LUNCHTIME CONCERT

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28973, 14 August 1959, Page 8

LUNCHTIME CONCERT

Fine Ending To

Term

The lunch-time concert given in the University Hall yesterday was the last of the term, and just about the best. The performers were the members of the University Trio and Maurice Till (pianist), and they played music by three modern British composers. A very happy feature of the recital was the amount of music for solo viola, and the chance this gave the audience of hearing and enjoying Elizabeth Cook to full advantage. Her playing was as usual most accomplished and each of the two composers she presented was specially interested in writing for the instrument.

The first number was a set of Autumn Sketches written by a Scottish composer, Alan Richardson. They were tuneful, and rhythmically interesting, and explored a wide range of viola technique while remaining easy listening. The muted ending of the set was impeccably managed, and most effective. Next there was a suite in which the viola part had been arranged by the composer from an earlier orchestral version. This had an out-of-doors and folk music feel about it. It consisted of three movements, a prelude, which showed a certain amount of rhythmical subtlety, a carol, which was a perfect gem of contrived simplicity, and a Christmas dance of fine, rustic vigour. Equal partner with the violinist in these two items was the pianist, Maurice Till, who gave himself to the performance with devotion and skill, supporting the viola with a splendid range of dynamic and tonal contrasts. The concert reached its climax with the playing of the John Ireland Phantasy Trio in C minor. This is an early work, romantic in spirit, and fairly straightforward in form. It contains a wide variety of material and many changing moods, and the sudden changes from one to another make lit a very stimulating work to [listen to. The audience was ■greatly helped in its appreciation ‘Of the work by the whole-hearted way in which the players gave temselves to it. It was altogether a memorable performance, and closed a memorable concert -K.H.