Thursday 30 July 2026
12.30 lunchtime
Venue: Leatherhead Methodist Church KT22 8AY
Parking: Swan Centre multi storey KT22 7RH
KIMU DUO
Gus McQuade, guitar
Ibai Pijoan i Markaida, cello
Programme
Duke Ellington (1899–1974)/JS Bach (1685–1750)
arr Gus McQuade
Take the “A” Train / Sinfonia (from Partita No 2, BWV 826)
Basque Traditional, arr Ibai Pijoan
Aita San Antonio
John Dowland (1563–1626)
arr Gus McQuade
A Fancy, P 6
c15 Basque folk song, arr Ibai Pijoan
Bereterretxen Kantoria
Maurice Ravel (1875–1937)
arr Gus McQuade
Sonatine: I Modéré (1903-05)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
arr Gus McQuade
from Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op 33
Variation VI
Johann Sebastian Bach, arr Ibai Pijoan
from Cello Suite No 1 BWV 1007
Minuets I & II
Frederic Mompou Dencausse (1893–1987)
arr Ibai Pijoan
from Música callada Voices of Silence
Angelico
JS Bach, arr Gus McQuade
from Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244
Erbarme dich, mein Gott
Antônio Carlos Jobim (aka Tom Jobim, 1927–1994)
arr Gus McQuade
A Felicidade
Concert duration approx: 45+ minutes
Please donate to help fund these concerts at: cafdonate.cafonline.org/14455
Duke Ellington (1899–1974)/JS Bach (1685–1750)
arr Gus McQuade
Take the “A” Train / Sinfonia (from Partita No 2, BWV 826)
Basque Traditional, arr Ibai Pijoan
Aita San Antonio
John Dowland (1563–1626)
arr Gus McQuade
A Fancy, P 6
c15 Basque folk song, arr Ibai Pijoan
Bereterretxen Kantoria
Maurice Ravel (1875–1937)
arr Gus McQuade
Sonatine: I Modéré (1903-05)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
arr Gus McQuade
from Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op 33
Variation VI
Johann Sebastian Bach, arr Ibai Pijoan
from Cello Suite No 1 BWV 1007
Minuets I & II
Frederic Mompou Dencausse (1893–1987)
arr Ibai Pijoan
from Música callada Voices of Silence
Angelico
JS Bach, arr Gus McQuade
from Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244
Erbarme dich, mein Gott
Antônio Carlos Jobim (aka Tom Jobim, 1927–1994)
arr Gus McQuade
A Felicidade
Concert duration approx: 45+ minutes
Please donate to help fund these concerts at: cafdonate.cafonline.org/14455
Kimu Duo
Kimu Duo is a cello–guitar ensemble formed at the Royal Academy of Music in London, bringing together Catalan-Basque cellist Ibai Pijoan and British guitarist Gus McQuade. United by a shared interest in cross- genre music making and a creative approach to programming, they have built a distinct project that has taken them across the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Basque Country and Catalonia.
Their programmes move freely between classical repertoire, Bach, jazz, and folk traditions from the
Basque Country, Catalonia and England, alongside references to film music and other influences.
All of the repertoire is arranged by the duo themselves, often incorporating elements of composition and improvisation, and carefully shaped to create a dynamic and engaging concert experience. Through imaginative transitions between pieces and styles, their performances weave together contrasting sound worlds, from intimate, pared-back moments of stillness to lyrical climaxes
driving rhythms and grooves.
Gus McQuade
Gus McQuade is a City Music Foundation Artist and a Kirckman Concert Society Artist. A former Musicians’ Company New Elizabethan Award holder, he made his debut at Wigmore Hall in 2023 and has performed at venues including Kings Place and the Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room, as well as at the St Magnus International Festival in Orkney.
He completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music, with distinction, receiving the Academy’s Regency Award for all-round excellence.
He completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree at the Royal Academy of Music, with distinction, receiving the Academy’s Regency Award for all-round excellence.
Ibai Pijoan i Markaida
Ibai Pijoan studied at the Royal Academy of Music, and is currently completing his Master’s degree at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. He is the recipient of the Barcelona Wagner Scholarship and support from the Stichting De Zaaier Fund.
Alongside his work as a performer, he is active as an arranger and improviser, and was invited to participate in a fully funded improvisation workshop and concert series in Lübeck. As a student he won First Prize at the
Wigmore Hall Chamber Music Competition with the Smetana Piano Trio, and has appeared as soloist with the Royal Academy of Music Baroque Orchestra in Vivaldi’s Double Cello Concerto.
Alongside his work as a performer, he is active as an arranger and improviser, and was invited to participate in a fully funded improvisation workshop and concert series in Lübeck. As a student he won First Prize at the
Wigmore Hall Chamber Music Competition with the Smetana Piano Trio, and has appeared as soloist with the Royal Academy of Music Baroque Orchestra in Vivaldi’s Double Cello Concerto.
Recordings of the works in today's concert
Duke Ellington (1899–1974)/JS Bach (1685–1750)
arr Gus McQuade
Take the “A” Train / Sinfonia (from Partita No 2, BWV 826) [7:30]
Until we reach the concert on Thursday we may to imagine how these two pieces of music fit together. Here is "Take the A Train" from the 1943 film "Reveille with Beverly".
The Bach Partita seems popular with guitarists, not just its Sinfonia. Here then is Marko Topchii in a recording for the Guitar Foundation of America International:
arr Gus McQuade
Take the “A” Train / Sinfonia (from Partita No 2, BWV 826) [7:30]
Until we reach the concert on Thursday we may to imagine how these two pieces of music fit together. Here is "Take the A Train" from the 1943 film "Reveille with Beverly".
The Bach Partita seems popular with guitarists, not just its Sinfonia. Here then is Marko Topchii in a recording for the Guitar Foundation of America International:
Basque Traditional, arr Ibai Pijoan
Aita San Antonio (Saint Anthony of Urkiola)
This arrangement, by David Azurza, is sung by Hodeiertz-Oroith Abesbatza - the combined choirs of the two towns.
Aita San Antonio (Saint Anthony of Urkiola)
This arrangement, by David Azurza, is sung by Hodeiertz-Oroith Abesbatza - the combined choirs of the two towns.
John Dowland (1563–1626)
arr Gus McQuade
A Fancy, P. 6
Our recording comes from Duvbo Church, Sweden, where the lutenist is Jonas Nordberg, Like Leatherhead, Duvbo is an outer suburb of its country's capital city:
arr Gus McQuade
A Fancy, P. 6
Our recording comes from Duvbo Church, Sweden, where the lutenist is Jonas Nordberg, Like Leatherhead, Duvbo is an outer suburb of its country's capital city:
c15 Basque folk song, arr Ibai Pijoan
Bereterretxen Kantoria
This is a famous 15th-century traditional Basque folk ballad from the Zuberoa (Soule) province. The lyrics recount the tragic capture and death of young Bereterretxe during the violent local conflicts between regional noble factions. The recording we have found includes French subtitles, which could be handy for some ! This is part of a combined CD & film project treating Basque folk music in contemporary styles. Nothing we have seen suggests the Ibai Pijoan will burst into song in our concert !
Maurice Ravel (1875–1937)
arr Gus McQuade
Sonatine: I Modéré (1903-05)
This Korean studio recording is by pianist Sehun Kim:
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
arr Gus McQuade
from Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op 33
Variation VI
Our recording is of Msistlav Rostropovich with the Berliner Philharmonic,. conducted by Herbert von Karajan:
Johann Sebastian Bach, arr Ibai Pijoan
from Cello Suite No 1 BWV 1007
Minuets I & II
From the stunning Basilica of St Mary Magdalene at Vézelay in the Burgundy department of Yonne, France, comes this Rostropovich recording of these two minuets:
Frederic Mompou Dencausse (1893–1987) arr Ibai Pijoan
from Música callada Voices of Silence
Angelico
From the Museu de la Musica in Mompou's home city of Barcelona comes this recording of Miquel Villalba playing on a Chassaigne Frères piano. Despite the seemingly French name, this was a Barcelona family firm of piano makers. They were high quality instruments of the 19th and 20th century:
JS Bach, arr Gus McQuade
from Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244
Erbarme dich, mein Gott
You will probably recognise this aria from the St Matthew Passion. The text is:
Erbarme dich, mein Gott, um meiner Zähren willen! Schaue hier, Herz und Auge weint vor dir bitterlich.
Have mercy, my God, for the sake of my tears!
See here, before you heart and eyes weep bitterly.
This aria is more a duet for the contralto and violin. Delphine Galou displays some of the purity of a countertenor, while François-Marie Drieux's violin is more than equal to the task. The orchestra is Les Siècles, conducted by François-Xavier Roth.
from Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244
Erbarme dich, mein Gott
You will probably recognise this aria from the St Matthew Passion. The text is:
Erbarme dich, mein Gott, um meiner Zähren willen! Schaue hier, Herz und Auge weint vor dir bitterlich.
Have mercy, my God, for the sake of my tears!
See here, before you heart and eyes weep bitterly.
This aria is more a duet for the contralto and violin. Delphine Galou displays some of the purity of a countertenor, while François-Marie Drieux's violin is more than equal to the task. The orchestra is Les Siècles, conducted by François-Xavier Roth.
Antônio Carlos Jobim (aka Tom Jobim, 1927–1994)
arr Gus McQuade
A Felicidade
Tom Jobim's voice is so clear in this recording, that even without a knowledge of Brazilian Portuguese you could well find you can follow the text here:
Tristeza não tem fim Sadness has no ending
Felicidade sim Happiness does
A felicidade é como a pluma
Happiness is like a feather
Que o vento vai levando pelo ar
Carried away by the wind
Voa tão leve It floats so lightly
Mas tem a vida breve but doesn't last long
Precisa que haja vento sem parar
It needs the wind to keep blowing endlessly
A felicidade do pobre parece
The happiness of the poor
A grande ilusão do carnaval
is like the illusion of Carnaval (Shrove Tuesday)
A gente trabalha o ano inteiro
You work all year long
Por um momento de sonho
for a moment of dreaming
Pra fazer a fantasia
to create a costume
De rei ou de pirata ou jardineira
of a king, a pirate, or a gardener
E tudo se acabar na quarta-feira
and then everything ends on Wednesday
Tristeza não tem fim
Felicidade sim
Tristeza não tem fim
Felicidade sim
A felicidade é como a gota
Happiness is like a drop
De orvalho numa pétala de flor
of dew on a flower petal
Brilha tranquila
It shines brightly
Depois de leve oscila
then gently sways
E cai como uma lágrima de amor
and falls like a tear of love
A minha felicidade está sonhando
My own happiness is dreaming
Nos olhos da minha namorada
in the eyes of my girlfriend
É como esta noite
and it's like this night
Passando, passando
passing, passing
Em busca da madrugada
searching for dawn
Falem baixo, por favor
Speak softly, please
Pra que ela acorde alegre como o dia
so she awakens happy as the day
Oferecendo beijos de amor
offering kisses of love
Tristeza não tem fim
Tristeza não tem fim
Tristeza não tem fim
Tom Jobim - Vinicius de Moraes (text)
A beautiful finish to our concert.
arr Gus McQuade
A Felicidade
Tom Jobim's voice is so clear in this recording, that even without a knowledge of Brazilian Portuguese you could well find you can follow the text here:
Tristeza não tem fim Sadness has no ending
Felicidade sim Happiness does
A felicidade é como a pluma
Happiness is like a feather
Que o vento vai levando pelo ar
Carried away by the wind
Voa tão leve It floats so lightly
Mas tem a vida breve but doesn't last long
Precisa que haja vento sem parar
It needs the wind to keep blowing endlessly
A felicidade do pobre parece
The happiness of the poor
A grande ilusão do carnaval
is like the illusion of Carnaval (Shrove Tuesday)
A gente trabalha o ano inteiro
You work all year long
Por um momento de sonho
for a moment of dreaming
Pra fazer a fantasia
to create a costume
De rei ou de pirata ou jardineira
of a king, a pirate, or a gardener
E tudo se acabar na quarta-feira
and then everything ends on Wednesday
Tristeza não tem fim
Felicidade sim
Tristeza não tem fim
Felicidade sim
A felicidade é como a gota
Happiness is like a drop
De orvalho numa pétala de flor
of dew on a flower petal
Brilha tranquila
It shines brightly
Depois de leve oscila
then gently sways
E cai como uma lágrima de amor
and falls like a tear of love
A minha felicidade está sonhando
My own happiness is dreaming
Nos olhos da minha namorada
in the eyes of my girlfriend
É como esta noite
and it's like this night
Passando, passando
passing, passing
Em busca da madrugada
searching for dawn
Falem baixo, por favor
Speak softly, please
Pra que ela acorde alegre como o dia
so she awakens happy as the day
Oferecendo beijos de amor
offering kisses of love
Tristeza não tem fim
Tristeza não tem fim
Tristeza não tem fim
Tom Jobim - Vinicius de Moraes (text)
A beautiful finish to our concert.
SUMMER BREAK
Leatherhead's next lunchtime concert will be on 3 September 2026
Next concert
3 September 2026 - Charlotte Tetley, mezzo-soprano, with pianist click here
Previous concert
23 July 2026 - Andrew Mellor clarinet • Holly Redshaw bassoon click here