The second concert of our new Season took place on 15th October. It was given by two musicians sponsored by the Countess of Munster Musical Trust; Christopher Hart on trumpet, accompanied by Daniel King Smith on the St Andrew’s Church organ.
It is only in the last few years, perhaps the decade, that the trumpet has been perceived as a solo instrument from the brass ensemble. As a result of this, as Christopher Hart explained, a good deal of trumpet performance music has to be derived from items originally written for other instruments and this was amply demonstrated by his own agenda for the evening.
Baroque music was provided by Georg Philipp Telemann, Tomaso Albinoni and J S Bach. A more contemporary item was “The Hollow Men” by Vincent Persichetti, an American composer 1915-1987, followed by a Toccata by Padre Martini of Bologna to conclude the first half.
Our second half was very varied, including Rachmaninov’s popular Vocalise Op 34 No 14, last heard rendered on the clarinet at our earlier concert! Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) gave us his well-remembered “Last Spring”; the remaining items being very contemporary: by Henri Sauguet (died Paris 1989), Henri Tomasi (died Paris 1971) and most notably Petr Eben (born 1929) a Czech composer, describing some remarkable stained-glass windows (okna) in a Jewish Medical Centre.
In all, Christopher Hart convinced us of the viability of the trumpet as a solo instrument, played with extraordinary expertise to demonstrate its capacity for gentle compassion and soft expression, as well as brisk volatility.
You will have to wait a while for our next concert which will be on Saturday 11th March 2017 but winter will be over (we hope!) when we welcome Charme d’Hautbois – oboe, bassoon and harp – who will charm and delight us with familiar pieces as well as some from a neglected repertoire.
For further information please contact our Secretary, Mrs Anne Michell: telephone 01458 250863, email anne.michell@btinternet.com or visit our website www.curryrivelmusic.org
Curry Rivel Music 