School of Instrumental Music gives concert

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32976, 24 July 1972, Page 14

School of Instrumental Music gives concert

Another short and successful concert was given by pupils of the Christchurch School of Instrumental Music in the Ngaio Marsh Theatre yesterday afternoon. As with previous concerts, the atmosphere was relaxed, the audience large, and the programme enjoyable, if rather circumscribed.

Two chamber-music groups played. The Ginthemof Trio played a trio sonata by Bach with good intonation and restrained tone. The slower movements were the most successful, the quick contrapuntal figures requiring more detached bowing from the violin and more incisive tone from the flute. The players were John Dawson (flute), Alastair Sands (violin), and Michelle Curry (piano). Orchestra VI, conducted by Mr T. Nalder, played a minuet and waltz by Charles Woodhouse. The minuet’s strong rhythms were well captured, but the waltz’s lack of a definite rhythmic drive caused the players some difficulty. One or two pleasant phrases from the flutes were drowned by the strings. This orchestra played well as a group, but should be careful with intonation.

The Jeranca Trio —Catherine Mountford (violin),

Angela Campbell (piano), and Jerome de Bouter (cello)— Stayed a movement of lozart’s Trio No. 4 in C major. Unsteadiness of tempo, especially in the piano, and an imbalance between the instruments detracted from an otherwise promising performance.

Instrumental solos were played by Christine Smith (flute), accompanied by Julie Coulson, and Dita Gill (piano). Both soloists showed technical competence and a good grasp of style and nuance.

Orchestra 11, conducted by Mr P. Rowe and led by Lynette Jamieson, showed itself to be a well-balanced group, achieving a very pleasant blend of sound in tutti passages. However, one had hoped for more expressive and secure playing in softer passages, and for greater attention to be paid to the conductor. The third movement of the "Karelia” Suite showed off a subdued but efficient brass section, but failed to achieve the necessary dramatic impact. The other pieces which this orchestra played were of doubtful musical value, and did not seem to arouse the ! usual enthusiasm in the I players. —S.R.A.T.