Wind players go down a storm at Marryat Hall performance

Garry Fraser

While some strings players can sometimes relax in anonymity of large sections, there is no such luxury for wind players.

In amateur or professional orchestras, the exposure suffered demands high proficiency. In fact, each player is a soloist in their own right and many wind players I know couple orchestral unanimity with individual excellence and fine technique.

This is certainly the case with the wind players of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. In their full orchestral capacity, their expertise comes over loud and clear when individual solo are called for.

When performing as an ensemble, their skill and ability is further exposed to great effect.

Two horns, two clarinets, two oboes, two flutes and two bassoons was the line-up at the Marryat Hall in Dundee and this led to a marvellous mix, not only of groupings but of music in general.

From Mozart to Hindemith, via the more obscure Vincent D’Indy and Jean Francaix, the ensemble delivered the finest example of wind playing you’ll ever get the chance to hear.

I thought the opening Mozart Divertimento was a bit tame, but then it wasn’t written as a block-bursting show-stopper.

Hindemith’s Kleine Kamermusik probably was and so generated more excitement and variety, giving each member of the quintet many chances to shine.

The Haydn Trio, for two flutes and bassoon, showed the composer at his simplest yet most effective best, short perhaps in length but leaving nothing to be desired.

A sparkling Beethoven Rondino followed, unmasked a wonderful side to this composer that is overshadowed by his more famous works.

Both D’Indy’s Chanson et Dances and Francaix’s Dances from Les Malheurs de Sophie had a splendid mixture of gravitas and gaiety.

The entire dectet provided a performance that was both captivating and masterful.