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Music club

THE 2018-19 season got off to a very successful start on Friday, 5 October, in Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor.

A good turn-out greeted the Aquarelle Guitar Quartet (still vividly remembered from their previous visit to Dolgellau in 2005), and their sparkling performance did not disappoint.

One striking feature of this very accomplished ensemble is the equal prominence of all four members (Michael Baker, Vasilis Bessas, James Jervis and Rory Russell) - virtuosity is apparent across the board, and it was pleasurable not knowing which player would have the lead or tune from one piece to the next.

It was a wise choice to open with Rossini’s Sinfonia to l’Italiana in Algeri (skilfully arranged by Richard Safhill, a founder member of the group), given its familiar melodies and wide range of dynamic contrast.

Opals by Philip Houghton evoked vivid images of the gems’ translucence and subtly shifting colours.

The first half concluded in South America with Alfonsina y el Mar by Ariel Ramirez.

Full use was made in the second half of the guitar’s potential as a percussion instrument, in dances such as Pajduska (Macedonia) and La Muerte del Angel.

More meditative and hypnotic on the other hand was The Swan ‘L243’ by Catriona McKay.

James Jervis introduced a new sonority into De Usuahia a la Quiaca, theme-tune to the film Motorcycle Diaries, by playing on a charango - this one of wood, not the traditional armadillo shell!

A closing encore was insisted upon, and the audience left with a spring in their step to the beguiling rhythms of Django Reinhardt’s Minor Swing (arr. Mike Baker) adopted as theme tune for the 2000 film Chocolat.

Thanks were given to the Southall Trust for its support towards this memorable concert.

The next concert will be in Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor on Friday, 9 November, by Harriet Burns (soprano) and Michael Pandya (piano).

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