A showcase of musical talent

Press, 3 August 1981, Page 6

A showcase of musical talent

Christchurch School of Instrumental Music (C.5.1.M.) annual demonstration concert. Town Hall Auditorium, August 1, 7.30 p.m. Reviewed by Philip Norman.

Collective nouns are the only effective means of describing the annual C.S.I.M,

demonstration concert: a k whole string of violinists, great gusts of woodwind, a rumble of timpanists, scroll upon scroll of cellists, and a polish of brass all playing scores of compositions to a pride of parents and interested observers. Such an occasion is a gargantuan exercise in logistics for the organisers, but results in a showcase of talent and tuition skills that could well be the envy of cities twice the size of Christchurch. The evening began with a group of very young string players (many of whom were so tiny that when seated their feet could not reach the ground). This "Beginner Strings" group played two finely crafteo educational compositions by their conductor. Ellen Doyle. The programme was arranged in an order corresponding to the development of skills within the music school — as the evening wore on the music became progressively more demanding and the facility with which the music was performed became progressively greater. Only on rare occasions did the progression falter in the face of last minute nerves* or

passages that were too taxing, such as when a rogue elephant found its way into Orchestra s’s rendition of Saint-Saens’s carnival piece, or in Orchestra 7’s “March of the (variable) Metro Gnome.” Under the guidance of their tutors, Neville Forsythe, John Nimmo, and lan Thorpe, the recorder is obviously no longer the instrument you learn before you learn an instrument. At last this much-maligned legacy of compulsory classroom music is being treated with the respect it deserves. Here, it was moulded into a fine ensemble sound worthy of any concert platform. It is pleasing to note that the “lighter” side of music is not being neglected and that such misanthropic oddball instruments as the saxophone and the drum kit are finding their place in the society’s svllabus (albeit under the aegis of the now-respectable American wind band line-up). The Junior Wind Band, conducted by Neville Forsythe, played a cleverly arranged up-beat version of “He's Got the Whole World in His Hands," featuring a very promising young kitdrummer.

The second half began with the senior version of the Junior Wind Band, the Christchurch Symphonic Band. Their playing reflected all the ebullience and energy of their conductor., Francis Dennis, a musician whose contribution to all aspects of, music education in Christchurch is already incalculable.

His group was the only one that attempted a uniformity of dress for the evening, an important facet of concert presentation that was generally overlooked.

Orchestras 3,2, and 1 are remarkable sounding groups comprising the cream of the city's young instrumentalists. Particularly memorable was Orchestra 2’s “Waltz Suite” from "Der Rosehkavalier,” conducted by David Vine. The offering from Orchestra 1, the Christchurch Youth Orchestra, was the overture “The Corsair” by Berlioz. Something of a bravura piece, it admirably rounded off the evening with a robust and solid sound. The C.S.I.M. has formed the backbone of instrumental tuition in Christchurch for the past 26 years. Few young local musicians could claim that they have not had their musical development in some way furthered by its influence. Currently, 12'00 students are enrolled for tuition.

To congratulate the conductors in Saturday evening’s demonstration concert — Ellen Doyle, David Christen, Bronwen Gill, Neville Forsythe, John Nimmo,- lan Thorpe, Murray Griffiths, 'Gerald Oliver, Gloria Streat, Francis Dennis, John Emeleus. Maree Parr. David Vine, and Peter Zwartz — is to extend compliments to the hundreds of .people who have . aided in organising and ■ maintaining this invaluable asset to Christchurch’s present and future musical life.