PROGRAMME
Mozart: Sonata in D major, K.311
Clementi: Gradus Ad Parnassian No.7
Toru Takemitzu: Romance
Czerny: Finger of Dexterity, Etude No.28
Debussy: La Cathedrale Engloutie
Beethoven: Sonata Op22 No11 in B flat major
Chopin: Etude – Op10 No12
Debussy: Images Book 1 – Reflets dans l’eau
PROGRAMME
‘Suites and Folk Dances’
The Holberg Suite, Op. 40 by E. Grieg (1843-1907)
I. Praeludium
II. Sarabande
III. Gavotte
IV. Air
V. Rigaudon
Liebeslied ‘Widmung, von Robert Schumann’ S566 by F. Liszt (1811-1866)
Prelude in C-sharp minor, Op. 3, No. 2 by S. Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)
Piano Sonata ‘Moonlight’ No. 14 in C-sharp minor by L. van Beethoven (1770-1827)
I. Adagio sostenuto
II. Allegretto
III. Presto agitato
~ INTERVAL ~
Movements from Suite Bergamasque by C. Debussy (1862-1918)
I. Prelude
II. Clair de Lune
III. Menuet
Chanson de Nuit & Chanson de Matin by E. Elgar (1857-1934)
Romanian Folk Dances by B. Bartok (1881-1945)
I. Stick Game
II. Peasant Costume
III. Standing Still
IV. Mountain Horn Song
V. Romanian Polka
VI. Fast Dance
Tango by I. Stravinsky (1882-1971)
Libertango by A. Piazzolla (1921-1992)
A Jazz Suite of Songs by G. Gershwin (1898-1937) arranged by G. Drott (b. 1986)
I. A Foggy Day
II. Embraceable You
III. It Ain’t Necessarily So
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CONCERT TO BE GIVEN BY GEORGE ELSON, BASS AND TAMMY SEE, PIANO ON 20 JANUARY 2026 HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO 21 APRIL 2026
The Aaben Duo are Nathan Holroyd Saxophone and Jess Hughes Harp and they appeared at our second concert of the season by kind permission of the Royal Northern College of Music. Saxophone and Harp is an unusual combination of instruments and an effective one.
The concert began with a Nocturne by Lili Boulanger and arranged by Nathan – it was originally scored for viola and piano but it does work very well with the harp and saxophone and was a wonderful beginning to the concert. This was followed by “Eolienne” by Ida Gotkovsky, who was a pupil of Lili Boulanger’s sister, Nadia. This piece was in five movements and I particularly liked the mellow sound that the saxophone made in the third movement. Nathan also showed great skill and verve in the fourth movement Perpetuum Mobile.
The third piece of the evening was Debussy’s “La fille aux cheveux de lin” (The Girl with Flaxen Hair” as I know it best!) This was played beautifully and, although the saxophone appeared to dominate, Jess’s superlative playing of the harp was a joy to listen to.
Then we heard Joseph Bologne’s Sonata for Flute and Harp in E flat major. The harp seemed to be dominant in the first movement, playing a lovely, lilting melody and this was echoed by the saxophone turn and turn about and then as a duo. Both instruments were in harmony during the second movement and the third movement had a lovely tune played turn and turn about by both instruments.
Next, we had Andy Scott’s Sonata for Saxophone and Harp, Nathan told us that Mr Scott is a tutor of Saxophone. This piece was originally written for flute and harp and is in three movements. Keith Osborne’s splendid programme notes says that this music shows influences of Eastern European music and jazz. Which it does. I liked the second movement with a harp solo to begin with – very quiet and then the saxophone joined in the same gentle theme. The third movement was very jazz oriented on both saxophone and harp with the addition of percussion on the harp.
This was followed by a topical piece of music, Jenni Watson’s “Dowpour”, beautifully played on the saxophone by Nathan.
Then Jess played a solo on the harp, this music was a lullaby written by Caroline Lizotte whilst the composer was pregnant. It was a wonderful piece of music superlatively played. But first, Jess told us a little about her harp. It is a pedal harp and the pedals change the pitch of the strings. The harp is made of Canadian maple and the sound board is made of spruce. The strings are made with a mixture of gut, nylon and brass. The red string is C and the blue string is F. Other colours represent other notes. Our Chairman said that this was the best description of a pedal harp that he had heard.
The concert ended with Jess’s arrangement of Sain-Saën’s “Le Cygne” from the Carnival of the Animals. The saxophone is well suited to play the Swan and the harp sounded like running water.
This was a most enjoyable concert and the audience was most appreciative and enthusiastic.
CM
Programme
Anna Turner and Ben Attfield
Marcello: Oboe Concerto in D minor
Arnold: Sonatina for oboe and piano
Nielsen: Fantasy Pieces for oboe and piano
Britten: Temporal Variations
Agrell: Blues for DD
Oliver Charles-Lee and Ben Attfield
Gerald Finzi: Five Bagatelles I. Prelude
II. Romance
III. Carol
IV. Forlana
V. Fughetta
Béla Kovács: Hommages Hommage á Falla
Hommage á Strauss
Francis Poulenc: Sonata for Clarinet and Piano
I. Allegro
II. Romanze
III. Allergo con fuoco
André Messager: Solo de concours
An enthusiastic audience welcomed Katy Smith playing violin and Amy Butler playing the piano at the first concert of the 2025/2026 season. These young musicians gave a wonderful concert to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Ravel’s birth. There was a theme to the concert, all of the composers were linked to Ravel. For me there was also a sub-theme that caught my imagination and this was Elgar’s bow, more of which later in this Review.
The concert began with Romance opus 28 by Gabriel Fauré and he was Ravel’s teacher of composition from 1897 to 1903. The Romance is a very romantic and tuneful piece of music, Katy’s 18th century violin made by Nathaniel Cross has a lovely warm tone; Amy’s accompaniment on the piano was a delight.
The Violin Sonata No 2 by Ravel was next and it was influenced by the American jazz and blues. The first movement began in a smooth and lyrical way and then suddenly in the second movement there was dissonance on the violin and a heavy beat on the piano and this beat reminded me strongly of The Cold Song from Purcell’s King Arthur. Who knew that the violin could make sounds like that? In the third movement the piano was speaking and the violin replying and then at a speed, rather like a mad bumble bee. But I do have to admit that, whilst I admired the skill and virtuosity of both Amy and Katy, I did not warm to this sonata.
Next there was Vaughan Williams’, The Lark Ascending, this was composed in 1914 for violin and piano (according to Keith Osborne’s splendid Programme Notes). This was perfection! I cannot understand why this version is never heard. The link between Ravel and Vaughan Williams is that for three months in 1908 they were master and pupil and became lifelong friends.
After the interval we heard Edward Elgar’s Sonata for Violin and Piano in E minor, this was sheer magic and is where Elgar’s bow comes in, for it was used in this music. The tone on the violin became so all embracing; whilst Vaughan Williams takes you into the heavens, Elgar keeps you on the ground and so comfortable, I enjoyed also the serene virtuosity of Amy’s playing on the piano. I absolutely loved the sound made by the 18th century violin and Elgar’s bow – they complemented each other so perfectly.
The final piece in the concert was Ravel’s Tzigane (Gipsey) and what an exciting piece this was, a real wild ride and an equal music between piano and violin. What a great partnership we enjoyed this evening.
There was more to come. We had an encore and it was Elgar’s Capriccio and Katy used Elgar’s bow again and this beautiful music that was played so well and elegantly, finished off a concert that was enjoyed by us all. In fact, one of our members commented that this concert out of all those he had been to at the Club was by far the best. Praise indeed.
To end, just a bit more about Elgar’s bow. I was privileged to have a good look at it and Katy told me a little about it and I looked it up on line afterwards as well. The bow was made by Tubbs of London and presented to Elgar as a 21st birthday gift. It is inscribed EWE on the ferule and “presented by the Worcester Amateur Instrumental Society June 1878” on the adjuster.
CM
PROGRAMME
Lili Boulanger, arr Nathan Holroyd: Nocturne
Ida Gotkovsky: Eolienne
Claude Debussy: ‘La fille aux cheveux de lin’ and ‘En Bateau’
Joseph Bologne: Sonata for Flute and Harp in E-flat major
Jacques Ibert, arr Nathan Holroyd: Intermezzo
Interval
Andy Scott: Sonata for Saxophone and Harp
Jenni Watson: Downpour
Caroline Lizotte: La Madone
Camille Saint-Saëns, arr Jess Hughes: Le cygne
BIOGRAPHIES
Nathan Holroyd and Jess Hughes have been performing together as the Aaben Duo since 2019. Together they have performed their own arrangements of French classics across the North of England, including Beyond the Music festival, International Women’s Day at the Anthony Burgess Foundation, and a series of hospitals performances with Lime Art.
Saxophonist Nathan Holroyd recently received a Graduate Diploma at the Royal Northern College of Music and now works as their Programming Administrator. In 2022, Nathan graduated from the University of Manchester with a First Class Undergraduate Degree in Music as part of the RNCM and University’s Joint Course. Nathan also performs with the UK’s first established reed quintet Northern Reeds.
Harpist Jess Hughes also graduated from the RNCM with a First Class Bachelor of Music (Honours) in 2022, and a one-year intensive Masters in 2023, with Anne-Marie O’Farrell as her principal tutor. Throughout her courses, Jess has performed with many of the RNCM orchestras and ensembles, as well as with the RNCM Harp Ensemble (established by her former tutor Eira Lynn Jones) and her harp duo Tegid Duo. She has also performed as a soloist in venues all over Greater Manchester and her home county of Somerset, including The Pump Rooms in Bath and Glastonbury Abbey.
The Aaben Duo appear by kind permission of the RNCM.
This concert is to celebrate Ravel’s 150th Anniversary and includes music by Faure, Ravel, Vaughan-Williams and Elgar.
21st October 2025 Katy Smith, Violin & Amy Butler Piano celebrating Ravel’s 150th Anniversary. Programme Faure, Ravel, Vaughan-Williams, Elgar and more Ravel.
18th November 2025 “The Aaben Duo” – Nathan Holroyd, Saxophone & Jess Hughes, Harp. Programme to include: Gotkovsky, Boulanger and Saint-Saens.
16th December 2025 Oliver Charles Lee, Clarinet; Anna Turner, Oboe & Ben Attfield, Piano (Two Duos: Clarinet/Piano and Oboe/Piano) Programme to be confirmed.
20th January 2026 George Elson, Bass Singer & Tammy See, Piano. Programme to include songs by: Lully, Dowland, MacDowell, Vaughan-Williams.
24th February 2026 Gregory Drott, Piano. Programme to include pieces by Beethoven, Debussy, Grieg and Bartok.
17th March 2026 Jaime Wong, Piano. Programme to include pieces by Mozart, Clementi, Takemitsu, Czerny and Debussy.
