HRS Concert Reviews 2008

The Hampshire Recorder Sinfonia kicked off the Christmas season on Old Christmas Eve – Saturday December 6 – in St Faith’s Church Havant. Steve Marshall’s arrangement of My Lady Carey’s Dompe provided the traditional “early music” (should that be spelled “musicke”?) sound which tends to be associated both with recorders and with Christmas, and established the mood of the evening. The acoustic, like that of many churches, tends to favour the upper sonorities which can reinforce any piercing quality in a wayward recorder, but we knew from the first notes that the excellent tuning of the Sinfonia was going to keep us firmly in the comfort zone. There was a wide variety of music, much of it Christmassy either by content or association – Daryl Runswick’s Gloucestershire Wassail Variations, Greg Lewin’s arrangement of the Pearsall In dulci jubilo, Praetorius’ Resonet in Laudibus (pure Classic FM-type relaxation for the audience in this, with the skilful solos of Helen Hooker, Jodie Maspero, Caitlin McHale and Charlie Raines) and some of the seasonal lollipops such as White Christmas (arranged by Denis Bloodworth) and Jingle Bells – another arrangement by Steve Marshall to end the concert. Two of the pieces were arrangements by members of the Sinfonia; Mary Steele’s arrangement of Whence is that goodly fragrance followed Helen Hooker’s Hot Toddy, which Helen herself conducted while the usual conductor, Chris Burgess, provided a jazzy solo.

These shorter items were balanced by three more substantial pieces: Steve Marshall’s A Celtic Cluster, Anne Martin’s arrangement of Vaughan Williams’ Concerto Grosso, and Alan Davis’ version of Warlock’s Capriol Suite (published in 2007, and the third arrangement for recorders of this popular piece). The Vaughan Williams was a demanding play, confidently presented, and its contrasting moments of close harmony and large-scale movement were extremely effective. Helen Hooker’s precision on the sopranino and on the rarely-encountered garklein flötlein gave additional colour in the Capriol Suite.

Considering the usual pressure on concert attendances during the festive season, the audience in Havant was encouragingly large and certainly enthusiastic, which is no more than this concert, with its very well-played and varied music, with more than a touch of humour adding to the general feel-good factor, deserved. 

DB

Drawing on more that four hundred years of music, the Hampshire Recorder Sinfonia (HRS) programme promised something for everyone. We were not disappointed.

From the start, the rhythmic precision of the twenty three players (conducted by Christopher Burgess) gave a crisp, solid base to the dance movements of their first major piece, ‘The Capriol Suite’, while retaining the individual dance-like quality of each movement. The slower, more lyrical ‘Pavane’ and ‘Pieds en l’air’ were beautifully sonorous, the players moving as one. A variety of wooden and plastic instruments were used, but they blended well and the tuning throughout, and on the final chords, was impressive.

Vaughan Williams was well represented with his ‘Concerto Grosso for Strings’, arranged by Anne Martin. I thought that this transferred really well to wind instruments. We also heard his lively ‘English Folk Song Suite’. This was in marked contrast to Steve Marshall’s tricky and energetic ‘Celtic Cluster’.

Helen Hooker, who also leads the orchestra, conducted her own delightfully sleazy arrangement of ‘Hot Toddy’.

However, for me, the highlight of the concert was William Daman’s ‘Fantasia’ played solely on tenors grouped around the audience .This was a truly wonderful, warm sound which sent the small but very appreciative audience into a dull autumn evening with a satisfied glow.

Eileen Troughton

On a warm Gosport afternoon I joined the audience in the United Reformed Church for a concert by the Hampshire Recorder Sinfonia presented by Gosport and Fareham Music Society (with a promise of local strawberries and cream afterwards).

Under their conductor, Chris Burgess, the HRS began with Pachelbel's Canon, arranged by Kunst, which was followed by Steve Marshall's 'Four Medieval Tunes'. I haven't heard a Marshall yet that I didn't like. These tunes maintain a mediaeval atmosphere with a modern feel. I particularly enjoyed Ja Nuns Hons Pris with Helen Hooker's sweet sopranino and the jolly Ductia.

It was all change for the players as they rearranged themselves to perform Canzone Quarta by Giovanni Priuli on Tenors and Basses, followed by Fantasia di sei Soprani by William Daman, blessedly arranged for 6 Tenors, which produced a lovely timbre.

To end the first half, Helen Hooker was the descant soloist in Steve Marshall's 2^nd Recorder Concerto, which he wrote for her. The first movement was an energetic Allegro with strong rhythms, followed by a beautiful Largo with the descant solo floating over the orchestra. The final Vivace conjured up an image of Gene Kelly with jazzy rhythms and wonderful solo flourishes to the end. Bravo to Helen and the HRS. The composer was in the audience and was delighted to hear his work from the front. In previous performances he played in the orchestra.

The second half began with three canzons for two choirs on opposite sides of the church: Canzon 28 by Giovanni Gabrieli, Canzon "La Foccara" by Claudio Bramieri and Canzon Septini Toni by Gabrieli. Next, Moira Usher's terrific arrangement of Ballet Egyptian by Alexandre Luigini brought smiles all round the audience (probably trying to banish images of The Two Ronnies). Chris took the Allegro non Troppo at a scintillating speed, with some great playing from HRS. I loved the tone in the Allegretto.

Dennis Bloodworth's popular arrangement of Elgar's Chanson de Matin was a gentle interlude followed by Vaughan Williams’ Folk Song Suite, commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of his death. The Concert ended with Colonel Bogey by Kenneth J. Alford. I play the HRS recording of this in my car. There was, of course, an encore - Old John's Jig by Steve Marshall.

This was a very full programme in a hall with a sound-soaking acoustic, difficult for the performers but not obvious to the listeners; and the audience was very appreciative.  

Frances Kelson

The Hampshire Recorder Sinfonia, led by Helen Hooker and conducted by their musical director, Christopher Burgess, played an inspired programme of traditional favourites and new musical surprises for ‘St. Thomas’ Handshake to Kware’ at Fair Oak Village Hall on Saturday, May 17^th.

St Thomas’ parishioners have a close connection with the charity to provide education and health care for people in the Kware slum district of SE Nairobi.  Since the project began in 1996, two schools and a small health centre have been established and these continue to be supported by charitable donations.  The HRS concert helped to raise a further £1000 towards the new school and hospital which are under construction.

One of the great benefits of a charity concert such as this is the opportunity for the recorder to touch people whose knowledge and appreciation of the instrument is sketchy at best; hostile at worst.  It is with great pride that HRS values the positive and appreciative remarks from members of the audience, many of whom, until hearing the polished performance of HRS, had openly regarded the recorder with suspicion, even derision.

As the orchestra began their opening number, George Frideric Handel’s ‘The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’, the listeners  were  reported as being ‘stunned by the richness of the sound and the dexterity of the players’.  They found it ‘hard to believe that recorders could sound like that’.  One of the biggest hits was Denis Bloodworth’s wonderful arrangement of Glen Miller’s ‘Moonlight Serenade’, featuring the impressive solo playing of HRS’s star performer, Helen Hooker.

Penny Smith

It was a thrilling chance for pupils from St Alban’s C of E Primary School to play with some of the best in the business.  Seven girls joined the Hampshire Recorder Sinfonia, one of the top recorder orchestras in the country, for a special concert at the school.

Head teacher, Mrs Alice Woodhead said, “They perform only four or five times a year at venues such as Portsmouth Cathedral and Romsey Abbey.  St Alban’s is the first school in which they have performed. We were thrilled that the Sinfonia suggested that some of our own players join the orchestra for part of the concert. The event was very successful with over 100 parents attending. (See photographs of St Alban’s pupils on the ‘HRS Pictures’ page.

(Taken from Pompey Chimes July/August 2008)

Comments by the children: “Fantastic”; “Incredible”; “Lovely”; “Dazzling”; “Scary”; “Brilliant”; “Calming”; “Amazing”; “Skilful”; “Joyful”; “Peaceful”; “Fabulous”.

Concert at Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton, 1999

“ … a warm, rich tone that filled the concert hall. I was struck by their precision and generally tight ensemble which provided an exceptional clarity of line and texture. It really is a delight to be able to hear so clearly all that is going on in a piece. …Chris Burgess in his programming managed to avoid this pitfall [that the sound may be too unvaried]. The variety of texture in Lyndon Hilling’s beautiful “Midsummer Meadow Suite” was one such instance. The small recorder quartet employed in the haunting second movement, “Becket’s Well”, ‘eerily portraying dripping water’ is quite magical. This really is a superb suite, and beautifully played by the orchestra.”

G.D Evans. “The Recorder Magazine” Summer 1999

The HRS Visit to Leiden Autumn 2003: Concert with Blokfluitensemble Praetorius

“The combination of two recorder orchestras, one English and one Dutch, playing together in a Dutch church, with an enthusiastic Dutch audience made for an unforgettable experience for members of the Hampshire Recorder Sinfonia. … After the interval, HRS opened with the lively Gopak by Mussorgsky, to be followed by a varied programme including Byrd’s Pavan and Galliard à 6 and the “Midsummer Meadow Suite” by Lyndon Hilling, the second movement of which was greatly enhanced by having the four soloists playing from the organ loft. The march, “Colonel Bogey (Kenneth Alford arr. C. May) had the audience practically marching in the aisles. However, the pièce de resistance of the concert was undoubtedly the final item, when both orchestras combined to play the Concerto in F by Guiseppe Sammartini (arr. C Burgess and H. Hooker), with Helen Hooker as soloist. It was a great success with the audiences and a wonderful finale to both concerts. Helen’s brilliant playing certainly deserved the standing ovation at Leiden.”

Gillian Kempson-Jones  “The Recorder Magazine” Spring 2004: 30

Concert at Boxgrove Priory, July 2005

“A delightful summer evening, a perfect setting and the Hampshire Recorder Sinfonia provided an excellent concert for the enthusiastic audience in the Priory Church. Impressive was the attention to detail and the phrasing and intonation of the recorder orchestra. … A first class concert in a delightful setting.”

Denis Bloodworth. “The Recorder Magazine”, Autumn 2005

Concert at Hawley Parish Church, March 2006

“… I attended this concert not really knowing what to expect or what sounds I was going to hear. …. I was quite amazed to see the size and range of instruments that make up a recorder orchestra. … I was very impressed with the repertoire. … Elgar certainly works well for the recorder and HRS performed the three works well. The telling one was “Nimrod” from the “Enigma Variations”. I felt that HRS did this work proud. I certainly enjoyed my afternoon and meeting members of HRS and I am more than ever convinced that the Elgar Education Programme Partnership is all the better for HRS’s membership.”

Martyn Marsh “Sinfonia News” Summer 2006

St. Patrick’s Day concert at Holy Trinity Church, Winchester, March 2007

“… an enthusiastic and supportive audience was treated to a broad range of orchestral music exuberantly performed by the Hampshire Recorder Sinfonia. … The lilting Irish music lifted the spirits and energised both players and listeners with its jaunty melodies and exhilarating rhythms. …  As a complete contract of style, mood and construction, the orchestra moved onto William Byrd’s 6 part Fantasia No 2, one item from HRS’s second CD, “A Very English Sound”, which was featured on Radio 3 last October – beautiful fine textured linear movement in a wash of wonderful sounds. … Congratulations to The Hampshire Recorder Sinfonia and Christopher Burgess and to the organiser of this delightful evening.”

Anonymous “Sinfonia News” Summer 2007

Concert at St John’s Chapel, Chichester, May 2007

“…some wonderful music in distinctive style. … The Sinfonia is fortunate to include some exceptionally talented young musicians … a joyous duet which was warmly received by audience and players alike. Helen Hooker, who sets us all a fine example of excellence, dazzled us with her playful and witty sopranino cadenza in Lance Eccles’ “Purple Neon”, raising many smiles from the audience and groans of admiration from the orchestra.”

“Sinfonia News” Summer 2007

Concert at Holy Trinity Church, Bosham as part of the Chichester Festivities, 2007

“… The music ranged from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries with Elgar featuring strongly in the one hundred and fiftieth year of his birth. The musical director and conductor was Christopher Burgess. He used one sixteenth century piece before and after the interval with the musicians in new locations the second time to produce a remarkably different sound for the audience. If more young recorder players could have listened to the concert last month they would surely have been surprised and inspired by what the Sinfonia achieved.”

Eric Hinkley “Bosham Life” August 2007:8