This Autumn Concert was eagerly anticipated by regularsupporters, a tour de force of Light Classical Music, or in keeping with the season, a ‘bumper harvest’. Derek Holland and ALBA performing what they invariably do well at, Light Classical Masterpieces.
There could be no better beginning than ‘Up with the Curtain’, by Jack Strachey; a lively short piece full of melody and cheer. Strachey began composing light music in the 1940’s and one of his pieces – ‘In Party Mood’ – became widely known as the signature tune for Radio 4’s ‘Housewives Choice’ programme.
The following piece was by Angela Morley, one of a handful of women composers who need to be better known. ‘Rotten Row’ an area in Hyde Park London is much nicer than the title hints at and this Jaunty little piece is anything but rotten. We then heard another women composer, Phyllis Tate who composed in a wide range of genre, including light music. ALBA played her ‘St. James’ Park - A Lakeside Reverie’ which exhibited a distinctive sound and charm, what else can we find by her? I’m keen to ask for more!
Next, we heard a wonderful piece by Haydn Wood – ‘Waltz Sadler’s Wells’. This was from his suite – ‘Snapshots of London’and many of the pieces tonight are exactly that, snapshots of Britain, though largely London.
Now we were treated to two songs. Firstly, from arguably the grandfather of Light classical Music, Sir Arthur Sullivan. Asong from Gilbert & Sullivan’s Operetta - Mikado - ‘The Sun Whose Rays…’ it was sung beautifully by the stunning voice of Elizabeth Venner. Her next song was equally famous, ‘The Pipes of Pan’ from the Edwardians’ favourite Musical Theatre work -‘The Arcadians’ by Lionel Monckton. It was sung and played with great relish and zeal by all, thoroughly enjoyed by the audience.
Our next composer was Robert Farnon; he was Canadian and made many film scores and wrote symphonies as well as Light Music. The chosen work tonight was another ‘sound painting’ so prevalent in this genre – ‘Poodle Parade’. Yes, you could almost ‘see’ the pesky pooches strutting their stuff! ‘Graceful Dance for Strings’ by Ernest Tomlinson followed the poodles, a very different sound world, but light and graceful all the way.
As has become statutory at ALBA concerts, there are always concertos. Tonight, just the one, a fabulous Saxophone concerto by Ronald Binge, played with great panache and skill by principal clarinettist, Adele Gordon. It is certainly a work I would like to hear again with tunes, virtuosity and pathos.
Next a Typewriter took centre stage, in Leroy Anderson’s – (you guessed it), ‘The Typewriter’ – expertly played by regular percussionist Kim Sargeant. This was a toe tapping, audience favourite. Following on, we left the typewriter indoors and went for, ‘A Quiet Stroll’, an airy sound picture by Charles Williams.
To end this packed first half, a jaunty little march by Trevor Duncan from his ‘Little Suite’, which was made very famous as the signature tune to the 1960’s TV series – Dr Finlay’s Casebook.Some of us, (may be most!), are old enough to remember that!
The second half began with ‘Punchinello Overture’ by Fredric Curzon written in 1948, full of charm and tuneful throughout.The next piece was conducted by Guest Conductor Adrian Brown, who took great pains to explain the plot and reasons behind the genesis of the work; Eric Coates – ‘Three Bears Phantasy’.Adrian’s insights certainly added to audience enjoyment, and thework was nicely wrought by Adrian & ALBA.
This was followed by ‘Beachcomber’, another picture in sound by Clive Richardson. You could imagine strolling along the beach and finding interesting detritus discarded by careless people, though just occasionally you find a gem and that is what this short piece is. Richardson was a master of representing places, situations and feelings, he wrote a lot of film music for the BBCand wrote the famous London Fantasia, ‘describing’ in music the state of London during the second world war.
Montague Phillips was a serious composer, who like most British composers, could turn his hand to light music. His Operetta - ‘The Rebel Maid’ was a great success in 1921 and from that work we heard the ‘Villagers’ Dance’. At first, I thought of angry peasants stomping their feet, or Morris dancers waving sticks, but these were very friendly villagers and I think the audience wanted to join in.
Sir Edward German was another of those British composers with a foot in each of the serious and light classical genres. Tonight, we heard Elizabeth Venner give a perfect rendition of hisvirtuosic ‘Waltz Song’ from the very famous operetta Tom Jones.Audience appreciation was bubbling over at the end, bravo Elizabeth.
Our next composer, Edward White was self-taught, but that doesn’t denigrate anything from the quality of his music. The piece we heard tonight was, ‘The Runaway Rocking Horse’, not so much a galop, more of a saunter in a soggy green field, but charming and thoroughly well written.
Despite the many works in this concert, time went very quicklyand so we reached the final set of pieces. This time provided by ALBA’s very own composer/pianist in residence – Peter Wilson. He is so often to be found playing piano at the back of orchestra, tonight he was in the limelight. We heard his three lovely dance pieces collectively called ‘Caribbean Carnival’. Beginning with Rainbow Rhumba, then Sunshine Samba and finally Tropicalypso, bringing this extravaganza to a jolly close. Or was it?
As the applause died down, we got an encore! Another Coate’s work – ‘Music Everywhere’, a fitting end I think to a very full programme, and the audience showed its appreciation with extended applause. A magnificent evening’s entertainment, well done ALBA!
By Graham Wilson (Reviewer for ALBA)
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