Bailey and Kitchen

Another lunchtime journey through history and back again in time to answer your afternoon emails. Who would have though time travel could be so simple? This particular concert, part of the University of Glasgow lunchtime series, features the romantic flush (descriptive word of the day) of the harpsichord and the velvety tones of the cello. Edinburgh Quartet member, Mark Bailey is a success in his own right having performed throughout Europe as a soloist. He now teaches and lectures in chamber music throughout Scotland while continuing to perform with the EQ. John Kitchen, a senior lecturer in music at The University of Edinburgh, has travelled the world as a soloist and is regarded as an expert in his field as a Baroque keyboard player having recorded with Priory and Delphian Records.

As my regular readers will know I am not familiar with many of the composers who appear in the Cottier Chamber Project series. Bach, however is a household name and before I even begin to listen I have a feeling that this will be a programme that is rather definitive of chamber music.

We begin with Sonata in G BWV 1027. This such an elegant and majestic piece full of beauty and serenity. With light vibrato and the depth added my the cello I might say that this piece almost soars. The middle of the piece (Allegro ma non tanto), although faster still produces a rather sweet sound. The final note is wonderfully drawn out and adds to the ease of the piece, there is a definite air of effortlessness.

Moving into the Sonata in D BWV 1028 and things get a little more complex. I felt there was more intricacy of movement between notes in this piece and there was a slightly darker spirit throughout with particular prominence in the Andante which seemed to be the focal section of this piece. The harpsichord really comes into it's own in parts of the Sonata in D whereas the Sonata in G seems to highlight the cello.

Sonata in G minor BWV 1029, sounds quite familiar, perhaps it is quite characteristic of chamber music during the focal period of this performance, 1650-1750. I have found this particular piece to have more energy. The harpsichord is played at some speed, pretty amazing skills must be required for this piece. I have noticed that the instruments never play the same part, the music links together nicely, producing a lightness of tone without the clashes that seem more characteristic of modern chamber music.

I enjoyed the relative tranquillity of this repertoire and found it interesting to hear three different pieces of music by the same composer. Although they were rather different and provoked a variety of emotions there were some consistent characteristics between all three.

Mark Bailey and John Kitchen will perform on the 5th of June at the University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel, part of the ongoing Lunchtime Concert Series. You can purchase tickets here or from the Cottier Theatre Box Office.