MONZANI TRIO

On Sunday, 26th November, a capacity audience turned out to attend the first concert, in its new venue, of the Cowal Music Club. Now in partnership with the newly refurbished Burgh Hall. This concert was performed by the Monzani Trio,a recently formed group of young musicians including Rachel Spencer who has already entertained us as a member of the Roxburgh Quartet.The other members being Lee Holland (flute ) and Fergus Egan (cello).

The programme they had chosen was very varied and interesting : the first piece being a Corelli,Trio Sonata 1 that they have been playing for about a year. This enjoyable work, was played in London originally by a group including the flautist, Monzani, from whom the group have taken their name.

Next, the London Trio3, by Haydn, a work in 3 movements all,of course , a joy of the baroque era.

Then we had the well-known “ Chanson de Matin” from Edward Elgar with its enchanting dreamy tones.

Having moved from the baroque with the last piece the group returned to the Trio Sonata V1 by Carl Stamitz, a German contemporary of Haydn. This sonata had 2 movements,allegro and rondo , a very tuneful and enjoyable work by a little known composer.

Moving on to the fifth and final piece of the first half of the concert we had a very different experience listening to Rumanian Folk Dances collected and arranged by Bela Bartok who, with his friend, Kodaly, wrote down the music which had previously been passed on verbally in the folk tradition. Originally arranged for piano, the dances have been rearranged for the group by Rachel Spencer.As one would expect the dances range from gentle and romantic to wild and passionate.

After the interval, we came to the modern Scottish composer, Eddie McGuire, a friend of the Trio. His work is familiar to the Cowal Club as he composed a special piece for the 70th anniversary of the club. This time, however, we heard the delightful selection of Four Dorset Folksongs arranged by him. Apparently he is a frequent visitor to that area and knows it well.

Last but not least, we were introduced to Eugene Walckiers' “Grand Tour for Flute , Violin and Cello Op 35. Walckiers a French flautist and composer (born 1793) who seems to be little knownalthough he has made a considerable number of works. This piece perhaps can be considered quite a “tour de force”comprising 4 movements and has more than a flavour of the opera as, apparently, he was much influenced by Rossini I think it is true to say that he produced a very enjoyable piece that probably deserves more attention and it made a suitably fitting finale to this initial concert in the Burgh Hall. To round things off we were also

given an encore in the form of “Bonnie Doone.