BRITISH MUSIC SOCIETY OF NORTHERN IRELAND 1955 1956 FIRST RECITAL under the auspices of THE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST THE WIGMORE ENSEMBLE GEOFFREY GILBERT PETER GRAEME JACK BRYMER GWYDION BROOKE ALLAN CIVIL JEAN POUGNET FREDERICK RIDDLE WILFRED PARRY Flute Oboe 1955 Clarinet Bassoon Horn Violin Viola Pianoforte The Sir William Whitla Hall Queen's University, Belfast FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7th

QUINTET IN E FLAT, K.452 2061 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Largo Allegro molto Larghetto Rondo Allegretto Two outstanding quintets exist for oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn and piano: Mozart, K.452, and Beethoven, Op. 16. Both are in the same key and modelled on the same plan. Mozart wrote his work in 1784 and in a letter to his father stated that he considered it his finest composition to date. Indeed it is an outstanding work even in a consideration of Mozart's whole output. Here once again is evidence of his infallible instinct for showing each instrument at its best, his perfect sense of balance and of design. After the slow introduction (note the falling scale passages, which occur again in the Allegro), the piano gives out the cantabile melody which dominates the first movement. The Larghetto contains some of Mozart's most exquisite ideas; in particular the listener should watch out for the wonderful modulations at the end of the development section. The final Rondo is a light-hearted affair, full of surprises, not the least of which is the extraordinary cadenza in tempo towards the end. SERENADE IN D MAJOR, Op. 25 Entrata-Allegro Minuet and Trio Allegro Theme and Variations Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Scherzo Adagio Allegro Vivace Written in 1795, the Serenade for flute, violin and viola is in fact a Divertimento, a series of short, pretty movements designed as a background to conversation. Mozart excelled in this type of writing and Beethoven's work is modelled on the older composer. The six movements are all concise and simple -the theme and three variations form the most developed section of the work-but no one could fail to fall under the spell of the gaiety and charm of this music. INTERVAL

SEXTUOR (1932-39) Allegro Vivace Divertissement-Andante Finale Presto Francis Poulenc (1899- ) Poulenc has always been opposed to any pretension in composition his sole aim is for pleasantness rather than great- ness and his music must be approached with this in mind. He has a rare melodic gift and though one can detect every style from Bach to Bartok, somehow he manages to superimpose his own personality. His forms are not difficult to follow, a quick section is contrasted with a slow or vice versa. In this work the writing is for virtuosi and each instrument is brilliantly exploited. The lyrical beauty of the slow movement is perhaps the highlight of the work. SUITE FOR VIOLIN, CLARINET AND PIANO Ouverture Divertissement Darius Milhaud (1892- ) Jeu Introduction and Final Of all modern composers Darius Milhaud must be one of the most prolific. He has written fourteen operas alone and the incidental music to a score of plays. This suite is drawn from that to Anouilh's play "Le Voyageur sans Bagages", written in 1936, and is an example of the composer's typical use of themes ranging from folk song to jazz. The third movement. is of interest in being scored for violin and clarinet alone. DIX-SEPT VARIATIONS, Op. 22 Jean-Michel Damase (1928) Jean-Michel Damase will be a new name to many, but he has already established himself as a French composer and pianist, having won the Prix de Rome in 1947 at the age of nineteen. His style exhibits the usual French modern tenden- cies clarity, brilliance and charm, allied to a certain acidity. From the statement of the theme by the clarinet and bassoon to the brilliant finish, there is evidence of a polished technique and melodic invention with many touches of humour, as in the fifth variation for solo bassoon.

Next Concert - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21st Schubert: Brahms: Wolf: GERHARD HUSCH ERNEST LUSH Baritone Pianoforte Der Wanderer; Ganymed; Der Doppelgänger; Widerschein; Der Musensohn. Wir wandelten; Liebe und Frühling; Die Mainacht; Blinde Kuh; Ständchen. Gesegnet sei; Auf einer wanderung; Der Feuer- reiter; Der Gärtner; Er ist's. Kilpinen: Das Moor; Den Fjelden zu; Alte Kirche; Am Kirch- enstrande; An das Lied; Fjeldlied.