Take in a concert in your lunchtime
A PAIR of musicians made one of their frequent pilgrimages from York to perform at St Mary in the Baum in Rochdale last month.
Aberdonian cellist Catherine Strachan studied at The Royal Scottish Conservatoire of Music and the University of York and performs early music as well as classical ensembles. She also teaches strings in York and Leeds.
For the concert on March 7, part of the Toad Lance Concerts Rochdale Weekly Music at Lunchtime series, she was accompanied by David Hammond, who also studied at York and is a pianist, cèilidh band player and choral singer.
They played the adagio from Dvorak’s cello concerto and a Brahms sonata, separated by three piano solos by Brahms.
The late Romantic style allowed the cello, so easily overpowered in its low notes, to hold its own and sing out with the piano.
The next concert, on March 14, was given by baritone Edward Robinson. Based in the north west of England, he is studying for his Masters degree at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). For his return recital he was accompanied by Dennis Tjiok, who was raised in London and Frankfurt and now studies composition and performs and conducts classical, rock, pop and jazz music. He is also the organist at Cross Street Chapel in Manchester.
Their project, Folk Connections, featured arrangements of and music derived from English folk music, such as work by 20th century English composers Butterworth, Vaughan Williams and Finzi, as well as 21st century composer, Dennis himself.
March 21 was a welcome return for Meera Maharaj on flute, this time with pianist Dominic Degavino.
They are both rising stars, winning top prizes and awards as they make their first steps in the music world.
They played the Commemorative 850th Concert at St Mary’s, marking 850 years since it took over from the local authority.
March 28 featured regular strolling singer and flautist Anne Butterworth, joined by musicians Stephen Taylor (baritone singer and soprano sax player) and Geoff Kerr (pianist).
This was a musical variety show in itself, consisting of opera, operetta, oratorio, concert songs and musicals, with instrumental interludes.
The concerts demonstrated the varied make-up of performers at Music at Lunchtime advanced students and community musicians alike, many eagerly returning to keep classical concerts live and alive.
Toad Lane Concerts Rochdale’s Weekly Music at Lunchtime are held at St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane/St Mary’s Gate, Rochdale. Refreshments are served from 11.30am, concert 12.30pm to 1.30pm. Tickets cost £4. For more information call 01706 6488724.