A new overture makes its debut
In the torrent of international musical talent which rushes around us in this Celebration Year, the contribution of local musicians might easily pass unheeded.
Not so the York Symphony Orchestra, whose concert on Saturday, whose concert on Saturday consisted of highly attractive works played with fine festival flair.
The hall at St. Peter's SDchool was well filled to hear Francis Jackson conducting his own overture - Brigantia - specially commisioned for this concert and receiving its first performance.
The programme opened with a happy Marriage of Figaro Overture followed by the Concerto for Harp by Handel.
The combination of harp, muted violins, pizzicato bass and romantic cadenza made rather a pre-war Hamilton-Harty impression, but this is not meant unkindly - rather the reverse, for the effect was quite delightful, and Susan Drake showed the tonal range of the harp most beautifully. Debussy's Danse Sacree et Profane found some uneasiness in the violins, though the tone was nicely light and blended with the fluent harp.
Sparkling
Francis Jackson's Brigantia is a fine work in a genial English style; it is orthodox, which certainly does not mean that it is dull. Indeed it is a sparkling composition containing nothing offensive, but revelling in the brilliant orchestration of the best British school.
The York Symphony Orchestra may feel proud to have this work which they played with great success and enthusiasm, for it is worthy of a place in wider repertoires. For the present, it is a welcome spring flower for York to wear in its celebrations button-hole.
The strong Russian flavour of Borodin's B minor Symphony stood out in rugged contrast, and again the York Symphony Orchestra was equal to the task.
In a work built in many places on fragmented themes, it was pleasing to hear these emerging clearly, yet unforced, from the inner parts of the orchestra; the climaxes were thrilling without raucous vulgarity, and delicate parts of the second movement with the unusual repeated note wind figure were as effective as the warm themes of the slow movement.
K.R.P.