Flyer (495KB)

On Friday 27th January we held the AGM of the music society preceded by our customary short concert. This year it was given by "Baroquenroll", a duo between recorder player and pianist ,with Louise Salmond Smith partnered by David Butler playing an hour of attractive and unusual music from the 16th to the 19th century.

Entering from behind the audience and proceeding down the aisle rather in the manner of the Pied Piper but without the children, Louise made a dramatic appearance whilst playing Jacob van Eyck`s "English Nightingale" to great effect. This was followed by "Variations Brillantes"by Ernst Krahmer which certainly lived up to its name, before being joined by the pianist in an exciting performance of Gordon Jacob`s "Suite" of three pieces.

Reverting again to solo playing, Louise used different types of recorders in music by Nigel Hess and Annette Ziegenmeyer, the latter`s "Na Zdrowie" being performed with an intricate recorder backing which I presume was also done by herself.

Hereafter, David Butler changed to the organ for Bob Chilcott`s "Sun Dance",one of five dances for organ and recorder, and staying together, followed with a spirited rendering of Vittorio Monti`s well loved "Czardas" which was played on a cheap plastic recorder to show what was possible with this somewhat derided instrument !

To add the cherry to top a fine concert, this gifted duo performed "Tambourin" by Gossec, beloved by James Galway as an encore, before some of the audience departed for the not so spirited AGM !!

P.B.

Baroquenroll

Hiding behind the apparently respectable image of a Baroque recorder and harpsichord duo, Louise and David are on a mission to entertain. Through a programme spanning centuries, they present highly charged performances of Baroque masterpieces, virtuoso showstoppers, and repertoire in a variety of 20th Century and contemporary styles – with some wholly original work thrown in for good measure. Combining serious musicianship with a thoroughly infectious sense of fun, an evening with Baroquenroll promises musical satisfaction with a zesty twist of irreverence.

Louise Salmond Smith took up the recorder at the age of seventeen whilst a scholar at Clayesmore School, Dorset. Louise spent a number of years as a leading member of the renowned Orlando Singers, Dorset Chamber Opera, Ely Consort, Norwich Cathedral Consort and the Norfolk and Norwich festival chorus. Louise graduated in Music from the University of East Anglia in 1998, where she was the holder of the Britten-Pears (96-97) and the Hansell Stevenson (97-98) Scholarships, and has been a pupil of Ross Winters and Pamela Thorby.

She has performed solo concerti with various ensembles including the Orquesta de Cámara de Chile, and at numerous festivals throughout the UK including the Cardiff Festival, the Wirksworth Festival and the Aldeburgh Festival. She has also performed Malcolm Arnold's Recorder Concerto in the presence of the composer. Louise is Head of Tormead Junior School.

David Butler lives in Cardiff, South Wales. He was educated at Christ College, Brecon, before winning an Organ Scholarship to Peterhouse in Cambridge in 1995. He studied at Cambridge for four years, gaining a degree in Music and directing Peterhouse Chapel Choir as well as studying the organ under Peter Hurford and Anne Page. It was whilst at Cambridge that David met Louise and they began performing together, debuting at Llangollen International Eisteddfod in North Wales in 1996.

Since leaving Cambridge David has pursued a varied musical life. He is currently organist and choirmaster of All Saints Rhiwbina, Cardiff and directs 'Voces Petrensium', a choir for former singers of Peterhouse. He has accompanied choirs in many of the great UK cathedrals.

When not playing or conducting, David has even been known to sing, and can frequently be spotted in the Bass section of choirs as diverse as the BBC National Chorus of Wales and Llandaff Cathedral Choir.

Baroquenroll have performed in some of the most beautiful venues in the world including several Cathedrals, Boston’s King’s Chapel, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, many college chapels in Oxford and Cambridge, and numerous Parish Churches.