Reporter: Dr Joe Dawson
Date online: 12/06/2008

Bamford Chapel present midday music each second Tuesday in the months of October to May from 12.45 to 1.45 pm with refreshments from 12 noon. They have a variety of artistes and this week Stuart Marshall Head of Music at Wardle High presented some of his sixth form students.

The brass Quartet was not a conventional one but Nick Jackson solo cornet; Kate Harwood horn; Stephen Lord baritone horn and Michael Kowalski trombone, adjusted the music to suit admirably.

They started and finished the concert with the first movement of Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, which they clearly enjoyed playing as much as the audience did.

We also had a rousing version of the sea shanty The Drunken Sailor, followed by a sombre American spiritual piece with a cheeky minstrel tune as a coda.

A peaceful and moving arrangement of Cradle Song by Brahms contrasted well with two lively arrangements of French traditional songs, Il est Bel et Bon and Frere Jacques.

These are clearly skilled individuals but their ensemble playing was of a high order too, demonstrating excellent communication skills.

Lucy Smethurst in contrast provided solo songs by Holst, Bernstein and Purcell before performing one her own compositions, a popular song 'What if …' accompanying herself at the keyboard.

Kate Harwood also played an expressive solo performance of Liebestraum by Liszt on the horn, accompanied by Lucy.

The audience were enthralled at the talented bunch of five and had a most enjoyable midday concert.

Mein Host Walter Brisk pointed out how keen they were at Bamford Chapel to encourage youth music: three of the concerts they put on each year are by Wardle High School, Chethams School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music.

Wardle High Brass Quartet and Friends
Midday Music
Bamford Chapel
14 January 2003