Flautissimo at St. Peter Mancroft Church

On Saturday 6th October 2012 I attended the latest Mancroft Music Autumn Recital at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich featuring Anna Hopkins on flute and David Morgan on piano and organ in a programme called Flautissimo. Anna Hopkins moved to Norfolk in 2004. She works freelance as well as teaching and also performs on Baroque flute, alto flute and piccolo.

David Morgan lectured music at Norwich City College until 2006 as well as spending twenty five years as organist at St. Edmund's Church in Acle. Since his retirement David has maintained an active career as an accompanist and performs regularly with the Norwich Baroque Orchestra.

The programme consisted of Sonata No.4 in C major - Telemann, Ballade Op.288 - Reinecke, Thema mit Veranderungen and Abendlied from Sechs Stucke Op.150 - Rheinberger, Ashokan Farewell - Ungar, Cantabile et Presto - Enesco and In Ireland - Harty.

This was another wonderful lunchtime to be at St. Peter Mancroft Church in Norwich City Centre. My personal favourites from the recital were Jay Ungar's Ashokan Farewell and Hamilton Harty's In Ireland. Both Anna Hopkins and David Morgan played splendidly with a well though out and varied programme.

Dexterity Trio Delight

On Sunday 4th December 2011 I took the afternoon walk to St. Andrew's Church, Eaton, Norwich for the latest concert in the Eaton Concert Series with the Dexterity Trio featuring Anna Hopkins - flute, Maja Passchier - cello and David Morgan - piano.

The programme consisted of Trio no 30 in F major - Haydn, Trio Miniaturen - Juon, Trio - Steel, Sonata in G minor - Telemann, Sonate en Concert - Damase and Kleines Trio on Irish Themes - Rowley. A varied programme that made for an interesting afternoon of music.

All members of this Norfolk-based trio are highly respected musicians with successful careers devoted to teaching and performing. They provided a delightful concert for the enthusiastic audience which included informative commentary on the pieces from David Morgan.

Sounds of Splendour fill St. Peter Mancroft with joy

On Saturday 8th October 2011 it was the first of the Autumn 2011 Recitals at St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich  with the Sounds of Splendour featuring music for trumpet and organ. John Coulton and David Dunnett were back by popular demand to have our ears jumping for joy.

John Coulton has worldwide experience recording and performing live with some of the world's best musicians. He has performed the Shostakovich Concerto for Piano and Trumpet at the Proms and is a regular on the East of England music scene.

David Dunnett is the Organist and Master of Music at Norwich Cathedral as well as choral conductor of the Norwich Philharmonic Society. Along with John Coulton he has recorded Sounds of Splendour and Sounds of Grandeur featuring music for trumpet and organ.

The programme consisted of Prelude to the Te Deum - Charpentier, La Rejouissance - Telemann, Suite in D major for Trumpet and Strings - Handel, Trois Prieres Sans Paroles - Damase, The Prayer of Saint Gregory - Hovhaness, Marche Triomphale - Guilmant, Shenandoah - Traditional and Tico Tico - Abreu.

We had the extremes of the pair playing in front of us to them playing in the heavens of the church which made for an exciting and varied recital. This was a wonderful and splendid way to start the new series of Autumn Recitals presented by Mancroft Music.

The Brook Street Band at the Eaton Concert Series

On Sunday 4th September 2011 I made my way to St. Andrew's Church, Eaton, Norwich for the first of the Sunday afternoon concerts in the Eaton Concert Series for the 2011/12 season. The opening date saw a performance from The Brook Street Band performing a splendid programme of Baroque Music including works from Handel, Bach and Vivaldi.

The programme for the concert was Violin sonata in D major Op 5 No 1 - Corelli, Cello sonata in C major Op 3 No 10 - Jacchini, Lascia ch'io pianga - Handel, Cello sonata in B flat major No 1 RV 47 - Vivaldi, Violin sonata in F major HWV 370 - Handel, Allemande from Partita No 4 in D major BWV 828 - Bach, Cello sonata in D Major - Telemann and Violin sonata in D minor Op 5 No 12 La Follia - Corelli.

Farran Scott on Baroque violin, Tatty Theo on Baroque cello and Carolyn Gibley on Harpsichord provided us with wonderful performances of the highest quality which were greatly enjoyed by the audience. With great enthusiasm and expert commentary between works The Brook Street Band was an inspired choice to open this season's Eaton Concert Series.