Galliarda

Kendal Town Hall

Kendal Midday Concert Club’s Christmas recital is always an attractive feature of its season. Galliarda – an early music group frequently performing in country houses and other historical settings – recently lowered their sights somewhat and came to the town hall; something of a contrast for them, certainly, but their audience was so captivated by the style, the quality and general ambience of their music-making that it was dragged, uncomplainingly, into seemingly much grander surroundings.

There we heard traditional Christmas folk carols from Spain and France performed by Sarah Stowe (soprano) and Wendy Hancock, Richard MacKenzie and Ian Gammie (playing a variety of accompanying instruments, recorders and flutes, early guitar, viol, lute and percussion). It was delightful fare; we had extremely high performance levels from the elegantly attired musicians, imaginative stage lighting and programme content that possibly was outside the experience of many.

Humorous readings from 18th Century texts, all entertainingly instructive, illuminated the occasion. Most were of a gastronomic nature. Contemporary gorging was, indeed, disgusting and far removed from the splendid pre-concert victuals prepared and served by the Ladies’ Lunch Committee.

Brian Paynes