9 July 2004
Solo Violin Recital
James Barton was the founding second violinist of the Allegri Quartet,
and is extremely unusual in playing "back to front"- that is to say, with
the violin in his right hand and the bow in his left. The original Allegri
Quartet performed with the two violins facing one another and the violin and
cello behind, for exactly this reason. Since he left the Quartet, he has
concentrated on solo work, which he told us may be a lonely furrow to plough,
but almost (!) removes problems of balance and ensemble, and most certainly
reduces disagreements over interpretation!
He chose to play two movements of a Telemann Fantasia (No.9), the Sonata No 1 in Aminor by JS Bach, and the Sonata Op 27 No.3 by Eugene Ysaÿe. The acoustics of St. Myllin's Church are well-suited to the performance of solo violin music, and the audience was also treated to an encore, the Gavotte en Rondo.