Horsham Music Circle reaches the close of its 81st season

Spokeswoman Jill Elsworthy said: “The programming uses many of the familiar musical forms such as prelude, overture, fantasia, fugue and canon, The concert opens suitably with an overture as realised by Handel in his Concerto No 2 in B flat. The first movement is in the style of a dignified French Overture followed by a lively, attractive allegro. Moving on from the Baroque to the Romantic, Schumann’s Study in B minor is canonic in a playful scherzo style with the left hand chasing the right hand one bar behind throughout and Mendelssohn’s finest organ piece, the Prelude and Fugue in C minor demonstrates his superb craftmanship with the prelude combining vitality and gravitas while the fugue bounces along in the rhythm of a gigue.

"After Gigout’s light and playful Scherzo we return to the Baroque with the Fantasia and Fugue in G minor BWV 542 by J S Bach which is the major work in the programme. The Fantasia is in free rhapsodical style, full of harmonic adventure and daring modulations with the following Fugue being one of the most tuneful ever devised with as many as sixteen changes of harmony in many bars. After such an intense adventure there is an amusing, capricious piece titled Elfes by Bonnet which depicts the changing moods of this supernatural creature from folklore, a popular concert piece. The finale is by Vierne and based on the Carillon, a peal of bells in the Chapel tower of the Chateau de Longpont in Aisne, north-east of Paris. Surely a musical feast to end the season.

“No need to book just come along. E ntry is free with a retiring collection in aid of the Music Circle’s concert promotions. The 82nd Season of Horsham Music Circle opens in September with the appearance of cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and guitarist Plinio Fernandes. Details available in July - contact 01403 252602, email [email protected].”