Spring Concert
by Chris Holmes T
he penultimate week of the Lent
term came to an end with an
impressive reminder of the breadth
and quality of music-making at King's.
All the various performing groups put in
an appearance in a thoroughly enjoyable
and varied programme.
The Brass Group were first on stage, with
a well-rounded performance of Gabrieli's
Canzona per Sonare III. This was a finely
balanced sound, with the differing timbres
of trumpet, horn and trombone blending
beautifully to create a rich, warm sound,
both of which qualities were soon on
display again when Robin Danaher
performed Pierné's Canzonettafor alto
saxophone. There are two important
hallmarks of Robin's playing - making a
really good sound, and playing
immaculately in tune, a winning
combination.
The Chapel Choir then gave us two choral
offerings, the second of which was
Bruckner's great favourite Locus Iste,
which gives basses plenty of limelight as
they lead their two series of imitative
entries, as well as sopranos climbing
towards the top of their range. It had a
beautifully hushed ending.
David Bidgood was the soloist in four
movements from Telemann's Suite in
A minor. He has developed into a recorder
player of great maturity and musicianship,
with some beautifully judged phrasing and
nimble passagework. He was sensitively
accompanied this evening by the lush
sound of the string group.
A flute trio of Anna Lieser, Lucy Dunham
and Georgina Evans gave a thoroughly
entertaining performance of Clare
Grundman's Flutation, with some tight
ensemble playing and a good jaunty
bounce. After which the Chamber Choir
offered us something of a change in mood
with Paul Mealor's Ubi Caritasand
Matthew Owen's Take Time. There was
much to admire here - pinpoint accuracy
of pitching in some really quite challenging
dissonances, and a thrilling full-blooded
sound when needed.
Full-blooded is a quality we have come to
expect from the Wind Band, who brought
this excellent Spring Concert to a close.
They played Jay Bocook's O Waly, Waly
and Journey to the Lion's Castleby
Rossano Galante with power and
precision, and some lovely individual
moments as well - everything you could
wish for in large ensemble performance!
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