Churches are great: not only is a marvellous acoustic found within those imposing stone walls, but visitors also feel an inherently peaceful atmosphere upon entry. Both of these qualities enhanced the informal concert at St Giles’ Cathedral, leaving the audience with far lower stress levels than the typical Fringe schedule allows.
The two musicians were extremely skilled, with Will Pickvance on the piano and Balazs Hermann on the double bass; perhaps not the most common instrument pairing, but one which worked well. The bassist was particularly animated throughout the concert and the performers visibly enjoyed the show, engaging the audience.
The music itself was excellent. Listeners were taken through a whole range of genres, from classical masterpieces through to folk, jazz and even a smattering of swing. This range was further extended after the audience was encouraged to make their own requests. Both musicians seemed to spark off one another as they floated from genre to genre and melody to melody. There were a couple of instances when the pair appeared not to be in sync, but with a partially improvised show this was understandable.
Pickvance introduced the melodies in a subtle and skilled manner, and was complimented expertly by Hermann, who plucked and bowed with equal aptitude. The result was an extremely pleasant, not to mention free, lunchtime of music.
