Flute, Oboe and Piano

An instrumental combination which is rarely heard by most people was presented to students by the college Musical Society. Playing works by 17th and 18th century composers were Hans Knoelgen, flute; Ngaire Stead, oboe, and Gabrielle Whitchorn, piano.

Two modern sonatas were also performed, the Sonatina for Flute and Piano by Walter Leigh and Sonata for Oboe and Piano by Paul Hindemith. These two works are rather similar in character and we are told that Leigh studied under Hindemith in Berlin. In the Sonatina, the flautist did not display a sufficient graduation of tone, with the result that the atonality of the work was liable to become monotonous in places. In the-Sonata, however, the oboist, who is a member of the National Orchestra, dealt very competently with the finer shades of Hinemith's composition.

Save for the Piano Sonata by C P. E. Bach the impression gained from the older works was a certain lack of depth. But as a trio, the players nevertheless gave an interesting and capable interpretation of Sonatas by Corbett arid Frescobaidi. The most fascinating piece on the programme was the Sonata in B Flat for Flue and Oboe by Telemann. This work, though slight in content, gave the performers an opportunity to explore the possibilities of two wind instruments in harmony and the effect on the audience was most gratifying.