LUNCHTIME CONCERT - JILL CROSSLAND
Mozart’s loss was our gain. The advertised programme of Mozartian piano concertos was dramatically changed in favour of Bach, Schumann and Chopin. Stepping into a musical breach was locally-based pianist Jill Crossland. The setting was the bright and imposing Downing Place Church. Their lunchtime concerts are something of a local legend and on the basis of this recital, one can see why.
Our soloist was Jill Crossland; unshowy in black she took her place at the grand piano and without any showbiz flourishes began her hour of blissful pianism. She began with Bach’s Tocata in D Minor. Written in Weimer around 1710, the work looks forward to a new century and the miracle is that it still sounds fresh. Crossland has a majesterial approach to her playing. Bach’s minor-key sound world was conjured with perfect balance and stately progress. After a sad prelude, we heard the fugal furore punctuated with what sounded to me, at least, like bird song in the right hand.
Next up was the main work: Schumann’s ‘Scenes from Childhood’, op 15. The composer’s 13 short movements take a nostalgic look at childhood. It begins with the familiar melody ‘About foreign lands and people’ – a Classic FM fave. Crossland plays with delicacy and muscular assurance. Highlights of the work included ‘Blindman’s Buff’ with its frenetic chasing, ‘Bogeyman’s spooky writing and the other much-loved melody: ‘Dreaming’. If you think you don’t know this, play it and I bet you do. It is one of THE great tunes. Schumann’s nostalgia-fest had the mostly third-age audience dewy eyed. Crossland’s lovely playing had us all reaching back to happy infancy.
The last work changed the mood with maximum drama. Chopin’s Scherzo No 1 is tempestuous; angry, passionate, the composer with his longing for a lost homeland. The middle section, variations on a Polish children’s song, provided calm relief to another wise stormy act of musical rage (his fury and sympathy with a failed uprising against the Russians in his home country). The seemingly unshowy soloist filled the huge space with thunderous fortes and hair-raising arpeggios.
Thoroughly deserving her loud applause she treated the crowd to a short but sparky prelude by Bach (I believe No. 17). It sent lots of us to check out her CDs and enjoy the post-concert coffees provided as a free treat by the stalwart members of the church.
The Downing Place URC holds lunchtime concerts each Monday and Wednesday.
