Summer Concert - Cyngerdd Haf
Last Thursday saw a packed church enjoy a concert of quality for once in harmony with the weather : it was a lovely summer evening ; and what a treat for those who attended. The concert was held to raise money for the old schoolroom community project and all the performers gave their services free of charge. The concert began with harpist, Holly Lowe, from Llanbedr, who played quite beautifully two classical pieces by Reinhold Griere and Marcel Tournier respectively. Classical guitarist, John Rogers, from Llandegla, then took the audience on a musical tour of Spain, Morocco (his own composition) and Venezuela followed by the Eva Cassidy version of "Somewhere over the rainbow", Pachelbel’s canon and finally a lively Hungarian folk dance. The first half concluded with Llanarmon’s own Ruth Evans who, accompanied by Dr Peter Litman, sang two Welsh folk songs arranged by her own tutor before demonstarting, courtesy of Flanders and Swann’s "A word on my ear" that despite appearances she is certainly not tone deaf ! Home made cakes and refreshments in the interval provided succour to the flesh before the concert resumed with a further performance by Holly Lowe, this time of the Fantasia on Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades by V. Kikta. This was a piece which showcased the harpist’s technical skills in a most unusual way. Dr. Peter Litman, the organist and musical director of St Peters Collegiate Church in Ruthin had been told that this audience would not like anything too chunky or boring. His performance of Cesar Franck’s "Prelude Fugue and variations" was anything but. The organ in St Garmon’s church has a light band pleasing tone and somehow Peter Litman caressed it to produce out of the sadness of the prelude just a hint, in the variations of the Paris street organs. It was lovely. Finally, the evening came to a close with Cor Dewi Sant, Llanarmon’s own community choir (now in its second year) of whom it has been said that their enthusiasm makes up for any musical shortcomings. No more! On this occasion, conducted by Ruth Evans and accompanied by Ann Ashton they surprised themselves with spirited and musical performances of a British sea shanty : "Rio Grande", a Nigerian "highlife" song : "O-re-mi" and the West Indian traditional "Brown gal in the ring" before returning home to wales and a four part arrangement by Ruth Evans of "Ar hyd y nos". All in all it was a most enjoyable evening for musicians and audience alike.
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