Aberdeen Press and Journal, Alan Cooper
The Galliard Wind Ensemble with pianist Tim Horton completed their recital for Aberdeen Chamber Music Club in the Cowdray Hall last night with a boisterous performance of Poulencs sextet for piano and wind. Its opening brought the atmosphere of the bustling boulevards of Paris with their rushing crowds and honking taxis right into the Cowdray Hall. It was easily the best of five excellent performances.
The programme opened with music from a completely different world, this time without the piano -three movements from Handels Water Music all bright and clear with the familiar hornpipe sounding especially lively and refreshing.
Mozart’s Quintet in E Flat K452 contrasted with Beethoven’s Quintet Opus 16 in the same key in that not just the piano but all the other instruments too had prominent solo parts which stood out nicely in Beethoven’s more robust music. Yet Tim Hortons light and liquid sounding piano in the Mozart Quintet was a real joy and the others followed his lead with beautiful, delicate and fluent playing.
Flautist Kathryn Thomas was left out of the two Quintets which used Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and horn along with the piano. But she had her moment in the lime light playing Ibert’s Aria for Flute and Piano which she did with effortless smoothness and captivating charm.
