Hastings Unitarian Church, 9 June 2012 

With its showpiece eighteenth century Snetzler organ, handsomely refurbished, its mentors Dr Brian Hick and organist Stephen Page felt the time was ripe to present something a little different in middle-of-the-road music. The result attracted a most appreciative Saturday afternoon audience, just enough familiar music to give assurance, just enough lesser-known to prove a talking-point.

J S Bach’s Prelude in G major BWV 568 as an opener, and Mozart’s Andante for Musical Clock fulfilled the former, and Arthur Wills’ Lullaby for a Royal Prince and Fisher’s Preludes & Fugues in D & Eb the latter.  A complete change to near-present day came with Charles Williams’ Devil’s Galop.  Williams was a highly respected writer of film music, and this piece saw long service as the theme for the BBC’s radio series Dick Barton – Special Agent. ‘Galop’ in this sense refers not to a horse letting off steam but a nineteenth century in-the-round ballroom dance.

The programme ended with an organ favourite, Lefebure-Wely’s Sortie in E flat, ‘sortie’ being the equivalent of what is known as a ‘chaser’, a fast, loud piece traditionally played by the orchestra at the end of a performance to hurry the audience out of the theatre.

Not that this audience wanted to leave.  On Saturday they were only too anxious to have a few words with Brian and Stephen about the venture, regarding which Stephen explains, ‘We had found there was an audience for something slightly different combining ‘serious’  and ‘light’ music and we hope these concerts prove it.’

Saturday’s certainly did. The next is on Saturday August 11th at 2.30 p.m.in the Unitarian Church in South Terrace, off Queen’s Road.  Admission free with donations .  You will be very welcome. MW