Review by Keith Millar of the performance at the National
Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
The attractive Rhodes Chapel which is situated in the heart
of St Peter’s Lawns at Rhodes University has sumptuous acoustic properties. As
such, it is an ideal venue for chamber music concerts. So this proved to be an
ideal setting for the recital presented by the Wind Octet drawn from members of
the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra.
The KZNPO is the resident orchestra at the National Arts
Festival in Grahamstown this year and this was just one of several concerts
they will be presenting.
The first item on the programme was the Nonet, Petite Symphony, by French composer
Charles Gounod. Gounod lived from 1818 to 1883 and is best known for his
composition Ava Maria and the opera Faust. For the Petite Symphony (Little Symphony), Gounod used the standard wind
octet favoured by Mozart for his Serenades, and added a flute to the ensemble.
By doing this he created a perfect miniaturised symphony configuration suitable
for chamber music.
The centrepiece of this work is the beautiful melody played
by the flute in the second movement. This was exquisitely played by the
Principal Flautist of the KZNPO Sabine Baird. Prominent in the third movement
is a hunting call from the French Horns.
The second item on the programme was Mozart’s Serenade No.
11 in E Flat major. In 1782 the Austrian Emperor wanted to form a court band.
What was regarded as a band at that time was a wind octet made up of two oboes,
two clarinets, two French horns and two bassoons. Mozart composed his Serenade
No. 11 in the hope of securing work at the Emperor’s court. Unfortunately, he did
not get the job.
While this romantic, nocturnal serenade in five movements may
not have been enjoyed by the Emperor, it certainly met with the approval of the
audience at the Rhodes Chapel.
The KZNPO Wind Octet is a cosmopolitan group of musicians
with seven different nationalities represented. However, although they may come
from different countries they are united in music and certainly know how to
play together.
This concert was very well received by the audience and offered
good music expertly played at a very pleasant venue. – Keith Millar
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