I emerged from almost 2 months of cold after cold in time for the new year's concert beginnings. Firstly, the still-quite-dark January days were much brightened by Boxwood & Brass' visit to Skipton Music.
As a six-piece group, Boxwood and Brass perform on replica late 18th-century wind instruments (clarinet, horn, bassoon). They use these instruments in performing music of the era, showing how much the colour and texture variety of early instruments was used by composers such as Beethoven, Mozart and Weber. Each instrument was introduced to the audience - the basics of how they worked compared to the modern instrument, how different keys suited different instruments, and more!
Of the programme, I particularly enjoyed the two arrangements (by bassoonist Robert Percival) of two Mozart pieces - the Serenade in C minor K388/406 and the Symphony No 39 in E flat K.543 - character, colour of sound and texture excellently demonstrated (though that's not to say that I didn't enjoy Beethoven's Sextet in E flat Op.71 or Weber's adagio and rondo).
I felt like I was listening differently. The earlier instruments did not have the range of projection that is available with modern instruments so the whole dynamic level was quieter. The way the sounds came together, coupled with the style of music, was also very subtle - concentration needed, definitely an active listening experience!
By contrast, Friday's lunchtime concert at University of Leeds School of Music featured rising stars The Solem Quartet in a performance of Beethoven's String Quartet No. 8 (second of the Op. 59 Rasumovsky cycle) with a selection of Adès to start. Is it the choice of the season? - as the Adès, The Four Quarters (2011) was performed at Skipton Music in October by Doric String Quartet. This time, only 2 movements - Days and The Twenty-Fifth Hour. Benefitted from repeat listening though I still like Morning Dew the best of the four movements... The Beethoven quartet was super - big, ambitious (presumably very challenging to play) with a really gorgeous second movement and a jolly gallop in the 4th movement - sounded to me like a ride out on a sunny day but then the horses get spooked...
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