This was the title of the last presentation to the Society by Jon Hampton and it featured music based on these Greek elements. Before all, there was chaos and we started with an excerpt from Haydn’s Creation which for its time, was harmonically daring. Next were some songs by Finzi and then an unlikely
titled piece by Martinu – Thunderbolt P47 a near relative of which is shown here at the Chalke Valley History Festival. This was followed by Bantock’s Sea Reivers. Bantock is not often heard now but he was influential in the founding of the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and both Elgar and Sibelius dedicated pieces to him.
Poulenc’s Un Soir de neige followed and then the lively Ritual fire Dance by Manuel de Falla – a piece where the ending never quite seems to come. More Haydn – this time a movement entitled Earthquake from the Last seven Words of our Saviour on the Cross.
Possibly the loudest work in the classical repertoire is the Icelandic composer Leif’s Heklar. This is a musical depiction of the eruption of a volcano by this name which Leif witnessed. Leif studied in Germany and was responsible for organizing the first orchestral concerts in his home country.
The Russian composer Lyadov is not often heard nowadays. He taught at St Petersburg and one of his pupils was Prokofiev. We heard his The Enchanted Lake.
Bruckner’s Abendzauber followed which was composed in 1878 and not performed in his lifetime. It was a popular piece in Austria after the First World War but is seldom heard now. We then heard Messiaen’s Fetes and a piece by Klami just called BF3. Weber’s Ocean thy Mighty Monster was followed by Frank Bridge’s Seafoam. The evening concluded with Britten’s Storm from Peter Grimes.
This was an entertaining evening with the chance to hear some unfamiliar pieces around the central theme. The audience were grateful for the time Jon Hampton put into selecting the works and compiling the programme.
Peter Curbishley
Next meeting on Monday 19 March and will feature the Russian composer Shostakovich. There will be a few slides of Leningrad taken when the composer was still living there.
Salisbury Recorded Music Society 