COOKHAM FESTIVAL 2009 

A Celebration of Arts and Music

Friday 24 April 2009 - Monday 4 May 2009

2009 Cookham Festival Highlights

MUSIC AT THE BARN - "ALL IN A GARDEN GREEN"

27 April 2009 - Lea Barn, Winter Hill

with thanks to Norma Herdson

Chair, Maidenhead and District Arts Council

click on photo for larger image

What could be better? A sunny day, a 17th century barn and music from the Festival Concert by Stromenti, which is a Cookham-based group led by Judy and Roger Deats. They specialise in baroque music played on period  instruments.  Roger plays viola da gamba and recorder; Judy sings and plays recorder. They were joined by Alison Bowler on harpsichord and Alexandra Webb on violin. 

The Garden Green in this case belonged to Deborah and Robert Behrman who raise much money for charities through their concerts.

We heard the birds twittering in the delightful recorder playing of Judy and Sue, accompanied by the continuo team of Chris, harpsichord and Roger, viola da gamba. The mixture of music was very varied – it included a sonata for oboe and viola da gamba, a cantata and finished with a stirring Telemann Quadro. On the way, Roger talked us through the music which included a celebration of Purcell and Handel.

To sum up, we had Judy singing Purcell`s fine song “Music for a while shall all your cares beguile” which it certainly did.