Earlier this month, the official celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings were broadcast from Portsmouth and Normandy. During the war, the BBC Light Programme broadcast light music and entertainment, and the Tayside Symphony Orchestra programme on Saturday night in the Reid Hall, Forfar, recalled memories of this era
The programme included music from the four nations of the UK in the rousing Radio 4 Theme, and the audience was treated to further lively renditions of national pieces in Taste of the Isles, excerpts from Leroy Anderson’s Irish Suite, and Vaughan Williams’ English Folksongs Suite
Memories of film and television programmes past and present came to the fore in various parts of the programme. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Henry Mancini, the orchestra played one of his best-known pieces, Moon River, and the light-hearted approach to Sporting Occasion alongside the lively encore of Barnwick Green were clearly appreciated by the audience
The standard of solo performances during the concert was exceptional. Robert Thomson joined the string section of the orchestra for Paul Reade’s music from the BBC series Scenes from the Victorian Kitchen Garden There was an excellent balance between the solo clarinet and strings in the performance, and the warmth and elegance allowed the simplicity of the melodies to shine through, perfectly depicting images of a Victorian kitchen garden on a summer’s day.
The trumpet section shone in the lively and memorable Bugler’s Holiday, rising to the occasion to deliver a breathtaking performance.
Robert Allan’s comic entrance with his anvil from the percussion section set the scene for the bright Feuerfest Polka by Strauss.
Mention must also be made of the excellent violin cadenzas and solo lines from the orchestra leader, Angela Green, which featured in several pieces throughout the evening.
The audience left the Reid Hall humming many well-known and much-loved melodies