Albert Shaun Hird, one of Jamaica’s best flautists, presented a recital at the Jamaica School of Music on April 9. Roger Williams was his accompanist on piano and Rafael Salazar, clarinetist and Clive Cameron, oboist, were two supporting artistes in the second part of the evening’s fare.

Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe and Mrs Wolfe headed the large gathering of concert-goers, and they all came away complimenting one of the best recitals of woodwind music given in a long time.

Shaun Hird has studied in Dakota at the International Music Camp in 1987. In 1988, he joined the Jamaica Military Band and in that he year he was sent on a one-year training course to the prestigious Kneller Hall, the Royal Military School of Music in England where he passed his final exams with distinctions. He was also named the best overseas student for the year.

The music feast started with CPE Bach’s Sonata in G with two main contrasting movements and one could immediately notice the masterly way the young flautist handled his instrument which was in fine tune. The flautist is well-practiced and his runs and trills are beautifully executed in true classical idiom; this shows a natural talent for his gift of music performance. His next piece, Carl Reinecke Ballade, a more modem composition, manifested his knowledge of styles of different composers, and the very lyrical exposition of the whole alerted to that understanding.

The last piece in this section by Paul Hindemith, the Sonata from Kleine Kammermusik, a very stiff piece of classical music by a modern composer, displayed from movements of contrasting tempo and music of different tonal idiom.

Ricardo Drigos’ Serenade from Les Millons D’alequin opened the recital again after intermission and the song-like composition had the audience rapt at attention listening to its strains.

Clive Cameron, oboist, familiarised many there with the plaintive sound of his oboe which we seldom hear in Jamaica as solo and in the Dringi Madeleine Trio for flute, oboe and piano, complemented Mr Hird well. We would have loved to hear the oboe in more than one presentation. Rafael Salazar, clarinetist par excellence from Cuba, now resident in Jamaica joined Shaun Hird in the Pavane for flute, clarinet and piano by Faure and it was too obvious that two wind players who love to play together were on stage. The dance-like composition proved to be one of the audience’s favourite one-movement pieces and received long applause.

‘Lo Here The Gentle Lark’ by Bishop and arranged by Winterbottom was the highlight piece that evening. It was done for flute, clarinet and piano, and Roger Williams, an excellent pianist, gave the two wind instruments their space to show off their excellence in synchronization of sounds and complimentary tones. The piece was done well in the character of its title.

Benjamin Goddard’s Allegretto ended the programme and finally showed Shaun Hird’s easy, masterful way with his flute. Shaun Hird and Rafael Salazar display their talent again on April 21 at Lloyd Hall’s annual Good Friday concert at the University Chapel.