TheSeckfordEnsemble


Home | About Us | Diary | Programmes | Recordings | Reviews | Contact | Links

Quotes

"The newly formed Seckford Ensemble… is a gathering of dedicated and versatile instrumentalists who are a pleasure to know"

"It was a superb evening of music appealing to every taste"

Reviews

Reviews will be posted as they become available.

From The Bramford, Somersham & Offton Community News
December 2007

What an Afternoon!

On Sunday 9th December the Seckford Ensemble entertained a large audience at St Mary's Church, Bramford with seasonal music and carols. This group of musicians amused us with a wide variety of seasonal music, carol singing and even a Christmas serenade for hosepipe - played on a real garden hosepipe!

We would like to thank the Seckford Ensemble and those who attended helping us raise over £300 for the upkeep and continuing repairs to our village church.

Stewart McGinty
Friends of Bramford Church



Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

CD - Released December 2006

"The Seckford Ensemble, in my book, should have a second name THE FINEST FIVE, because their CD 'Have yourself a merry little Christmas' must rank among the best and will be appreciated by everyone who cares to listen to quality music. The result is beautiful, and yes, wonderful..... a must for those quiet listening times too.

What a gift!

From DB, a listener in the West Country."


"Congratulations. I was at my son-in-law's for Christmas Day and guess what? He was playing your Christmas CD (over and over again). We all thoroughly enjoyed it. So if you have a copy left I would very much like to buy it."

D Halstead



From The Walsham Observer
July 2006

AN IMPORTANT NEW GROUP

On Saturday, 3rd June, Walsham was privileged to hear some of the best professional brass players in the county. The newly formed Seckford Ensemble, comprising John Jermy and Ian Abbott (trumpets), Kay Dawson (French horn), Andy Gray (trombone) and Geoff Webb (tuba), is a gathering of dedicated and versatile instrumentalists who are a pleasure to know.

They began with an arresting modern processional by William Mathias, then showed their lightness and speed with Bach and Handel. Monti's Czardas, normally a piece for strings, was given fluent expression. The lady of the group made the French horn seem like quicksilver. The Flower duet from "Lakme" is well-known as a vocal piece, but it retained its liquidity and charm in this clever arrangement. Ewald's Symphony for Brass brought the first half to a close.

The second half began with three pieces by Mozart, showing the wonderful range of this greatest of composers. The gravitas of the overture to "The Magic Flute" lost nothing in being handled by only five players. Then, believe it or not, we had the menacing shrieks of the "Queen of the Night" rendered on the trumpet, followed in an amazing contrast by "Ave Verum Corpus", one of Mozart's greatest religious compositions, carefully played and sustained. Derek Bourgeois' Serenade, we were told, was written as a wedding march, though all agreed that the bride would have had a hard time keeping pace with it. Three pieces by Gershwin were magic, then the trombone came into its own with Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust". "One Hand, One Heart" and "Bring Him Home" were both wonderfully affecting without being sentimental. To finish, an easy canter through that "Groundforce" theme, and as an encore, appealing to those of us of a certain age, the thrilling chase music from "Dick Barton, Special Agent".

It was a superb evening of music appealing to every taste. We could have done with a larger audience, but the Fab Five, with their John Jermy arrangements, will be here in December to repeat their acclaimed backing for Christmas Praise hosted by Janet. We very much hope that they will come to Walsham again to give many more concerts. They are a group to watch.

Brian Turner