RAMSBOTTOM RECORDED MUSIC SOCIETY
MEMBER Gwyneth Adshead got the 2018/2019 season off to a good start with her presentation Stimulate or Soothe.
Gwyneth grew up in a home where music was enjoyed, resulting in a life in music, especially song which manifested by being a member of the Bolton Choral Union for over 30 years.
Music to stimulate included: Music for the Royal Fireworks and the aria My Arms – Sound the Alarm from Judas Maccabaeus (both by Handel), the latter sung by Richard Lewis – Gwyneth’s cousin, Hosanna in Excelsis from the Mass in B minor (JS Bach) in which Gwyneth has sung as a chorister, the Scherzo from 4th Piano Concerto (Litolff), Allegro last movement of Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto, the Intermezzo from the Karelia Suite (Sibelius) and the Allegro from the Oboe Concerto No. 6. (Albinoni). Music to soothe brought calm and serenity as expressed by: Air on a G String and Gavotte (JS Bach), Andante from the Harp Concerto (Glière) – a work which gives no hint of the turbulent times when it was composed – 1938, Andante from Piano Concerto No. 21 (Mozart), Clair de Lune (Debussy), Adagio from the Clarinet Concerto (Crusell), played by Emma Johnson who in 1984 won the BBC Young Musician of the year.
Having Welsh lineage, the voice had played an important part of the programme and in particular: Jonas Kaufmann – singing Ombra di Nube (Refice) and Suo Gan – a traditional Welsh lullaby complete with harp. Throughout the evening Gwyneth had delighted us with her good humour and the interesting accounts of family and life and concluded with the choral item Do Not Be Afraid (Philip Stopford).
The next meeting of the society will be held on Thursday, September 6 when guest Derek Haslam will present A Boult from the Blue.
For further details visit Facebook, contact Richard W Hall, telephone 01706 823 490 or e-mail r.w.hall45@hotmail.co.uk.