Artistic strings

Press, 15 August 1978, Page 23

Artistic strings

By

C. FOSTER BROWNE

Dennis Vaughan gave a] varied and very well played! recital of music for the; double bass in the St Albans; Methodist Church. He has the; smooth and well-poised tech-, nique to produce varied and' interesting timbres and sub-' tieties. He began with “Tides of Time,” Op. 75 by Elizabeth Lutyens, a work employing many sliding glides as though the tides of time came slithering over a mudflat. It was very stark and bleak. “Three Pieces for double Bass” by David Farquhar had much charm. Of these, the jig. made great use of pizzicato, tapping of the foo'. giving the instrument a kick or a knock, and the player was expected to whistle as well as to play. It all came off well, and was enjoyable. An unaccompanied sonata by David Ellis held close interest with adventurous melodic range, creating attractive moods, and Hindemith’s Sonata for Double Bass and Piano was played with John Luxton playing the piano with authoritative style, gripping rhythm, and kaleidoscopic colouring. There was I close accord between the players.

i The programme ended with [ pleasant playing of an Elegy! in D by Bottesini. i On Wednesday afternoon. ; Ruth Pearl and Dobbs Franks, : playing with poised artistry. . mutual empathy, and their | unfailing sense of style, gave [a noteworthy performance of ; Beethoven’s Sonata for [ Violin and Piano Op. 30 No. ;2. Ruth Pearl produced; [luminous tone always in; [keeping with the grandeur o! ithe work, and Dobbs Franks] had widely ranging expression and rhythmic grip that] kept everything shapely and j ] exciting.