Skeleton Crew

An intimate evening of early music at the JdP

A balmy Saturday evening was the setting for a delightful evening of early music performed by Skeleton Crew in the Jacqueline du Pré Music Building. Skeleton Crew are an Oxford-based group of talented amateur musicians with, as they put it, ‘a mixed bag of acoustic instruments’. Their extensive repertoire embraces folk music, as well as medieval and renaissance works.

Saturday’s recital was devoted to the latter; entitled ‘Dances and Divisions’, the programme alternated divisions on grounds with dance pieces of varying style and origin: England, France, Greece, Italy and Spain, from the sarabande to the saltarello. Several of the pieces had been sympathetically arranged by the Crew for their ensemble, which included, in the course of the evening, cello, viola da gamba, harp, lute, various recorders (often played with quite blistering dexterity by Andrew Kay), flute, and drums – one reminds oneself that the group comprises only four people!

The recital, and above all the stylistic sensitivity of the group, bore witness to the diversity of music contained within the division tradition; the programme offered a most satisfying balance between diversity and coherence, supported by excellent ensemble playing. It is wholly appropriate to the works being performed that there should be a sense of intimacy and communication with the audience; Skeleton Crew’s presentation of their material, both through their rendering of the music itself and through informative brief commentary interspersing the pieces, shared the essential social pleasure of this repertoire, and left the audience in eager anticipation of their next appearance…

Helen (Unverified), 14/06/09

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