The talent within the Music department shone through at the Winter Concert this week, with outstanding ensemble performances, duets, quartets and bands presenting classical and contemporary pieces to usher in the festive season.
The repertoire included the 19-strong String Ensemble aptly performing the Winter concerto from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, alongside Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Snow Maiden – Dance of the Tumblers. Further String Quartet recitals followed, including Corelli’s Christmas Concerto, Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 8 ii, and Mascagni’s beautifully melodic Intermezzo from Cavelleria Rusticana.
A varied programme spanned centuries of musical history, from Renaissance music with the Early Music Group’s performance of Coperario’s Fantastia of Foure Parts, to jazz including the Wind Band’s presentations of Quincy Jones’ Bossa Nova and the Jazz Quartet’s Pee Wee Ellis’ The Chicken. The Folk ensemble gave toe-tapping performances of the Leg of the Duck jig and the traditional folk song Tu, Manu Seserele, while a beautiful acoustic rendition of Liana Flores’ Rises the Moon was performed by the Singing and Signing group.
Festive cheer was infused throughout the hall by lively and accomplished performances of several crowd-pleasing Christmas numbers, including a piano duet of Carol of the Bells, Brass Ensemble’s Over the Rainbow, the Jazz Quartet’s Jingle Bell Rock and culminating in a wonderfully swinging rendition of Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You from the Jazz Band.
Director of Music Tim Newberry said: “The Winter Concert is always an occasion of warmth and good cheer, and this year’s programme was no exception. We have an abundance of talent within the Senior school’s musicians, both instrumental and vocal, and our varied programme presented an opportunity to showcase just some of this.”
