THE 18th Century music of Haydn and Mozart performed by the ESO Wind Ensemble, directed by oboist Paul Arden-Taylor, was an ideal choice.

Derek Smith had arranged all the music with skill, and conducted the performance himself. It was a very cheerful selection from the lighter side of occasional' music, easy on the ear, and interesting.

Three Serenades by Haydn, each comprising three contrasting movements showed many facets. Within the first, in F, we heard sustained legato from flute and clarinet, then oboe, prior to rich harmonies as the full ensemble of 10 wind instruments and a double-bass joined together.

The second, in C, set off with jaunty double-bass, bassoons and horns prefacing the entry of perky higher instruments, and the third, in E flat, ended with a lovely solo clarinet permeating short, sharp bursts from the ensemble as it bounced along.

Mozart's Divertimento in F, in six movements, continued to show how well-suited wind instruments are for arrangements of this type.

Horns, oboe and clarinet were superb together to open, and there were effective echoes of brief phrases. Through the gently flowing andante, both the writing and playing of the ensemble music was beautiful.

The clarinet, one of Mozart's favourite instruments, featured frequently, sounding perfect always within this piece.

JILL HOPKINS