Stockbridge Music continues to enrich our musical lives. The Craig Ogden Ensemble attracted an audience from as far away as Wales for their concert in May. In the first half, David Juritz (violin), Craig Ogden (guitar) and Adrian Bradbury (cello) played a succession of delightful, short baroque pieces from composers across Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, including a Ciaccona by Francesca Caccini. She was one of the very few women composers of her period outside the church establishment.
After the interval, we heard the Goldberg Variations arranged by David Juritz. He explained in the programme notes that he wanted to explore 150 years of very diverse music and had tried, in his adaptation of the Goldberg Variations, to stay as true as possible to Bach’s original. He was delighted that, in spite of the demands his arrangement made on the performers, happily Craig and Adrian’s virtuosity was matched by their flexibility and good grace!
The audience which packed the church for this concert were lucky enough to hear these talented musicians playing this selection of extraordinarily diverse and beautiful baroque music.
Janet Williams
