C.S.I.M. concert

Press, 9 August 1982, Page 4

C.S.I.M. concert

Annual demonstration concert by .members of the Christchurch School of Instrumental Music, Saturday, August 7, at the Town Hall. Reviewed by Heath Lees. .There was a slight delay at the opening of the concert while some 500 instruments were tuned. The sheer impact of number is an effect that never fails to amaze, even though one,may be a regular attendee at, these concerts. One door opens to admit a full orchestra; another, door ..closes behind the previous group. How. the logistics ; are. managed . so > fluently is a cause of wonder.' In. all,p. we . had seven orchestras, a variety of wind groups, and .various ensembles of beginners. There was also a . jazz band this year, which was a welcome and exuberant change; and next

to the more traditional Bach-. to-Brahms repertoire sounded positively raunchy. The quality of playing varied as usual from impressive musicianship to a kind of fun-loving, controlled aggression, and, this whole spectrum of taste and ability was well received by the large audience.

Aside from the musical virtues, the fledgling players get a real taste of the demands and rewards of public performance. For the hardened mums and dads, the occasional funny moment is seized upon by way of relief: the chasm of silence when the last orchestra does not know whether to stay or leave, so we all. sit; frozen with enjoyable embarrassment; the wait for a couple of long minutes while the twelfth

clarinet player is summoned speedily from the plumbed depths of the Town Hall; the sight of the side-drummer, servicing four orchestras in turn, and trundling his drum round like a benign hot-dog vendor. All these contribute to the special quality of informal occasion which the C.S.LM. is able to present, while amply demonstrating its claim to musical uniqueness.

the final piece, an intriguing, multi-faceted web. of sound by David Bedford, was superbly played by the Youth Orchestra, conducted by Peter. Zwartz. It was offered as the climax of the programme, and it certainly symbolised a crowning achievement. In these days of cutbacks and artistic frustrations, .the CALM, obviously marches on, regardless.*