ON Friday, April 27, Dorothy Leighton presented 5-4-3-2-1.

Her programme began with fighting talk - the battle speech from the film Henry V, spoken by Laurence Olivier, with music by William Walton.

Next was the fourth movement of Shostakovich's fifth symphony, played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Fiadimir Ashkenazy. The work was not well received when first performed. This was followed by the first movement of Mahler's third symphony, played by the Czech Philharmonic.

Next was a violin/piano duo playing Wienaswski's Polonaise Brilliante, and the first half ended with another duo - Julian Bream and John Williams - playing Golliwog's Cakewalk.

The second half was devoted to the 1' of the title. Mrs Leighton chose the first classical recording she heard as a child, which she loved so much - Joan Hammond singing They Call Me Mimi.

The largo from Handel's Xerxes, was heard next, sung by Andreas Scholl.

The audience heard part of Rachmaninov's prelude in G sharp minor, played by the 82-year-old Vladimir Horowitz. The programme ended with the complete Samule Barber cello concerto, played by the Royal National Orchestra.

A group visited Wolverhampton Recorded Music Society to present a programme entitled I Don't Believe It!, each relating why each piece of music came as a surprise to them. Graham Kiteley opened the programme with Stokowski's orchestral version of JS Bach's Toccata and Fuge BWV565.

Gwen Jones chose a Swedish folk tune - Varmeland - then three items which include this tune. These were Billy Mayerl's Song Of A Fir Tree, then first movement of Bruch's double concerto for clarinet and viola, and an excerpt from Percy Grainger's Scandinavian Suite. Moira Brown's contribution was a selection of Godowsky's studies based on the etudes of Chopin, arranged for left-hand only, and this was followed by David Norman's choice, Webern's In Sommerland.

Mr Kiteley began the second half of the programme with God Created Great Whales, by Alan Hovanis, which includes the sound of whales electronically synchonised into the music. Von Stewart brought the programme to a close with items from Shostakovich's score for the film The Gadfly - Overture, National Holiday, Prelude, Waltz, Galop and Romance.

The 39th annual meeting will be held on May 25 - members are reminded that subscriptions are now due.

On June 8, Sarah Beth Briggs will make her second appearance for the society, at Kidderminster Library. For tickets contact Von Stewart on 01562 755990.

For further details of this or any other society event, contact vice-chairman Von Stewart on the same number, or visit the website for details of events until the end of the year at www.thefrms.co.uk/ kidd.htm. VON STEWART