First Sunday of the month concert series at Christ Church
SUNDAY afternoon is an ideal time to attend concerts. They are in fact far more refreshing to the soul than a midday nap – particularly when held at 3pm in the tranquil setting of Constantia’s Christ Church (CCC). This was behind well-known clarinettist Matthew Reid’s thinking when, last year, he instituted his “first Sunday of the month” concert series at CCC.
Why there I asked? “Why not?” he quipped. “So much great music has grown out from the churches, it’s a perfect venue. What more beautiful setting can you have than a church with meaningful stained glass windows, high wooden rafters, a large altar area for artistes, excellent acoustics and parking space? But don’t misunderstand me. Our concerts are not just church music related. We present an eclectic mix from international and local music to cater for all musical tastes, while simultaneously giving exposure to many Cape Town musicians.”
I can vouch for that. Recently I attended a Sunday afternoon concert given by the famous, award winning Tygerberg Children’s Choir. As these beautiful youngsters, none older than 14 years, sang their songs from a repertoire ranging from Afrikaans liedjies, Bach, Gounod’s Ave Maria, R Murray Schafer’s intriguing North American Indian Miniwanka (Moments of Water) and Hendrik Hofmeyer’s arrangement of The Click Song made famous by Miriam Makeba, it soon became apparent that even at this one-off recital what unusual musical blends Reid lines up for his audience.
From Russian With Love on 4 October features violinist Farida Bacharova and pianist Francois du Toit. They play works by Alfred Schnittke, Frederick Chopin, Sergei Rachmaninov, Pytor Tchaikovsky, plus a recent work by Capetonian composer Martin Watt. On 1 November its Beethoven’s Septet in E Flat Major Op 20. This work which, much to Beethoven’s chagrin, proved more popular than his symphonies, presents Suzanne Martens (violin), Karin Gaertner (viola), Peter Martens (cello), Roxanne Steffen (double bass), Simon Ball (bassoon), Peter Amon (French horn) and Reid himself on clarinet.
The final 2015 concert on December 6 features folk band Ottoman Slap playing music from Andalusia, the Balkans, Middle East, as well as vocals in
Spanish and Roma.
After a festive season break, concerts resume on February 7 2016 with Derek Gripper in Concert. Gripper, who in 2012
released his ninth album, One Night on Earth: Music from the Strings of Mali, interprets Toumani Diabate’s 21-string kora compositions. Of Gripper’s musicianship Nigel Williamson of Songlines Magazine says “Gripper has cracked it... his playing has a depthless beauty, which does full justice to the complexity of Toumani’s compositions.” That event sounds like an auditory experience not to be missed. As does French composer Claude Bolling’s Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio on March 6. At thisconcert Liesl Stoltz (flute), Victor Tichart (piano), Brydon Bolton (bass) and Frank Mallows (drums) will entertain with
Bach’s Wachet auf, fut uns die stimme (Awake, calls the voice to us) and Mike Mower’s Sonata Latino for flute and salsa trio.
Reid, a quietly spoken man blessed by a great sense of humour, is so passionate about music he has, to a certain extent, put his own playing career on hold to give him space and time to organise concerts.
“For whatever reasons, many music lovers aren’t able to attend evening concerts, so these Sunday afternoons fill a musical void in their lives. While our programmes present mainstream music and artists, I none-the-less strive to present novel, but “listenable to” music. On average CCC’s concerts don’t last longer than 90 minutes. And with a wine/coffee break for the ticket price of R100 our patrons can spend a worthwhile Sunday afternoon.”
Reid grew up in Durban, and encouraged by his father learnt piano, clarinet and in due course took up saxophone. He graduated BMus (Hons) from UCT College of Music. Then on a SASOL Youth Orchestra prize went to London for post graduate studies in performance at the Royal College of Music.
Apart from performing himself, Reid runs four bands catering for all types of functions. He started a klezmer band in 1999 and directed the annual Yiddish Song Festival in Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre for 11 years. His Balkan band Playing With Fire was one of the founding bands for the Cape Town Balkanology parties. Reid, together with his groups of enthusiastic musicians is available to play at all manner of functions, for all manner of people. While presenting concerts at Constantia’s Christ Church Reid and “friends” are providing great Sunday afternoon entertainment to “musictomanes” on that side of this exciting city.
To book for CCC concerts: Jean, 021 794 5051 from Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm, or Anne 082 218 0100.