Springtime Serenade Concert

Rochdale Light Orchestra conductor Graham Marshall

As the current Mayor of Rochdale’s term of office nears its end, the members of the Rochdale Light Orchestra were delighted to be able to welcome Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Keith Swift to their Concert in St. Martin’s, Castleton, on June 17th which ended with a rousing performance of composer/conductor Graham Marshall’s “Mayoral Procession”, originally written as an organ voluntary for the Civic Service held in St. Aidan’s, Sudden, during the mayoral year of Jean Hornby.

The concert also featured two other works by its conductor. “The Merry MERC”, which began the second half of the programme, is a lively perpetuum mobile suggesting the orchestra’s sponsor’s (Robin Dexter) pleasure in driving his favourite motor car. It was Robin’s Birthday, and he received applause of thanks from the audience, and a card of congratulations signed by all the members of the orchestra.

Graham’s other work, “Lullaby for Alex James”, is a much gentler piece featuring the flute, played by Lesley Reading, who had given its first performance last December. This was written to celebrate the birth of a son to one of the orchestra’s violinists, Barbara Hambley, on November 10 2009 – Graham’s own birthday.

Composer Christopher Irvin from Hebden Bridge, was present to hear the orchestra play his lively “Deck Dance”. An arrangement of Irving Berlin’s “A Pretty Girl” featured the orchestra’s Leader, Rebecca Baines, in suavely performed violin solo passages. Piccolo player, Louise Hollins, came into her own in “The Whistler and his Dog” (which really does involve a whistle and a dog!). Everyone enjoyed the musical meeting of “The Irish Washerwoman” with “Danny Boy”. Other orchestral items in the programme included, “The Teddy Bear’s Picnic”, “The White Mountain” and “In the Mood” - with which this Springtime Serenade concert began.

Guest soloist James Swarbrick, one of the young, rising stars of Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, played guitar works by Mudarra, Turina and George Harrison to the delight of an audience captivated by the technical prowess and interpretive instinct of this very young artist, while concert pianist John Peace, a regular contributor to the RLO programmes, portrayed “Nola” and “Rosemary” in two solo performances of depth and delicacy.

The RLO’s next concert is scheduled for the evening of Monday, September 27, when the programme will include music marking the retirement of the Vicar of St. Martin’s, The Reverend Ian Butterworth, at the end of that month.