Lunchtime Recital Friday 3^rd November – Jenny Thomas (flute) and Ian Gammie (guitar).

Jenny and Ian took us back into the parlour of a great house in the 18^th Century where the music we heard was played, and for which it was written. Quiet but melodious. And their instruments too were more of that era – a flute made of wood with only 4 keys, a design typical of the late18th century, and a guitar which was a copy of a French design from 1815 – much smaller and lighter than a modern classical guitar and with a lighter, brighter but less sustainable sound. Just right for a smaller space and a select company (which we were).

Between their pieces Ian gave us some brief readings from an 18^th Century writer, a parish priest.

The descriptions of a handsome Supper – “a couple of boiled fowls and oyster sauce, a roasted hare, roasted duck, a hot tongue, tarts, Italian flummery -blancmange, baked apples and sweetmeats, white wine and red, beer and cyder and 3 bottles of port” – were, as Tony said, a real challenge to our ladies preparing the Charity lunch which was to follow!

An excellent recital with a period atmosphere heightened by the 18^th Century priest’s diary entries.

We hope they’ll come again.