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WHEN Cornish born pianist Daniel Tong came to Sidmouth in 2008, as accompanist to horn player Alec Frank-Gemmill, his pianism so impressed the organisers at Sidmouth Music they have invited him back to give a solo recital as part of their 40th anniversary celebrations.

For his return visit he will give a recital in the Knowle council chamber, on Saturday, November 26 at 7:30pm, using the B�sendorfer grand piano owned by Sidmouth Music, in a programme of three piano works.

Opening the concert will be Robert Schumann’s Faschingsschwank aus Wien (Carnival Jest from Vienna).

The jest in the piece is a thinly veiled quotation from the French National Anthem La Marseilleise which, at the time of the composition in the 1830s, was banned in Vienna for political reasons.

Other than making a political statement, for Schumann this was a ‘great romantic sonata’ born out of the time he had spent in the Austrian capital.

This will be followed by five pieces from Claude Debussy’s first set of well-known preludes, and will include Danseuses de Delphes, Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l’air du soir, Les Collines d’Anacapri, La Danse de Puck and Minstrels.

Closing the programme will be Franz Schubert’s penultimate piano sonata, no 20 in A major which, as part of his final clutch of compositions, was completed only two months before the composer died in 1828.

As well as his solo work and accompaniment for a wide range of other players, Daniel also plays as part of the London Bridge Ensemble, a dynamic combination of strings, piano and voice which provides a wide range of programme styles. More recently he has formed a piano trio, Opus One, with Sara Bitlloch and Amy Norrington, themselves both renowned players in other ensembles. When not actually playing, Daniel also runs the annual Wye Valley Music festival.

Tickets for the recital are available, priced �12.50, from Paragon Books, Sidmouth, as well as other local outlets. See www.SidmouthMusic.org.uk or ring Hugh Sutherland on (01395) 514618 for details.