IT was with Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik that Taunton Sinfonietta introduced its concert in Taunton's St James' Church earlier this month.

From the opening moment, the players’ bows effectively outlined the sound and shaping of the musical phrasing.

Leader Mary Eade's first violin melody contrasted with the conjectural snippets of the lower register of the cello and the Minuet's shaped sensitive phrasing and restraint.

The concluding rondo concluded with real Mozartian sparkle.

Elgar's Chanson de Nuit lead nicely into Clive Jenkins' interesting 'Five Pieces for Clarinet'.

I hope this piece stays in the ensemble's repertoire. It gave us moods-a-plenty from the angular, through the sad warmth of the minor cadence, to the rapturous clarinet 'tranquillo' sounds of the Adagio, concluding with some spectacular cheeky short melodic fragments in the finale.

Borodin's famous Nocturne from his 2nd Quartet emphasised the Sinfonietta's warm sensitivity in playing their well-shaped notes in the St James' sunshine.

Signalling Colin Parr's return, Brahms' Clarinet Quintet – scored for clarinet and string quartet – represented the composer's later years with a wide range of colours and expressions, which (notwithstanding one small blemish in tuning), made a very delightful conclusion to a well-appreciated and outstanding concert.

MARY TREWIN