Saksofoon Kwartet skitter

The “Sax Concert”.  Noboby really knew what to expect when the four members of the Connections Quartet  stepped on stage, that Thursday night, the 26^th February 2015. Saxophones for the lovers of classical music? The audience was enthralled by the nuances and range and emotions emanating from the four instruments in the hands of true artists, all in the romantic light of gas lamps and candles (due, of course, to ESKOM load shedding). 

Adam, Paul, Cecile, Liam

Die saksofoon, ‘n kopersblaasinstrument, word meestal verbind met jazz-musiek maar hierdie keer het ons kennis gemaak met musiek in klassieke styl deur vier verskillende saksofone soos in ‘n koor: sopraan, alt, tenoor en bariton.

“Connections”, a group of four musicians from France and South Africa, treated the audience to a very unusual and inspiring programme. Their leader is petite Cecile du Bois, a professor of the Saxophone at a Conservatorium of Music in France. Paul Richard, also French, currently teaches the saxophone in Port Elizabeth.  Adam Campbell learnt to play the sax in South Africa where he achieved several prestigious music awards before leaving for France to take lessons from Prof du Bois.  Liam Burden studied at the University of Stellenbosch where he obtained his B.Mus and B.Mus Honns Cum Laude. He is currently the conducter of the Hugo Lambrechts Symphony Orchestra in Cape Town and is part-time lecturer at Stellenbosch University.

Die energieke vertoning het beïndruk en dit was van meet af aan duidelik dat elkeen 'n meester van die instrument is en geniet om dit te bespeel.  Voor elke komposisie het die jong kunstenaars iets van die werk wat volg vertel en ook uitgebrei oor die instrumente self - iets wat die gehoor baie waardeer het.  Die program het o.a. ingesluit: “Rondeante” en “El Lamento” , twee kontrasterende werke van die moderne Spaanse komponis David Salleras;  ‘n kwartet in klassieke styl van Haydn – wat baie herinner het aan Mozart;  twee tangos met hul kenmerkende ritme; en ‘n werk met verskillende Suid-Amerikaanse ritmes: die Rumba, Valse, en Cha-cha.

Twee komposisies van een van die groeplede, Paul Richerd, was groot treffers en die toegif, ‘n Wals in Joodse styl, het groot byval gevind. ‘n Deel van die sukses van die konsert was beslis die entoesiasme en energie waarmee hierdie jong musikante die musiek oorgedra het.

It was a extraordinary, highly enjoyable evening.  Remember, the Stilbaai Music Society always endeavours to bring   music of the highest quality by outstanding artists, and their performance  can aptly be described as “interesting and unusual”.  Another first for our Society.