February 15th 2019
On the 15th February Cheap Street Church was given a performance by the string players, opening with Bartok's Hungarian Sketches: An Evening in the Village, for violin and piano.
Drawn from two alternating Magyar folk tunes, this imaginative piece was evocatively performed by Ciaran Smith (Exh.Mus 5e). Cameron Golding (3f) took to the stage next with his first recital performance at Sherborne, playing a lively Mazurka with gusto by the Russian teacher and violinist of the Moscow Art Theatre—Nathalia Baklanova. Cesar Cui's Orientale for cello and piano Op. 50, no. 9, with its tambourine rhythm and oriental sound world, was captured in an instant by Sam Berry (Exh.Mus 4a). Jack Pyman (4d) was up next, performing Gavotte with Two Variations from the Stravinsky-Dushkin 1933 arrangement of Suite Italienne, based on themes by Pergolesi. This neoclassical piece requires the transparency and grace of the Italian baroque style while playing in the style of the great violinists of the 1930s and 40s, all of which was beautifully captured in Jack’s interpretation. Another first performance followed, with Kit Hobbs (Sch.Mus 3c) playing Breval's Sonata for cello in C. Confidently performed, Kit’s phrasing, ornamentation and mature sound belied his years. Although a regular chamber music performer, Marcus Bradley (Exh.Mus 4e) gave his first solo cello performance with Elegy by Carl Davis. Communicating well with his accompanist, Marcus’s intimate performance drew the audience in to this tender piece. The final item was the first movement of Bach's Violin Concerto in A minor BWV 1041. As with all of Bach’s works, this music leaves no room in which the performer may hide and Alex Hobbs (Sch.Mus 5e) gave a committed performance, shaping its almost tangible phrases with integrity.
