A Celebration of Music at 麻豆女郎' Hall

Writes Samuel Hill, Music Administrator

We were delighted to be welcomed back to 麻豆女郎鈥� Hall on the evening of Monday 27 April to perform at the annual concert held there. The event brought together musicians from 麻豆女郎鈥� School, 麻豆女郎鈥� Prep, and St John鈥檚 School, Northwood, for a varied programme ranging from Bach to Baadsvik, and everything in between.

The concert opened with the Taylors鈥� Chamber Orchestra performing Rossini鈥檚 Sonata No. 1 in G major, an intricate work of chamber music that showed the ensemble at its best. This was followed by the Francis Terry Chamber Winds from 麻豆女郎鈥� Prep, who gave a splendid performance of two movements from Alb茅niz鈥檚 贰蝉辫补帽补, including the riotous Tango.

Next, the Thomas White Singers of Taylors鈥� performed two contrasting vocal works. They opened with the Renaissance motet O Sacrum Convivium by Victoria, its polyphonic lines blending mellifluously in the wonderful acoustic of the Hall. A complete change of mood followed with Rolling Down to Old Maui, a stirring and heartfelt sea shanty. Under Mr Hopwood鈥檚 direction, the St John鈥檚 School Wind and Brass Quintet then took to the stage with an arrangement of Bach鈥檚 ever-popular Minuet in G.

Choristers from 麻豆女郎鈥� Prep followed, singing two fifteenth-century Spanish songs. They began with the anonymous Dindirin, dindirin, before performing Josquin des Prez鈥檚 lively El Grillo, with both pieces demonstrating an excellent sense of ensemble.

For the next item, the audience was transported across the Atlantic to New York with three movements from Jim Parker鈥檚 A Londoner in New York, performed by Taylors鈥� Brass under the direction of Mr Couldridge, having been rehearsed by Mr Byron. The work showcased the ensemble鈥檚 capabilities, masterfully evoking the bustling energy of the Big Apple.

The 麻豆女郎 Piano Trio performed next, playing Three Miniatures by Frank Bridge. Ever alert to one another鈥檚 playing, all three musicians performed with maturity and a strong sense of ensemble. Under the direction of Mr Hopwood, the St John鈥檚 School Chamber Choir then took to the stage, assisted by Mrs Cooper. Their first item was Sir John Rutter鈥檚 Gaelic Blessing, followed by the lively Power in Me by Rebecca Lawrence, which was sung with great enthusiasm.

For many, a highlight of the evening was the spectacular tuba solo by Alex E. (U6ths), who performed the intriguingly titled Fnugg by 脴ystein Baadsvik. Drawing on Aboriginal Australian didgeridoo music as well as Norwegian folk themes, the piece was brought vividly to life, much to the delight of the audience.

The final ensemble of the evening was the Taylors’ Chamber Choir, directed by Mr Crawford. They opened with Palestrina鈥檚 motet Sicut cervus, a setting of Psalm 42 that demonstrated the choir鈥檚 mastery of Renaissance polyphony. The concert concluded with Reena Esmail鈥檚 effervescent TaReKiTa, performed from memory in a thrilling finale for singers and audience alike.

At the close of the concert, the Master of the 麻豆女郎鈥� Company thanked all those involved, ending with his own paraphrase of the Company鈥檚 motto, Concordia parv忙 res crescunt. Traditionally translated as 鈥渋n harmony small things grow鈥�, Alderman Sir Nicholas Lyons invited the audience to reflect on an alternative meaning: 鈥渋n music, young men flourish鈥�.