RECITAL AT UNIVERSITY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29643, 13 October 1961, Page 18

RECITAL AT UNIVERSITY

Wind Quintet

The Christchurch Wind Quintet Trevor Hution. flautist. Jack Goldwnith, oboist. Michael Shorter, clarinettist, William Turner, horn piiayer, and Roas McKeitch, bassoonist—played in the Uuvmnity Hall yesterday afternoon. The programme began with Franz Denn's Quintet Op. 36 No. 1, and eighteenth-century wwk on the graceful lines of the period. The playing rhythmical but somewhat lacking in refinement of tone —which sometimes upset balance—and in the finer points of expression. There was better tonal contrast in the second movement and some lively sparkle in the minuet. The phrasing seemed rather square in moulding. A taster speed would have brightened the last movement. Another work from the same period, but with more dramatic content, was Anton Reicha s “Bteser-Quiotet” in E flat major. The first movement was cohesive and had some nicely-contrasted light and shade. There was brightness in the scherib and Clarity of line in the andante. The phrasing was more shapely. Jacques Ibert’s Three Short Pieces had an attractively sophisticated humour and the first was played with excellent liveliness of spirit. The second had a pastoral fiaw and was played with smoothness and good tone and expression. The last had an amusing piquancy; and these three pieces with their modern harmony were more successful in performance than the eighteenth-century works which needed more suavity and finesse.