Sunday 2nd November 2014
Manus Noble — Guitar
Manus Noble is one of the most exciting and innovative of today's generation of young guitarists, and his varied and eclectic concerts are in high demand. A warm and engaging performer, Manus has given critically acclaimed recitals in the UK and abroad, including at the Purcell Room, Sage Gateshead, Cadogan Hall, Kings Place, Bridgewater Hall and Wigmore Hall. He also composes original works that challenge preconceptions of what is possible on the guitar.
Manus is supported by Making Music's Philip and Dorothy Green Award for Young Concert Artists scheme.
REVIEW OF CONCERT HELD ON 2 NOVEMBER 2014 at Templewood, Northrepps
Manus Noble — Guitar
The choice of artist and the content of his programme was so very appropriate for this autumn afternoon at Templewood, wherein the grounds were so colourful with regard to the landscape being a kaleidoscope effect of fallen leaves bringing a host of colours as one approached Templewood - once inside, the setting of the music room, the colours of the music performed matched the beauty of nature itself.
Chopin's Waltz Op 69 in B Minor - transcribed for guitar where the retuning involved the E string being augmented to F sharp and the A string to B, brought a successful performance to this work.
Berceuse - a cradle song - written to portray a day in November which was solemn and reflective, where even the atonal progressions were brought to a peaceful resolution.
Sakura Theme and Variations by Japanese composer Yuquijiro Yocoh - based on a folk song - using the pentatonic scale created an Eastern flavour.
Hot Club Francais by Gary Ryan, written for Manus Noble - varied in both classical and jazz styles of the great Django Reinhardt.
Nightshade Rounds by American composer Bruce MacCombie - starting with single notes the piece gradually progressed to short cells of music - with arpeggios and an ever increasing tempo - matching its title as it ventured in tone gradations of light, shade and darkness.
Mallorca by Isaac Albeniz - transcribed from piano score to guitar in two distinct sections - here the music was Spanish guitar, played at its very best.
Niel Gow’s Lament for the Death of his Second Wife (arr David Russell) had a classical Celtic lilt but also some sombre textures akin to bereavement.
Mirage and Inishowen composed by Manus Noble consisted of a variety of style, from mystic Arabian drone tonalities with written improvisations, Indian dance styles and short Western effects
.
This young guitarist brought rapturous applause from an almost capacity audience who witnessed the incredible effects from the guitar in the hands of an undoubted master.
For an encore Manus Noble played Rock Weed Arizona by Gary Ryan which brought to a close this wonderful experience of seeing and hearing a truly brilliant guitarist, who captured the imagination, in music, of a great variety of colours which blended with the colours of nature.
Terry Keeler
Tel 01263 513273