At the first meeting of the New Year, members of the Arts Club were entertained by the club treasurer, Nick Hockenhull, who has a great love for every kind of music and is especially interested in the technicalities of the art.
The programme was given a rousing start with Rossini's 'William Tell Overture' played by massed bands. Apparently it is reported that Rossini believed that overtures could be composed almost overnight and needed no lengthy preparation!
Following this well-known piece, Nick played the last movement of the Concerto Grosso by Corelli, a 17th century composition in which a small group of instruments takes the solo part, accompanied by the larger orchestra.
Elgar's Enigma Variations was the next item and the audience was invited to solve the reason why No. 9 Nimrod was so named. The ebullient music fitted the character of his publisher, Mr. Jaegar, very well. Members were delighted to hear their old friends, the Memphis 7, with Hoagy Carmichael's 'The Nearness of You' being played by Ray Jones on keyboard, accompanied by double bass and drums. Ray's clever extemporisation held everyone spellbound.
A very old recording of Handel's 'Where'er you Walk' featuring Leon Goossens, George Thalben-Ball, Edward Walker and George Crozier was a welcome reminder of this piece, now rarely heard but popular 30 or 40 years ago.
A complete contrast came in the form of Bailes de Andalucia, flamenco music with its persistent rhythms and its joyful song.
A second musical puzzle gave the audience food for thought with part of Liszt's 'Präeludium und Fugue über den Namen Bach' played on the Great Organ of St. Peter's Cathedral in Bremen. Here members were helped to solve the puzzle by Nick's expert knowledge of the subject and his helpful clues.
From the 23 pieces of the Peer Gynt Suite by Grieg, the first one 'Morning' is probably the best known. Its atmosphere of peace and tranquility has great appeal to almost everyone.
As a fitting finale to his programme, Nick chose 'Worthy is the Lamb' from Handel's oratorio 'The Messiah'. On this recording, the piece was performed by the Scholars Baroque Ensemble, a group of 14 singers and 15 instruments, quite a contrast from the massed choirs usually heard performing it. The Great Amen was an appropriate finish to a very enjoyable evening.
The chairman, John Beynon, warmly thanked Nick for all the time and hard work he must have spent in producing such a splendid programme for them. Tonight (Friday) will also be a presentation by members with 'Poetry Please!' Non-members are very welcome at Church House at 8 pm.