by the players.

Works by Milhaud Poulenc and Ibert full of chromatic harmonies and variations in tone colour brought to mind a bustling pre-war Paris of street cafes and leafy boulevards. The final piece, popular extracts from William Walton’s Facade Suite, reflected the new jazz style of the 1930s with the Swiss Yodelling Song and Popular Song hugely enjoyed by both audience and players. A fine concert had reaped many rewards.

The next concert of Chipping Sodbury Music Society’s 68th Season, in the Town Hall at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 17 May 2016, will be given by Andreas Moutsioulis. Andreas is a Greek-born guitarist and arranger, living in Bristol, with performing experience in Europe and America. His compelling stage presence, together with his exceptional musical sensitivity, places him among the most gifted players of his generation

We are also delighted to announce that Chipping Sodbury Music Society will be presenting Jacqui Dankworth and Friends in “Shakespeare and all That Jazz” at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall on Friday 30 September 2016. This year is the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. Jacqui thought it would be most appropriate, therefore, to visit the musical settings of Shakespeare’s poetry inspired by, and taken from, the seminal 1964 album “Shakespeare and All That Jazz” composed by her late father, Sir John Dankworth, for her mother, Dame Cleo Laine.

The ground-breaking arrangements include settings such as “Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer’s Day”, “O Mistress Mine”,” Fear No More The Heat O’ The Sun”, the story of “Macbeth” and a comical setting of Shakespeare’s complete works! The brilliance of the music, the genius of Shakespeare’s poetry and world class musicians combined with Jacqui’s emotional and virtuosic voice will make for a very special concert.

Further information about both these events may be found on our website at http://www.csmusicsociety.co.uk

Gerry Philp – 19 April 2016