One of the more esoteric concerts given in Bath this year, Kieth Snell's piano recital was played with the left hand alone. Pianist, teacher and writer of educational music for piano students, Kieth, a American resident who has a second home in Bath, gave up performing in 1986, following a repetetive motion injury to his right hand, returning to the concert stage in 2006 as a left-handed pianist.

Surprisingly, to the uninitiated, many works are written for the left hand alone as the programme of the Chaconne, by Bach, Scriabin's Prelude and Nocturne, and Suite No.3 by Schulhoff demonstrated. Also included was Without A Trace, composed especially for Kieth by current Bath resident and composer, Beverley Flanagan, who was present in the audience. This contemporary work blends Native American and Taoist beliefs.

For those who have never heard left hand only works the evening was a revelation as Keith maintained the melody and bass line. The first and fourth movements of Without A Trace seemed particularly suited to his playing, involving a repeated low note below a gentle light melody.

For an encore Kieth gave us a lollipop; Danny Boy, arranged by Irish American Kathleen Ryan.

A fascinating evening demonstrating a wide variety of compositions for left hand which very few are normally privileged to hear.

Philip Horton