The Dash Quartet
{Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Piano}
23rd October 2025
The
wonderful
Dash
Quartet
blew
the
Concert
Society
into
its
67th
Season.
Enhanced
by
the
acoustics
and
atmosphere
of
the
Assembly
Room
at
Grimsby
Town
Hall,
musicians
Della
Blood
–
flute,
Amy
Butler
–
piano,
Sharon
Walker
-
Clarinet,
Helena
Bidder
-
Oboe
delighted
their
audience
with
a
programme
of
variety and contrast with music from Schubert to Damase.
Schubert’s
Entr’acte
from
Rosamunde
provided
a
beautiful
lyrical
opening
to
the
concert,
with
each
performer
featuring
individually
as
the
piece
progressed.
Helena
revealed
her
personality
performing
Yellow
(Morris)
–
a
jazzy
oboe
solo
with
big
band
references
and
some
great
exchanges
with
Amy
on
piano.
Schocker’s
Airspace
added
great
interest
to
the
concert:
In
the
regal
first
section,
contemporary
with
Baroque
references,
the
three
wind
instruments
combined
in
pleasant
discords.
In
the
relaxing
second
section
the
woodwinds
blended
synergistically
to
sound
like
a
single
unique
instrument.
A
conversational
third
section
gave
way
to
the
humorous
finale,
like
a
scene
in
a
busy
farmyard
full
of
noise, conversations and arguments climaxing in a tumult.
The
first
half
ended
with
a
Caprice
on
Danish
and
Russian
Airs
,
Saint-Saens,
with
the
flute
presenting
first
in
a
Danish
Air
and
the
oboe
and
clarinet
leading
on
two
Russian
Airs.
The
nuances
of
the
wind
instruments
were
revealed
as
the
tunes
were
passed
between
them,
in
a
piece
full
of
exchanges
and
interaction
-
supported
by
Amy’s
well
balanced
accompaniment
and
brilliant
flourishes.
The
full-bodied
finale
was
enjoyed
by
players
and
audience
alike.
In
a
haunting
and
evocative
unaccompanied
flute
solo,
Della
opened
the
second-half
performing
the
inspirational
Syrinx
(Debussy).
Amberg’s
Suite
began
with
a
bouncy
first
movement
full
of
exchanges
between
the
woodwinds,
solidly
underpinned
by
the
piano.
The
second
movement
was
beautifully
controlled
–
a
relaxed
performance
with
a
swaying
melodic
line.
The
final
Rondo
was
a
lively
contrast,
this
busy
movement
felt
like
a
jolly
train
ride!
Reade’s
Prelude
from
The
Victorian
Kitchen
Garden
,
with
a
gentle
and
empathetic
piano
accompaniment
from
Amy,
Sharon
performed
an
iconic
clarinet
solo
–
a
sheer
delight.
The
four
movements
of
Quartet
for
flute,
oboe,
clarinet
and
piano
,
Damase,
reinforced
the
uniqueness
of
this
ensemble.
The
opening
movement
provided
a
sense
of
musical
exploration
that
finally
coalesced
in
its
ending,
giving
way
to
a
jaunty
and
enjoyable
second
movement.
The
third
movement,
subtly
carried
along
by
the
piano,
was
opened
by
the
flute
that
was
to
collect
friends
along
the
way,
the
instruments
blending
and
contrasting
and
gently
reassuring.
In
the
final
movement,
the
combined
woodwinds
provided
a
declamatory
opening
leading
on to a jaunty promenade and exciting climax.
For
a
marvellous
jazzy
encore,
the
quartet
played
Tutti
Frutti
(Buttall)
providing
a
big-band
feel
in
miniature.
To
sum
up,
The
Dash
Quartet
are
refreshingly
different
–
a
great
sound
with
a
wonderful
varied
programme
combining
known
repertoire
with
lesser
known
works.
Four
very
skilled
musicians, each comfortable in themselves and within the ensemble. IM
The Dash Quartet
{Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Piano}
23rd October 2025
The
wonderful
Dash
Quartet
blew
the
Concert
Society
into
its
67th
Season.
Enhanced
by
the
acoustics
and
atmosphere
of
the
Assembly
Room
at
Grimsby
Town
Hall,
musicians
Della
Blood
–
flute,
Amy
Butler
–
piano,
Sharon
Walker
-
Clarinet,
Helena
Bidder
-
Oboe
delighted
their
audience
with
a
programme
of
variety
and
contrast
with
music
from
Schubert
to
Damase.
Schubert’s
Entr’acte
from
Rosamunde
provided
a
beautiful
lyrical
opening
to
the
concert,
with
each
performer
featuring
individually
as
the
piece
progressed.
Helena
revealed
her
personality
performing
Yellow
(Morris)
–
a
jazzy
oboe
solo
with
big
band
references
and
some
great
exchanges
with
Amy
on
piano.
Schocker’s
Airspace
added
great
interest
to
the
concert:
In
the
regal
first
section,
contemporary
with
Baroque
references,
the
three
wind
instruments
combined
in
pleasant
discords.
In
the
relaxing
second
section
the
woodwinds
blended
synergistically
to
sound
like
a
single
unique
instrument.
A
conversational
third
section
gave
way
to
the
humorous
finale,
like
a
scene
in
a
busy
farmyard
full
of
noise,
conversations
and
arguments
climaxing
in
a
tumult.
The
first
half
ended
with
a
Caprice
on
Danish
and
Russian
Airs
,
Saint-Saens,
with
the
flute
presenting
first
in
a
Danish
Air
and
the
oboe
and
clarinet
leading
on
two
Russian
Airs.
The
nuances
of
the
wind
instruments
were
revealed
as
the
tunes
were
passed
between
them,
in
a
piece
full
of
exchanges
and
interaction
-
supported
by
Amy’s
well
balanced
accompaniment
and
brilliant
flourishes. The full-bodied finale was enjoyed by players and audience alike.
In
a
haunting
and
evocative
unaccompanied
flute
solo,
Della
opened
the
second-
half
performing
the
inspirational
Syrinx
(Debussy).
Amberg’s
Suite
began
with
a
bouncy
first
movement
full
of
exchanges
between
the
woodwinds,
solidly
underpinned
by
the
piano.
The
second
movement
was
beautifully
controlled
–
a
relaxed
performance
with
a
swaying
melodic
line.
The
final
Rondo
was
a
lively
contrast,
this
busy
movement
felt
like
a
jolly
train
ride!
Reade’s
Prelude
from
The
Victorian
Kitchen
Garden
,
with
a
gentle
and
empathetic
piano
accompaniment
from
Amy,
Sharon
performed
an
iconic
clarinet
solo
–
a
sheer
delight.
The
four
movements
of
Quartet
for
flute,
oboe,
clarinet
and
piano
,
Damase,
reinforced
the
uniqueness
of
this
ensemble.
The
opening
movement
provided
a
sense
of
musical
exploration
that
finally
coalesced
in
its
ending,
giving
way
to
a
jaunty
and
enjoyable
second
movement.
The
third
movement,
subtly
carried
along
by
the
piano,
was
opened
by
the
flute
that
was
to
collect
friends
along
the
way,
the
instruments
blending
and
contrasting
and
gently
reassuring.
In
the
final
movement,
the
combined
woodwinds
provided
a
declamatory
opening
leading
on
to
a
jaunty
promenade
and
exciting
climax.
For
a
marvellous
jazzy
encore,
the
quartet
played
Tutti
Frutti
(Buttall)
providing
a
big-band
feel
in
miniature.
To
sum
up,
The
Dash
Quartet
are
refreshingly
different
–
a
great
sound
with
a
wonderful
varied
programme
combining
known
repertoire
with
lesser
known
works.
Four
very
skilled
musicians, each comfortable in themselves and within the ensemble. IM
