The long reach of history was felt in the Colyer-Fergusson concert-hall today, as the Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments wove ancient magic in the last of this term’s lunchtime concerts.
Clare Salaman and Benedicte Maurseth brought not only an exotic range of instruments to the concert, but a wonderfully exploratory sense too; as Clare revealed during the performance, the idea of the programme arose from a desire to explore what musical connections and creativity might have been shared between Scandinavia and the north of England, and combined music by Marais and Purcell with traditional Norwegian folk-music. Both musicians demonstrated wonderful finesse as they drew light-footed musical arabesques before a spell-bound audience.
Afterwards, the players must have felt like pop stars, as the stage was mobbed by an eager audience keen to learn more about the Hardanger fiddle, the hurdy-gurdy and the nyckelharpa.
The programme finished with two medieval carols in a nod to the current season, and was an evocative way in which to draw this term’s lunchtime concert series to a close.
The series returns next term, details will be published in the New Year.
As expected the band played with military precision, and there were some virtuosic solos from all the sections, including an stunning clarinettist. A group of them even dressed up in 18th century costume and used original instruments (including a serpent) to play a march which Mozart had written for the band and then used in the Marriage of Figaro.
