Music For Recorders At University

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32321, 12 June 1970, Page 10

Music For Recorders At University

At a time when the news media are filled with stories of hijackings, reprisal raids, and kidnapping of diplomats, it was refreshing to spend a little time yesterday in the University Hall listening to music for recorders—instruments whose pure and restful tones speak of a calmer age when only such things as the threat of the Armada, the Thirty Years War, or a spate of autos da fe disturbed the tranquil flow of life. The Rolf Just Recorder Consort assisted by Sylvia Bradley, soprano, Ellen Doyle, cellist, and Wallace Woodley, harpsichordist, gave a recital there .to a large audience in the lunch-hour yesterday, beginning the programme with a seven-part “In Nomine” by Henry Purcell. Miss Sylvia Bradley, accompanied by some recorders sang three polyphonic songs by Heinrich Isaac. Her voice splendidly

matched the timbres of the recorders and she sang with stylish grace and clarity of line.

A Sonata in F minor for treble recorder and Basso Continue played by Mr Rolf Just, Miss Ellen Doyle, cellist, and Mr W. Woodley, harpsichordist, was captivating in its rich invention: and “Botschaft,” a cantata set to words by Georg Funger by Karl Marx (not' that one but another of the same name) was sung with vocal expertise by Sylvia Bradley and accompanied by two treble recorders and piano. The recital ended with all members of the Consort, Messrs Wolfgang and Rolf Just, Les Brown, Neville Forsyth, Brian Jones, and Misses Felicity Bunt and Irene Fowler, playing a Sonata by Schmelzer which had a merry lilt and charming sound.