An English Country Garden

  St James Church, Lower Hutt.  Sunday 3pm, 5 August 2018.

  Conductor Mark Carter

This concert of music by mainly English composers began with lively performance of Vaughan Williams  "English Folk Song Suite".
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 This was followed by Elgar's "Severn Suite".  Originally composed solely for brass, it was later orchestrated by Elgar. This version was lost for many years and only rediscovered recently.

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This work full of contrasts and in keeping with its origin, features the brass section and percussion (the two key parts of a brass band).  The orchestrated version expands the percussion with timpani, the full wind section and strings.


After the interval, when the audience enjoyed the complimentary afternoon tea, the strings featured in two movements from Britten's "Simple Symphony", including the rhythmical "Playful pizzicato". 

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Conductor Mark Carter introduced all the pieces with his usual knowledge and brand of humour.

More music by Vaughan Williams followed.  The beautiful flute solo and flute duet in "Fantasia on Greensleeves" were showcased by the acoustics of St James Church.

The well-known "Country Gardens", although by Australian composer Percy Grainger, was a fitting addition to the programme.   Malcolm Arnold's "Four Cornish Dances" featured great playing by all sections of the orchestra and concluded with a very energetic "Allegro". 
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The concert concluded with Eric Coates "Dambusters March"

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