Fira Ensemble

Franz Behr (1837–1898)

Three Pieces, Op. 183 & Op. 252 (Behr)

i Nocturno I, ii Nocturno II, iii Evening on the Sea

Written by Franz Behr in 1870-1878. Franz Behr was a prolific, but minor, and now almost forgotten, German composer of songs and salon pieces for piano. He also wrote under the names G. Bachmann and Charles Godard.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major ‘Affetuoso’, BWV1050 (Bach)

ii Affetuoso

Bach wrote his fifth Brandenburg Concerto for harpsichord, flute and violin as soloists, and an orchestral accompaniment consisting of strings and continuo. The concerto's second movement, exceptional for a slow movement in Bach's concerto output, is a pure concerto form, consisting of a regularly returning ritornello and evenly distributed episodes, without the experimentation of the concerto's outer movements.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

The Musical Offering, BWV 1079 (Bach)

i Largo, ii Allegro, iii Andante, iv Allegro

The Musical Offering is a collection of keyboard canons and fugues and other pieces of music by Bach, all based on a single musical theme given to him by Frederick the Great (King Frederick II of Prussia), to whom they are dedicated.

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Five Pieces (Shostakovich)

i Prelude (Moderato), ii Gavotte (Tranquillo, molto leggiero), iii Elegy (Andantino), iv Waltz (Tempo di valse, moderato), v Polka (Vivace)

The Five Pieces are easy-to-follow film background music, suitable more for entertainment than for serious listening. The opening Prelude is sentimental and occasionally played as a separate piece. The second piece is a lively dance entitled Gavotte. Next is a lilting tune with the curious title Elegy. A swinging Waltz follows, and. the suite ends with a fast gypsy-style Polka.

Performers

Fira Ensemble (Flute/Violin/Piano Trio)

• Elizabeth Meyer - Flute
• Leora Cohen - Violin
• Raymond Wui Man Yiu - Piano

The Fira ensemble met during their studies at Trinity Laban College of Music and Dance, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the University of Cambridge. After this they began making music together and during their studies they were winners of the Colin Blythe Chamber Music Award. They have played at venues and societies throughout the UK, and their music ranges from Baroque through to Contemporary. They have worked with several composers promoting new works and along with their chamber music concerts they work in outreach with Music In Hospitals. As an ensemble they work with a number of pianists in their concerts including Dr Paul Wingfield and Raymond Yiu.