Oxted and Limpsfield Music Society
Emma Johnson -clarinet and John Lenehan -piano
Saturday 21st April 2012 Concert at Hazelwood School
This concert was postponed from last season after Emma Johnson was 'trapped' in Italy by volcanic dust ! The society was most grateful that the duo agreed to close our season .The recital was well worth waiting for. It only seems a short time ago that Emma was gracing our TV screens as Young Musician of the Year-it was 1984
The first half consisted of Silvana Variations by Weber and Schubert's Arpeggione Sonata in A minor. It demonstrated the huge and joyful range of the clarinet-both the A and B flat . Equally the understanding which these two artists have for the music and the connection between the two instruments was amazing .'Con fuoco' -with fire- was clear in the Weber piece and the Poulenc Sonata after the interval. The Silvana Variations were particularly interesting when the two 'piano only' sections were followed by the theme being reflected as both instruments joined together with perfect harmony and timing.
Following the interval the programme was devoted to more modern music and Miss Johnson changed her costume to a more psychodelic creation ,after her splendid gold themed ensemble in the first half, which ,she said, might suit the jazzier pieces by Poulenc ,Stravinsky, Dankworth and Gershwin ! This last ,the Goodman Medley, had been arranged by the duo with nostalgic tunes . Johnny Dankworth wrote the 'Suite for Emma' after she had cooperated with him and Cleo Lane when she burst on the scene as Young Musician. The artists have a clear rapport which shows through in their timing and the textures of their playing .
Next year's programme and dates of the concerts will be published in mid summer .It will continue the Society's intention to encourage young musicians to demonstrate their talent repertoire and gain experience by performing in public.
The Oxted & Limpsfield Music Society
The Society was entertained on 31st March by Crispian Steele-Perkins with an very amusing history of the trumpet and Ian Le Grice who also explained the workings of a pipe organ which has pipes ranging in length from 3 inches to 32 feet with increasing diameters .It was not only a programme of good music but an education for the members about each instrument.
As to the music ,we were treated to a Sinfonia by Handel which had three movements or moods as we were told .The trumpet used for this piece was a Baroque instrument from around 1680. This was followed by a Trumpet Sonata by Stradella ,again three moods, played on a trumpet with no stops but controlled by lip pressure only . Incidentally Stradella was an unsung Italian composer who died unnaturally in view of his love for a nobleman’s daughter .A haunting Gershwin Prelude came next. Before the final piece in the first part of the concert -Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto in E Flat ,we enjoyed a short excerpt from Handel’s Water Music played on the hosepipe !
During the interval the artists discussed their instruments and their history with members.
The second half started with a Post Horn Serenade ,part on an 8foot Post Horn, written by Mozart when he was just 6 years old . We also heard more about the development of the modern trumpet and cornet over the years such as extra tubing being added and bent, to the original straight horn which had grown in length considerably.. This extra tubing and then various holes and valves ,resulted in the increased range and versatility of the modern instrument. The recital was brought to a close with excerpts from from Handel’s Fireworks Music and the second two movements of the Voluntary No.3 in D by Stanley and a short encore!
In each half ,Ian Le Grice played and introduced two items for solo organ. The first being two pieces for Musical Clocks by Haydn and in the second ‘Nun dankt alle Gott’ from Bach’s Cantata No 79. These demonstrated the range and versatility of St Peter’s splendid organ.
The Society wish to thank the Rector and Wardens of St Peter’s for allowing us to use the church for this event.
This recital was given by Thomas Carroll ,cello, accompanied by Anthony Hewitt ,piano.
The celebration started at 3pm in the Churchyard of St Peter's Limpsfield where Thomas Carroll placed a posy of flowers on Delius' grave -the composer being a part of his family tree -an Uncle with a number of Greats! This was a particularly happy occasion as neither of our artist had been aware of the churchyard's musical connections - besides the composer and his wife Jelka there are the graves of Sir Thomas Beecham ,Norman del Mar. Eileen Joyce, the Harrison sisters and David Stevens. Equally they were shown the St Cecelia window in the north transept of the church.
The music we heard was splendidly played and the programme demonstrated the versatility of both the cello ,which had a very special tone, and the piano. The first piece -Beethoven Sonata No.2 in G major- had a first movement with an echoing quality which was followed by a fast and furious Rondo. The second -Delius Sonata- was introduced by Thomas Carroll who referred to his family ties to the composer and gave some thoughts about him. The piece was brought to an interesting close with some melodious low register playing.
After the interval the artists gave an amusing introduction to the Cesar Franck Sonata in A major, highlighting the idea that the four movements carried themes relating to courtship, engagement and marriage. In fact it is dedicated to Eugene Ysaye, a virtuoso violinist , whom he married and has a clear church bell passage in the fourth movement.
As an encore we were treated to a short lilting Mendelssohn 'Song without Words'. All in all it was an splendid evening.