"Ensemble wow audience with Baroque giants"
Concord College, Acton Burnell
13th October 2007
Shrewsbury Chronicle - 1 Nov 2007
AN INTERNATIONALLY renowned ensemble performed work from two giants of the Baroque era in the concert hall of Concord College as part of the Shropshire Music Trust season.
The Hanover Band, playing on period instruments in the concert hall of Concord College, Acton Burnell, performed a programme contrasting the music of J S Bach and G P Telemann.
Directed with precision and breadth of vision by Andrew Arthur at the harpsichord, the ensemble of natural horns, baroque oboes, bassoon and strings opened with Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No 1 in a performance full of purity of sound and perfect accord.
Contrasting with this was Telemann's Concerto in D for three trumpets, two oboes, timpani and strings. Joyful and brash, yet still elegant and stylish, the interplay between the brass and woodwind was a brilliant exposition of the unaccustomed sound of these early instruments.
Madeleine Easton, violin, completed the first half with a beautifully restrained rendering of Bach's violin concerto in E with only single strings and harpsichord as accompaniment. The interpretation of the lovely haunting melody of the slow movement was far removed from some of the over-sweetened versions that are often heard and the final rondo was played in perfect Baroque style.
The two pieces in the second half were rather more comparable. Telemann's Concerto for two horns from Tafelmusik III and Bach's Orchestral Suite No 4 are show pieces. Horns and then oboes and trumpets really come into their own with virtuoso passages as well as exciting ensemble work. Valve-less brass and virtually keyless-oboes are notorious for their difficulties but the Hanover Band soloists made light work of them in a concert which in other hands could have been quite academic but tonight was a truly musical experience which went straight to the heart.
The next Trust concert is at Shrewsbury's Gateway on Sunday (November 4) with The Cello Twins but note also the English Chamber Orchestra in St Mary's Church on November 14.Richard Duncan
Last Updated : 07/12/2007