Entente Cordiale

It may have been American Independence Day on 4^th July, but it was all about the Anglo/French Entente Cordiale in Old Alresford on the following Sunday.  The brainchild of my sister Gail, always an enthusiastic supporter of the Band, the concert featured her friend and helper, Muriele French Singer alongside Friary in the spectacular setting of Pinglestone Barn, kindly donated for the occasion by the Wakeham family.  

Raising funds for a recently installed servery and much-needed toilet at the local church of St Mary the Virgin, the concert began with both national anthems and included favourites such as Sing, Sing Sing and Summertime (George Gershwin studied in Paris and was influenced by Maurice Ravel).  The tranquil Lark in the Clear Air, sensitively played by Morgan Marston on tenor horn was followed by the rousing Toccata from Boëllmann’s Suite Gothique, which brought the first half of the programme to a close, and a welcome breather for the Band!

The second half had something of a Romeo & Juliet theme, including O Verona, Richard Straker’s solo of My Love is Like a Red Red Rose, and an extract from this year’s Grand Shield test piece, Stephen Roberts’ Star Crossed Lovers.  Muriele’s set featured Somewhere Over the Rainbow and the original French version of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Misérables.  An enthusiastically-demanded encore, Saint-Saens’ French Military March – in double-quick time – brought the memorable evening to a close.

This was MD Andrew Porter’s first concert conducting Friary, and a highly successful one at that, with his engaging commentary and compering.  There was nothing but praise for both Friary and Muriele in the interval and at the end, many of the audience asking when there could be another concert.

Commenting afterwards, Gail said: ‘It was a magnificent evening  of music which was enjoyed and appreciated by so many people.   My 'Entente Cordiale' musical dream of the Friary Band and Muriele providing musical entertainment in Pinglestone Barn was definitely fulfilled and I am very grateful to all those who made it possible.’

One could say that she dreamed a dream, but unlike the lyrics of the song, this one did come true.