The lunch hour concert series, hosted by the Rhodes University Department of Music, premiered on a good note recently.
The hour-long 'Saxy Steps' showcased the talents of Adam Campbell and Paul Richard, who impressed the audience with their renditions of compositions by Pierre-Alexander Huber, Friedrich Kulhau and Paul Hindemith.
The lunch hour concert series, hosted by the Rhodes University Department of Music, premiered on a good note recently.
The hour-long 'Saxy Steps' showcased the talents of Adam Campbell and Paul Richard, who impressed the audience with their renditions of compositions by Pierre-Alexander Huber, Friedrich Kulhau and Paul Hindemith.
Richard, who studied under legendary French saxophonist Cecile Dubois, obtained his bachelor of Musicology from the University of Franche-Comte in France and is currently lecturing saxophone at Rhodes University. Adam Campbell is one of his students.
Playing a wide variety of music, ranging from renaissance to tango, Campbell and Richard catered to an enthusiastic audience across a wide age-range.
The idea for a concert came about when Campbell needed a partner for his music exam and asked Richard to accompany him. It was after the exam that the two were asked if they would perform in the weekly lunch-hour concert.
“The biggest challenge for us was to find material that is interesting not only to the audience but to us as well,” said Richard.
The performance started off with Huber’s Ivovoivivio, a piece which allowed for creative improvisation from the duo.
It was a perfect opening, which wowed the audience, as it allowed Campbell and Richard to show off their talents. The number was well executed and the pair worked together to create perfect harmony.
Kuhlau’s “Duo Concertant Nr.3” was light, upbeat and an effortless enjambement of sound.
My personal favourite number was Michaël Alizon’s ‘Tango for two’, which saw Campbell and Richard dancing the tango – not an easy feat while playing the saxophone.
The pair kept their performance light-hearted and they were not afraid to act a little silly in their encore performance of the chicken dance. Everything from the choreography to the relationship between the artists, and their choice of material was enjoyable, a perfect lunchtime treat.
The lunch-hour concert series at the Rhodes Department of Music and Musicology continues this month. For more information contact 046 603 8489 and look out for updates in Grocott's Mail's What's On.
