Playing Day with Tabea Debus

On Saturday 22nd February we welcomed Tabea Debus as our visiting conductor for an exciting playing day. We had been offered the use of Clarence Hall in Crickhowell for the day and for an early evening concert, when Tabea was joined by lutenist Toby Carr.

Our branch normally meets monthly in the village hall in Trecastle and averages about 25 players. We had publicised this special event quite widely and attracted visitors from Cheltenham and Gloucester, as well as more local people who do not play with us regularly, and had more than 40 keen players. Tabea began with some great warm-up exercises, which eased the nerves, and then progressed from seemingly simple to increasingly difficult pieces. She is a quite brilliant teacher, getting the best from us in a friendly and encouraging manner. The final challenge was a set of Divisions on the familiar Greensleeves theme, increasing in its complexity of timing and sheer number of notes!

This piece also appeared in the concert programme in an arrangement by Tabea for recorder and theorbo. The crowds flocked in for the concert and we were treated to a magical mix of Renaissance, Baroque and Modern pieces. Some solos for recorder or for lute, theorbo or Baroque guitar, but most for duet. We revelled in music by Dowland, J.S.Bach, Ortiz and the great Anon as well as Alex Nante (b.1992) and Gareth Moorcraft (b.1990) . This concert has been named Ohrwurm (Earworm) by Tabea and certainly left us with a buzz.
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We are very grateful to the Trustees of Clarence Hall, who have supported us in this venture. Our thanks must also go to Caroline Jones, our Musical Director, for organizing such an inspiring day. Over and above that, we need to thank Tabea.

​Helen Fletcher, February 2025