November 2008

Dear Music-lover,

You know, it's just not fair. Kungsbacka Piano Trio gave us a concert of rare emotion, energy and excitement - and they’re really nice people. But I got my own back.

The trio arrived from Aberdeen on Monday and, in the afternoon, I took Jesper to the Tennis & Squash club and, because the weather was so bad, we played squash. Although he's hardly ever played the game, I had to be at my most devious to avoid humiliation. The next day, back at the club, the weather was better, allowing us to play tennis. It was only by partnering him with a lady beginner, that I was able to plot a victory for me and my mixed doubles partner. In the car, he revealed that tennis was not his major sport - he used to be a ski racer!

The evening concert was a revelation. I know the Beethoven “Gassenhauer” trio quite well and so my position as page turner allowed me to observe that every dynamic mark - every staccatto, accent, phrase - was not only observed but put into the context of the music and what the other players were doing.

The Martin trio allowed Malin full rein in her alter ego as an Irish fiddler. "It's a bit like Swedish folk music", she said later.The John Ireland “Phantasy” continued the emotional rollercoaster, including a riveting unaccompanied duo between the strings.

I am not sure that my position on stage allowed me to fully appreciate the new work by Helen Grime, although in conversation, it was clear that the trio very much respected her.

The Brahms trio was staggering. It was also almost my swansong as page turner. At one stage, I stood up, mistakenly grasped two pages and turned them over. Realising my mistake, I attempted to separate them and only made matters worse. With a flick of his left wrist, Simon sorted it and I sat down. Fortunately no one (except for the first five rows of the audience and Kenny Mathieson, the Courier correspondent) noticed.

The programme, ranging from an early Beethoven, a late Brahms to two 20th-century works and a brand-new commission made me reflect on the musical development of the composers, mirrored in the musical development of these wonderful performers. For some reason, they seem to like coming to Inverness, so we might see them again!


Paul Crowe