Following the success of their recital for wind ensemble last July, the Rhodesian Academy of Music presented a similar recital at their lunch-hour concert yesterday.
The group consisted of W.F. Budd, A. Cleary (clarinets); J. Pearce and A.R. Sibson (flutes) and again they made some pleasing sounds.
The Mozart items were least successful. The phrasing was not always affectionately shaped and rhythms tended to be rigid. The effect was slightly perfunctory. Perhaps more rehearsal would have enabled the players to mould the music with greater warmth.
On the other hand, the arrangements of seven Norwegian miniatures by Grieg were played with lots of enjoyment and style, and they sounded intriguing in this form.
Mr. Budd played the third flute in a Sonata for Three Flutes by James Hook. Although the harmonies centered mainly around the “sweet” interval of a third and began to cloy, the sound of the three flutes was particularly fresh. The performance was excellent.