Stroud Valleys Music Club with Lawrie Hall

THE last formal presentation of the season sent us out in great style.

Lawrie Hall took us on a musical odyssey that tracked his own journey from childhood until now, with the music often relating to his career on the railways.

His very varied selection of pieces included English music by Ireland, Billy Mayerl, Bax, Delius and Elgar’s ‘Starlight Express’ (yes, Elgar got there first!).

However, as if to illustrate the massive European steam engines, he raised the pressure with some powerful pieces by Nielsen, Messiaen and - to end – Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder.

Phew.

After the forthcoming AGM and some social events, we look forward to the next season beginning in September.