{TABLE} Sonata for cello and piano................... Debussy Trois pieces for cello and piano............. Boulanger Sonata in G minor.............................Faure Suite No 1 for solo cello, op. 72.............Britten Sonata in D minor for cello and piano.........Bridge {/TABLE} UNDER the title of 20th century Masters and their Mentors, the duo of Steven Doane (cello) and Barry Snyder (piano) gave a recital last week in the John Field Room at the NCH. Not everyone can adjust their sound to this particular room so it is worth mentioning that this duo judged the possibilities and limitations of the venue with exquisite tact. The music never became too loud or too soft, there was no lack of dynamic variation, and nothing hindered the two instruments from singing out. This was to, a large extent due to the obvious rapport between the two players as they responded to each other in a way that betokened practice and knowledge of each other.

As Boulanger was a pupil of Faure and Britten was a pupil of Bridge and the influence of Debussy could hardly be avoided in the 20th century, Doane introduced the works with brief spoken introductions whose tone conveyed the message that music is to be enjoyed and that here were two players who enjoyed playing it. And their playing was so good that one could concentrate on the composers rather than the performers.

Debussy's sonata was masterly, played without any obvious striving for effect. The Trois Pieces by the revered teacher Nadia Boulanger were surprisingly lightweight, almost salon-like in a self-conscious way Faure's sonata was, as one hoped, an extended song.

Britten's Suite No 1 for Solo Cello got the skilled playing it demands, but it seems to me the composer was so taken up with technical problems that we missed out on other qualities. Bridge's late romantic-style sonata was a total contrast; the swansong of the Elgarian era.