Tea and Cake Concert No. 4

Tea and Cake Concert No. 4 – The Old Bluecoat School. Thatcham
Tuba and Flute, James Doherty and Diana Adams

The tuba is often seen as comical – its size and that of its mutes combined with the dislocating effect of having a melody several octaves below its usual place tend to amuse people. James Doherty and Diana Adams played up to this with the opening pieces Effie Goes Folk Dancing and Bass in the Ballroom, where the tuba’s erratic seriousness gave a parodic feel to the folk and Latin dances.

As well as piano, Diana played the flute for some pieces. Her solo item, Honegger’s Danse de la Chevre, was a charming evocation of a goat’s day, with a few reminders of Debussy’s faun in the runs that depict the goat’s capering so well.

When Diana mentioned Bach I wondered if the Siciliano from the sonata for flute and harpsichord (BWV 1031) would suit flute and tuba. Instead they played it with tuba and piano, and made it more interesting. The extra power of the tuba (though held carefully in reserve) added authority to the tune.

For Carnival of Venice the two musicians moved between instruments, even indulging in four-hand piano at one point, with “accidental” hitches in choreography! The piece looked no less difficult than the others, and the humour between the two musicians made it an apt end to a most enjoyable concert.

Review – John Walter
Photography – Norman Jones