7 July 2004
Music for Masquerade
"Masquerade" is a local voluntary organisation which helps children with
learning difficulties to express themselves through music and dance. It had
been hoped that this would take place outside with the children dancing while
the Allegri played, but in the event, the blustery weather dictated that
the event be transferred to the school canteen, where space constraints prevented
any dancing at all. The children seemed very much to enjoy the occasion,
however, sitting spellbound even during a movement of a Bartok Quartet that
many adults might have found challenging. In view of the relatively short
period available to them, the Allegri chose to play two movements of a Haydn
Quartet, one of Bartok, and one Beethoven, all introduced by Peter Carter.
Indeed, played in that order, the musical "line of descent" from Beethoven
to Bartok suddenly became crystal-clear.