FLUTE AND PIANO AT ALL SAINTS PAINTED CHURCH

Christopher Moore and Brenda Dykes photograph Farouk Kara

All Saints in Jesus Lane is a phenomenon – built as a monument to the Mediaeval churches of England, once resplendent with stained glass the envy of Europe. A group of mid nineteenth century enthusiasts determined to re-create the glory of four hundred years earlier, with painting on every wall, imagined portraits of Saints springing from every corner. These architects and artists re-imagined the glory of an era destroyed by religious dissent in the Reformation and reduced often to husks by a further Puritan crusade in the 17th century to obliterate what they saw as Idolatry. In The Stripping of the Altars, Cambridge author Eamonn Duffy describes the shock wave of loss across the country ( often initiated in East Anglia ) as familiar sacred objects were systematically smashed and the interiors where they worshipped, emptied of decoration white washed over. Artists of the era persuaded Jesus College to grant them the land to build their project and they adorned every corner with art.

After decades of decay however the church was in a dilapidated condition and only recently have enthusiasts pooled their considerable knowledge and restored the almost derelict wonder its former state. Pat,an expert and worker helped us  to see even more of the delights of the Church.

In a concert there on the 1st February – one of many planned, the audience had the joy of absorbing the remarkable interior whilst listening to music. Christopher Moore an accomplished Pianist and Composer and Brenda Dykes a world – renowned Flautist joined forces for a hugely enjoyable lunchtime concert.

Lennox Berkley ( father of Radio 3’s Michael) was the first and among the most enjoyable of the composers. Brenda Dykes dealt with his lovely small pieces with a delightful sensitivity. His work was followed by beautiful pieces by Arnold Cooke and Albert Roussel both firmly twentieth century composers and a great source of delightful chamber music for flute and piano. Brenda Dykes tackled them all with the same delicacy and interpretive panache. But it was when Christopher Moore on the piano introduced his own pieces, written especially for Brenda ,that the full scope of her technique emerged. A timbre of exceptional warm diverse quality elevated her playing and Christopher’s compositions above the very talented earlier work  -a truly exceptional musical joy.

 https://www.faruk.kara.org.uk/ for Photographer Faruk Kara

More concerts will follow at The Painted Church – don’t miss them.