The comparativist

The Dunelm Duo visited Sunny Southport today, to the delight of nearly eighty attendees of the Midweek Music at Christ Church. As per their usual arrangement, Ms Lynne Williams played both the saxophone and the flute, while Mr Robert Rainford sat at the piano. Their opening piece, «Tambourin» by François-Joseph Gossec, was the standout piece of the flute set. There's something delightfully cheerful in this divertissement that has made it the staple it is for the flute and the ocarina. «The solitary fir tree» by Jean Sibelius, from «Cinq morceaux» (op. 75), was the piano solo; this more pensive piece served to highlight the sensibilities of Mr Rainford, as herein his soft and sentimental hand shone through. Of the saxophone/piano set, I preferred «Tango and Charleston» by Trevor Hold—though I can't choose a favourite amongst the two styles presented in this mash-up, for it's in the contrast where the joy of this composition lies. Contrast, of course, was the thematic...