COLIN Decio's compositions often have a strong local flavour, notably his Gloucester and Cheltenham symphonies.

His latest works, which draw their inspiration from poets associated with the Dymock Group, were premiered in the third of five Saturday afternoon recitals.

His setting of Edward Thomas’ most famous poem, Adlestrop, was particularly accomplished. The accompaniment, at first very economical, gradually blossomed into something more expansive, and the fine voice of Matt Spillett brought lustre to the words.

John Drinkwater's Songs of Travel are poignant - even disturbing, and Decio's settings of The Vagabond and Mad Tom Tatterman reinforced the sense of melancholy. Joy quickly turned to desolation in Two Ships, and both pianist and singer brought a strong sense of atmosphere to The Tollgate House.

The Soldier, by the third of the Dymock poets, started on a sombre note, but the music lightened as his thoughts turned to the English countryside. Blue Evening proved to be a longer, more complex work full of emotional ambiguity.

The recital had opened with Decio's Third Piano Sonata in which the bombast of the opening sequence was eventually replaced by more Debussyian sonorities, placid and declamatory in turn. Both the second and fourth movements had a dance-like quality.

Folk song arrangements by Britten afforded Mr Spillett a final opportunity to demonstrate his musical sensitivity and vocal range. Whether expressing the whimsical good spirits of The Ploughboy or the wistfulness of O Waly, Waly, his singing never failed to hit the mark.

Roger Jones

The concert was held in Francis Close Hall, Cheltenham

Enceladus is a moon of Saturn that undergoes great stresses in its orbit which causes it to emit ice plumes.

It also has three 'tiger stripes' which show increased heat below the surface.

Enceladus is in Saturn's e-ring system.

I have chosen this name as this new sonata takes a classical sonata and stretches it from the inside out.

Each concert will feature a different instrument or instrumental ensemble and will include one of my eight piano sonatas.

For a concert brochure please visit the downloads page.

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