The Guildhall Strings are an elevenstrong chamber orchestra who formed in 1981 and have won prizes for their work ever since.

Their repertoire ranges from the Baroque to the 21st Century as they proved in their festival recital at the Royal Pavilion.

Although an alarm at a property across the road rang persistently during the concert, the ensemble managed to overcome the intrusive sound.

The centrepiece of the concert was a performance by double bass player Christopher West, who delivered the world premiere of Matthew Taylor's Double Bass Concerto written especially for him and commissioned by the ensemble.

It is an insistent and driving piece of music, rather dour and a little harsh on the ear. Whether I would buy a recording of the piece is doubtful but I had to admire the musicianship with its many variations.

Earlier, director Robert Salter had begun the concert with Benjamin Britten's somewhat humourous Simple Symphony before leading his players into a magnificent reading of JS Bach's Ricercare from Musical Offering, a piece based on a scene given to Bach by Frederick The Great.

Ending with Purcell and Mendelssohn's Eighth String Symphony, this was a concert of many delights.