Toad Lane Concerts: Sam Rodwell

Sam Rodwell

The prospect of a classical acoustic guitar playing in the enormous space of St Mary in the Baum might worry some people. However, with the opening phrases of a lively arrangement of Two Bucks of Oranmore, this proved unjustified. In the hands of accomplished player Sam Rodwell, the cathedral-like acoustics worked with the intimate instrument rather than against it.

Sam graduated first class and completed a master’s with distinction at the Royal Northern College of Music and was made an ‘Associate Guitar Teacher’. He also won the Strings Salon Prize (the first guitarist to do so for 30 years) and was a finalist in the Gold Medal competition.

He performs across the UK as a soloist, forming duos with other guitars, harp, violin or saxophone, and with ensembles including the Manchester Camerata.

Sam’s virtuoso playing was framed by confident and engaging introductions to the instrument and the music.

His recital continued with Le Départ, a dramatic fantasy by French guitarist composer Napoléon Coste, which Sam skilfully contrasted with the vocal style of Revoir Paris after the famous French singer Charles Trenet, arranged by Roland Dyens.

Leaving France for Spain required some nifty retuning for Asturias by Albeniz and back to normal tuning for the same composer’s Sevilla. Nothing can instantly evoke these Iberian pictures in glorious technicolour better than unaccompanied acoustic guitar.

Then Toccata by Joaquín Rodrigo took the essentially folk style to another level that required true technical virtuosity; before calming with a soothing Yesterday by Lennon and McCartney arranged by Takemitsu.

For the finale, Sunburst by Andrew York lived up to its title in a blaze of notes and energetic riffs. The argument for live, acoustic playing won over plastic amplification.

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

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

Dr Joe Dawson