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THREAVE GARDENS EVENT 2006

Susan Smyth (1st violin) writes: 

The beautiful surroundings of  Threave Gardens  were the setting for the Solway Sinfonia's Summer Musical Party on Sunday 28th May.  This occasion, the first of its kind and hopefully to be followed by many others, gave orchestra members and sponsors/patrons the opportunity to get to know each other better in a private setting while enjoying a delicious buffet with musical entertainment provided by Sinfonia players.

The food and the music alike were of a sufficient variety to appeal to all tastes.  The fact that the enormous spread of savouries and desserts, many of them home-made, disappeared at such a speed, was evidence of the quality of the food.  As for the music, there were chamber groups ranging from two to nine players performing a wide range of pieces.  A flute trio and a cello quartet, both rarely heard combinations, performed well-known and not so well-known classics.  Two string quartets complemented each other with Arriaga's quartet, an amazing piece by the teenage Spanish composer, and two popular Scott Joplin rags.  A medley of Gershwin songs performed by Christian Taylor accompanied by Geoff Keating was one of the highlights of the evening, and Geoff's entertaining and witty "Eine Kleine Nacherd Musik" was greatly enjoyed later in the programme.  The largest group, a wind and string nonet, (comprising a representative of every department in the orchestra save percussion and heavy brass!) performed the energetic last movement of Spohr's Nonet.  The programme was rounded off by a foot-tapping set of Scottish reels arranged for string trio and piano, preceded, unannounced, by a specially composed adaptation of Happy Birthday in honour of Peter Hutchison, to his great surprise!

The evening as a whole was voted a huge success both by members and sponsors.  The atmosphere was exceptionally friendly and informal, the food wholesome and the entertainment just the right mix of classical and light-hearted to suit the occasion. A great start to the summer!  If you might be interested in joining us at similar events in the future, all you need do is to enrol as a member of the orchestra or become a patron!

The happy throng enjoying the buffet between musical interludes

The 'cello quartet

The nonet playing the Spohr

String quartet number one

String quartet number two (The Galloway String Quartet)

The buffet