Derek Haslam from Nelson Gramophone Society chose one of the most frequently used sources of inspiration of composers for his recital; namely classical Greece, in a comprehensive and all encompassing history of the Greek pantheon.

His recital opened with music by Debussy and Nielson celebrating Pan and Syrinx the nymph pursued by Pan, Philippa Legge playing solo flute to represent Pan Pipes in Debussy’s Syrinx.

Orpheus and Oedipus Rex were the gods who inspired music by Gluck and Stravinsky while the oceanides, the three thousand goddess nymphs who presided over the sources of the earth’s fresh water, were the inspiration for the tone poem The Oceanides by Sibelius. Taking us to the interval with ballet music by Samuel Barber was Medea who was jilted by Jason and who wreaked vengeance by murdering their children.

We resumed with Butterworth’s song Look Not in My Eyes an allusion to Narcissus, followed by Stravinsky’s ballet music Apollo. In conclusion Bacchus and his lover Ariadne inspired the eponymous ballet by French composer Roussel.

At the conclusion of Mr Haslam’s excellent recital most members had heard a programme that contained music that was new to them, and all members had benefitted from his erudition of classical Greece.

The next meeting of the society will be held on Thursday 21 June. For further details please contact Richard W Hall telephone 01706 823490 or by E mail richard.w@hall45.eclipse.co.uk