FRANK CLIFF Cratfield Church

FRANK CLIFF

Cratfield Church

To mark 20 years at Cratfield Church, Blythe Valley Chamber Music commissioned a string quartet and at Sunday afternoon's recital the Sorrel Quartet gave the first performance of Simon Rowland Jones' Third Quartet.

The layout of its three movements is traditional: a first movement in sonata form, a slow movement with a waltz-like central section and a presto finale.

While the musical language may not be at the cutting edge of the avante-garde, Rowland Jones writes brilliantly for the medium, as well he might, being a distinguished viola player as well as composer. It is effective music, very enjoyable and was brilliantly performed by the Sorrel.

Rowland Jones joined the Sorrel as second viola in the two other works. They had begun the recital with a Divertimento in G by Haydn an early work and unusual in scored for viola quintet.