Toad Lane Concerts: Kell Wind Trio

Alastair Roberts (flute), Geoffrey Smith (clarinet) and Alex Kane (bassoon): Kell Wind Trio

The Kell Wind Trio, which performed at St Mary's on Wednesday 2 November, gets its name from England’s Reginald Kell, the first clarinettist to use vibrato in orchestral concerts.

The three experienced merry minstrels revelled in the generous acoustic of St Mary in the Baum with skilfully arranged music ranging from the Baroque to the present day. They are colleagues in the Cheshire Sinfonia.

Alastair Roberts (flute) and Geoffrey Smith (clarinet) are also principal players with ensembles in the region including the Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra. Alex Kane (bassoon), studied at the Royal Military School of Music and after a period in the police service, returned to music as a freelance bassoonist and teacher.

This unusual combination relies on adept playing and clever arrangements. The wide variety of styles ensured that the concert was light and entertaining.

We were transported to the graceful and ordered eighteenth century in the Divertimenti of Mozart and Haydn. The word comes from the Italian for diversion or amusement and would suit the programme as a whole.

The balance of the ensemble was exquisite in À Chloris, an arrangement of one of Hahn’s most famous songs. Liadov’s Folk Song Suite was delightful as it shifted through numerous moods.

Malcolm Arnold’s Divertimento was a witty and brilliant reply to Haydn and Mozart and the joyous Suite from Façade by Walton survived the pruning of the original instruments and voice as the trio kept the character and fun. Devil’s Galop by Williams (a.k.a. Dick Barton’s theme tune) rounded off a challenging programme for individual wind players, who would normally have breaks and bars rest in an orchestra! An amusing diversion indeed.

The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at the Grade 1 listed church of St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available now, but the venue is Covid-19 compliant. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

To see details of forthcoming Toad Lane Concerts, click here.

Dr Joe Dawson