WINDS AND KEYBOARDS

Lunchtime concerts at Chelmsford Cathedral and the Cramphorn Theatre

07.01.11

“Inversion” - flute/organ duo Ruth Stockdale and Robert Smith – started this year's Cathedral Lunchtime Series with a fascinating programme of duets, many in their own arrangements, such as the lovely Meditation by Harold “Bleak Midwinter” Darke, and the flamboyant Saint-Saens Fantaisie which ended the recital. I also very much enjoyed Weisgarber's Fantasia on a theme of Vaughan Williams.

Our schools are well represented in the Fridays up to Easter – Brentwood, Forest, Plume, as well as the Cathedral School – and there's a visit from the Chelmsford Male Voice Choir in March, too.

The Cramphorn Wednesday concerts are also back, with their host and impresario kicking things off with a session featuring his saxes and clarinet, and the piano of his sparring partner Peter Marshall. They eased us gently, and cheerfully, into the New Year with Jelly Roll Morton, and after some unexpected Haydn, medleys of Blues and Dixieland.

But the tune running through my head for the rest of the afternoon was I Wish I Knew, familiar as the theme for Barry Norman's Film Night, penned by jazz legend Billy Taylor, who died last month.

Many more reeds to follow over the next couple of months, including the Darkwood Clarinet Quartet, plus Amy Thompson's flute, and pianist John Human taking us from Bach to Basie.