The Forest of Dean Orchestra enjoyed performing an exciting concert at St Peter’s Church in Newnham-on-Severn. A wonderful spring day which embraced an equally spritely music programme!
The concert began with Debussy’s ‘Petite Suite’ for orchestra which was originally written for piano duet. It was orchestrated by Debussy’s colleague Busser who brought Debussy’s piano duet to concert performance. The light arrangement that Busser made to Debussy’s score brought spring in abundance to St. Peter’s Church and the orchestra rose to the occasion with sublime strings providing a backdrop for luxurious woodwind excerpts to interject depicting scenes of ‘En Bateau’ (In a boat) where the glorious flute melodies floated above the rippling rivers of strings. The ‘Cortege’ was a delicious texture of crisp woodwind playing with sustained strings underneath to create the procession effect and the Menuet was punctuated with clear dance movement and skilful tempo effect which led into a delightful Ballet which was light and entrancing, bringing Debussy’s piano duet entirely into the light to which it deserved.
After, the orchestra was excited to introduce the amazing young soloist, Zach Rusling. He played Ney Rosaauro’s Marimba concerto number 1. Ney Rosauro is a Brazilian born composer, considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and a percussionist and this piece is the most widely performed marimba concerto. Its driving rhythmic complexity and soulful timbres conjure a vibrant Latin image. It’s a work of pure joy. Zach performed the work exhibiting emotional and dynamic contrasts and virtuosic brilliance on marimba percussion. His cadenzas assimilated material and transformed it into mesmeric magic as we watched his beaters fly to create music in front of our eyes. The orchestra supported him by creating an atmospheric backing to the Brazilian flare that we observed.
Image: Zach Rusling , credit Phil Quinlan
The mighty Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony concluded the evening’s concert. Again, a deceptive simplicity belies this towering masterpiece of Western art. We could hear the birdsong references, occasionally distantly heard on the upper strings, but more audible in the woodwinds. We also have a rumbustious country dance, a huge storm and then a final moment of peace and blissful calm.
This concluded the wonderful ‘Moods of Spring’ concert from the Royal Forest of Dean Orchestra, which was in essence a bud of spring to come.
Retiring collection: A big thank you to our audience for raising £208.62 for The Family Haven, a charity helping disadvantaged and vulnerable families in Gloucestershire to a brighter future.
Author: Beth Underwood