Chipping Sodbury Music Society concert review by Gerry Philp:

AN EVENING with the Oboe Family was the title of the Chipping Sodbury Music Society March concert.

The Reed Warblers Oboe Quartet, Christine Griggs, Janet Hopkins, Sarah Lindon and Alison Slater treated the audience to arrangements of music ranging from Henry Purcell born 1659 to Bruce Broughton born 1945, played on no less than 10 instruments including two very rare bass oboes.

Purcell’s Fantasia’s stately slow movements were complemented by incisive fast movements.

Telemann and Scarlatti were contemporaries and their sonatas proved equally tuneful and full of high spirits.

The wind trio of Joseph Triebensee, a little known Austrian composer of the early 19th century, proved an interesting work with many opportunities for the players to shine.

The UK Premiere of Bruce Broughton’s music for oboes, a modern work, had a light-hearted and bouncy first movement and a finale full of quotes from other works.

Arrangements of well known nursery rhymes by Christopher Weait proved a real hit, enjoyed by players and audience alike.

The final item, the Finale from Dvorak’s Quartet known as the ‘American’ captured its open air spirit. The unique soundstage provided by the oboe family was well received by an appreciative audience.

Our next concert will provide a rare opportunity to hear a duo playing Accordion and Cello, featuring Bartosz Glowacki and Corentin Chassard, on Tuesday, April 11.

Bartosz is one of the leading lights of a new generation of accordionists. His artistic goal is to improve awareness of the accordion in classical music, as well as to develop a new repertoire for his instrument.

Corentin studied in St Malo, Paris and London and is a member of the award-winning Mercury Quartet which performs classic works of the 20th century, alongside improvisations and live compositions, new commissions and unknown masterpieces.

  • Tickets can be purchased from ticketsource.co.uk/csmusicsociety or the Box Office on 01454 315741 and further information may be found on the website at csmusicsociety.co.uk