Ipswich Arts Association: Lunchtime Concert, Andrew Burke - Piano, Museum Street Methodist Church, Ipswich, Thursday September 11 This lunchtime concert was a very poignant occasion as it paid tribute to the memory of Frances Gilson, who died a little over two weeks ago.

Ipswich Arts Association: Lunchtime Concert, Andrew Burke - Piano, Museum Street Methodist Church, Ipswich, Thursday September 11

This lunchtime concert was a very poignant occasion as it paid tribute to the memory of Frances Gilson, who died a little over two weeks ago.

Frances, a loyal member of IAA, had organised, planned and hosted the lunchtime lectures and concerts for several years. It was most fitting that Andrew Burke was performing on this occasion. In his role as musical director of the operettas in the Ipswich Gilbert & Sullivan Society, in which Frances had been a long-time member, he knew Frances well.

In the 40 minutes allotted time Andrew played 15 pieces of music. He announced that his plan was to start and finish with familiar music - three Chopin Mazurkas and Wedding Day at Troldhaugen Op.65 No.5 by Grieg -and in between introduce the audience to little known works that deserved wider recognition, in the hope that everyone would go away with at least one piece that they would like to hear again.

There was nothing to dislike in this delightful romantic music and my particular favourites were the Scriabin Prelude Op, 13 No 5 and the charming Minuet in G major Op. 14 No. 1by Paderewski.

Andrew, self-deprecating as ever, modestly introduced Legend (a Romance), a fine composition of his own. He described it as a work that started with storm clouds and finished some eight minutes later in storm clouds. I prefer to think in terms of Rachmaninov and Brief Encounter!

The concert was a lovely interlude in the working day and Andrew communicated the music well on a less than ideal piano.

Speaking as a personal friend of Frances I know how much she would have enjoyed Andrew's performance. During a conversation we had earlier this year she told me how delighted she was that he had agreed to play. So, thank you Andrew for reflecting, in the music, what we all feel in our hearts for Frances.

Judith Newman