With some trepidation I went to a concert last night of the music of Colin
Decio, a local composer living in Cheltenham, born 1959.  Two premieres
included a Piano Quintet (Spritis of Our Age -- more of a work for String
Quartet and Piano than a true Quintet) and The opening of a Rose, inspired
by the catastrophe of September 11.  The main works were String Quartet No
1 (1985) and a Piano Trio for Anne Frank.

All were illuminating works.  Whilst I find it difficult to agree with some
of the more gushing comments overheard in the interval bar, I found the
music solidly constructed, pleasing to the ear and full of surprises.  And
that's what I demand from music, new, old or purple.  It's entertainment
and food for the brain -- I don't believe it has to meet some artifical
intellectual standard -- provided it's not aurally trite.

Tim Mahon
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