Mr McFall’s Chamber

Robert McFall has long been at the centre of Scottish musical ideas, and the Arran Music Society was thrilled by the suggestion that Arran could be included in a major tour on the theme of Islands, both Scottish and Caribbean. On Thursday 19th June, an intrigued audience gathered in Brodick Hall to hear five string players and Susan Hamilton, soprano, performing music that ranged from Purcell onwards and spanned continents.

Sadly, the Burmudan composer commissioned to write three settings of poems by Scotiish and Caribbean writers had not been able to complete the work, but few people regretted the fact that this made space for other treats. Susan Hamilton’s glorious, heart-breaking performance of Dido’s Lament will remain in every mind, and there were original and very beautiful settings of Burns poems.

The playing was masterly, from a smoochy violin/viola duet to a marvellous suite by the Cuban composer, Fabio Landa, and each player astonished the audience with glorious performance. Brian Schiele is an outstanding violist and Rick Standley on double bass was constantly sensitive, while the violins of Rosenna East and Robert McFall himself wove their linked yet separate melodic lines. Nobody was left unmoved by the skill of Su-a Lee, a cellist of extraordinary quality, or by the subtle balance and communication between the five players. Add to that the astonishing, clear soprano voice of Susan Hamilton, who made the Dunedin Consort famous, and there is a recipe for sheer magic.