CHAMBER MUSIC RECITAL

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27308, 26 March 1954, Page 6

CHAMBER MUSIC RECITAL

ENJOYABLE PROGRAMME The weekly lunchtime concert in the Canterbury College Hall was given yesterday by the Christchurch Chamber Players, conducted by Keith Newson. Jack Goldsmith' (oboe) was the soloist. The programme comprised “The Holy Boy,” by John Ireland, Sonata No. 9. by Corelli, two pieces from the film music composed by William Walton for “Henry V,” and Concerto No. 1 for Oboe and Strings, by Scarlatti. The music itself ensured a most interesting and enjoyable programme. The string arrangement of Ireland’s “Holy Boy” has been sensitively done, and it was well played, except for a too strict, adherence to the metrical beat. The performance might have been enhanced by the adoption of a more elastic rhythm, with greater give and take between phrases. The Corelli proved a pleasant work. Mr Newson gauged the rhythm nicely in the corrente, and the grave, carefully prepared, was well played. Two episodes from the score of “Henry V,” by Walton, both dirges were lovely music. The first, “Death of Falstaff,” in the form of a passacaylia (in which a bass phrase is repeated continually while the upper parts carry on the melody) was treated a little too abruptly for its mood of sustained grief. Mr Newson rounded off each phrase too definitely, thus halting the continuous flow of the rhythm in the movement. Mr Goldsmith, as oboe soloist in the Scarlatti concerto, played with, technical mastery and sensitive musicianship. It would be interesting to know who is the arranger of this work; he was not named in the programme. One feels sure that a lot of music is not what the original composer put to paper. The work was, nevertheless, enjoyable, and Mr Goldsmith played his part admirably, especially in the polonaise. The general standard of the orchestra was not so high as it attained towards the end of last year. Faults in intonation and releases of phrases were more in evidence than one has come to expect from it. Unfortunately, the members of the orchestra did not support Mr Goldsmith in the Scarlatti to the extent that he deserved.

It is to be hoped that this is but a passing phase in the orchestra’s life. It has proved in previous concerts that it can be a valuable asset to the musical life of Christchurch. With more regard to purely technical questions, the orchestra will, one feels sure, attain and surpass its earlier archievements. P.G.Z.