Music

MUSIC REVIEW 2021-22

I am reminded at this point in the year, a week before the School’s Commemoration service with musical performances, how far we have come from the darker days of September. My favourite piece performed by the Chapel Choir this year has been “The storm is passing over”, the lyrics of which seem very apt for this report. “Have courage my soul, and let us journey on, though the night is dark and I am far from home. Thanks be to God, the morning light appears … The storm is passing over.” We started the year very much in the midst of the storm, able to rehearse, but not able to have parents attend performances: I cannot fault our pupils for their commitment and their adaptability to different situations.

The first Chapel service of the year was Harvest: the Chapel Choir prepared an anthem but was not able to perform due to Covid restrictions. Instead, the Close Harmony Group stepped in, and performed “One of these fine mornings” superbly to a congregation of masked pupils, and to parents watching over the web.

Soon after, we restarted our lunchtime concert series. These concerts have been running for several years now and provide pupils with a comfortable and safe space to

develop skills in performance. Over the course of the year, we have programmed ten concerts, organised by our graduate music assistant Iona Rae, with students from J4 to UVI performing a wide range of musical styles and levels.

As the nights drew in and preparations for Christmas hastened, we performed our first Whole School concert in two years, with every group in the School performing to a Memorial Hall full of students and an online parent audience. This was one of the strongest concerts in my time here, with the Chapel Choir, Wind Band, String Group, Jazz Band, Close Harmony Group and Pipe Band performing strongly a variety of music and rediscovering those all important skills of ensemble awareness and public performance. These were interspersed with some amazing solos, from Alexander R, Adrian W, Ryan W, Erik S and Dougal M.

As the end of term approached and a new Covid variant loomed, our usual Carol Service in front of parents and boys, one of the musical highlights of the year, looked unlikely, but a decision to move the service outside gave renewed hope. The pupils not only prepared music, but also had to practise processing: this was a challenge, particularly for the Junior School boys. They say that no plan survives contact with the enemy, but after a slightly disrupted start, the service got underway, with some gutsy descants and a lovely performance of “O Holy Night” – from the Close Harmony Group.

The Lent Term’s music-making is dominated by the Choral Concert and Music Competitions. First up was the Ogilvie Bowl, which was gifted to the School by former pupil Ruaridh Ogilvie, who went on from Merchiston to study Music. The competition is for students studying jazz and popular music and was adjudicated this year by Mr Jon Beales. The students all gave fine performances and, in my tenure as Director of Music, it was closest competition I have witnessed. However, on the day, first place was awarded to Will N who played the electric guitar, second to Alex R who played the piano, and third to Finlay P, who played the drum kit.

The McLeod Cup and Forbes Bowl Competitions were held on 10 March. The McLeod Cup was gifted to the School by former Director of Music and composer John McLeod, who died recently, with students entering from IV and Shell Forms. The competition was intense, with many performances of a high standard. The winner was Adrian W, with a beautiful performance on the Flute of Le Parisien; Ryan W took second place, with some dramatic and virtuosic Schubert; and third place was awarded to Lyall R, with some reflective piano playing of Elegy for the Arctic, by Einaudi.

The Forbes Bowl was gifted to the School by the late Donald Forbes, former Headmaster, who did a great deal to raise the profile of Music within the School. Whilst the competition was small, the standard was high and it was Dougal M who took first place with Primeval Dance on the timpani; Oliver Z took second place with some demanding Chopin; and third place was awarded to Leo S, performing Chopin’s famous B Minor Prelude. Thanks for the adjudication go to Linda Emslie, who gave many excellent insights to the boys on their performances, Mr Turner for his accompanying and Miss Rae for all her work behind the scenes.

The term concluded with a new project for the Chapel Choir: the pupils have often asked to sing some popular music as part of its yearly repertoire, and so this year, we decided to work on hits from Disney, focusing on songs from The Jungle Book, Toy Story, Frozen and The Lion King. Pupils in the Junior School asked to dress up for the performance and the Senior School pupils followed suit. In my twelve years at Merchiston, I do not think that I have seen so much colour on stage, with many investing a lot of time and energy into their outfits, which added so much to the evening’s music-making.

Fortunately, the Summer Term’s music-making has been a lot better than the weather! For me, the highlight was the Junior Music Cup, which, in my view, saw the best standard of performance I have witnessed from our students. It was also the first concert performed in front of a live parental audience: it somehow seemed fitting to begin again with our musicians in the Junior School developing performance skills which will enable them to develop into our leading musicians in the Senior School. The competition was adjudicated by Sixth Form students Alexander R and Finlay P, with Miss Rae keeping a watchful eye. The winners were:

J4/5 - Francis B

I Form - Aziz R

II Form - Calum R and Ruaridh V

III Form - Xander MB

Overall winner - Sam O

As the year draws to a close, much like the world, Music has many challenges moving forward. The lack of performance experience will take some time to rebuild, but we also have many things to be thankful for: the continued dedication of our students, with another set leaving Merchiston to study Music at university, and a host of talented musicians who are continuing to develop. All of this has been made possible by the hard work of Miss Rae, Mr Turner and our instrumental teachers - so my sincere thanks go to them.

RECENT EXPANSION OF MUSICAL ACTIVITY AT MERCHISTON

PIPE BAND 2021-22

This academic year marks a milestone for Merchiston music, with three students applying to study Popular Music or Music Technology at degree level. Already, we have several former pupils studying Film Music, Music Production, and Popular Music, and some continuing to perform contemporary music. It would be safe to say that success in “modern music” is beginning to become a tradition in Merchiston’s Music Department.

We have always pursued a philosophy of encouraging our pupils to engage with the music that they enjoy, whilst continuing to introduce them to the music of the past: in class; in their instrumental lessons, with the talents of Mr McDiarmid (guitar), Miss Pierce (jazz piano) and Mr Rankin (drum-kit and percussion); and in our concerts and competitions, with the introduction of a new music competition, the Ogilvie Bowl, for musicians who wish to perform contemporary styles of music and explore improvisation.

In our choirs, the pupils perform a very wide range of music. This year alone, our choral repertoire has included works by Thomas Tallis, GF Handel, Elton John and David Guetta. Meanwhile, we have pupils recording podcasts and chapel services, and several are developing their skills as disk jockeys.

In my first year here as Director of Music, we had a pupil band, Bwani Junction, which has since gone on to achieve success in the professional world, which has released recordings made at School, and has been given airtime on Radio One. This tradition has continued and developed since, with many students developing skills in the recording and production sides of music, and this academic year, our Upper Sixth Form class will sit examinations in Music and Music Technology. They are very much modern musicians, classically trained, all strong contributors to the School’s ensembles, and well prepared for the modern musical world, in which skill in music technology is an essential facet of any modern musician.

All of this exemplifies the goals of Merchiston’s Music Department. The School has some very strong traditions, especially in choral music, with its importance in our chapel services and concerts, and in Scottish traditional music, with our pipers and drummers. However, in addition, our students are exploring, performing and creating the same music which they choose to listen to in their leisure time – a new Merchiston tradition which is set to stay.

Stephen Dennis, Director of Music

As the academic year 2021-22 commenced, we looked forward to a much more normal year ahead. Will N was appointed Pipe Major, Arran C as Pipe Sergeant and Patrick B continued as Lead drummer.

We welcomed a new Piping Instructor, Mr Kyle Warren. Kyle has a very impressive track record in the piping world, having won numerous World Pipe Band Championships as a member of the Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band, as a member of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, a composer of pipe music books and a recording artiste.

The usual CCF Quartet and Trio competition fell victim to a continuing cautious approach to Covid recovery, but the Band featured in our annual Remembrance service, part of which was conducted outdoors so that parents could be welcomed back into the School grounds. Will N played the lament and Drum Major Brian Alexander played the Last Post and Reveille. The Band also marched down the main drive to conclude our outdoor Christmas celebration for Whole School and parents on a fortunately mild December evening, with a spectacular floodlighting display covering the front of the main School building.

The Lent Term saw another cancellation of the CCF Piobaireachd Competition in mid - January, but we managed to run our own School Solo Piping Competition

in the Robertson Hall. It was judged by the Senior Pipe Major of The British Army, WO1 Peter MacGregor, who had some kind words to say about the standard of performance achieved. The winners were:

Chanter - Josh C

Junior Pipes - Tom C

Intermediate Pipes - Hamish H

Senior March, Strathspey and Reel - Arran C

On the first Sunday in March, the Band was able to participate, under controlled conditions, in the George Watson’s indoor band competition for the first time in two years. The Band gave a good account of itself but did not feature in the prize list. However, at least we were “back in action” indoors!

Early on in the Summer Term, the Solo Drumming Competition, judged by Drum Major Alexander, took place and the winning performances were:

Junior - Callum W

Intermediate - Kit N

Senior - Max M

Five of the more Senior pipers gave a much appreciated and varied lunchtime concert in the Memorial Hall: Will N, Freddie C, Max G, Josh G and John T all gave a very good account of themselves.

The Band played a selection at our ”Jubilee Street Party”, and the following evening took part in the CCF Rebadging Service, which was very appropriately held indoors in front of the School War Memorial, owing to very inclement weather. Will N and Callum R were selected to receive the new (and also the original) Merchiston CCF badge as the most senior and junior members of the current Band.

The Band took part in the CCF contest at Fettes College and was awarded a very creditable third place in the confined event - a very good all-round effort.

As the Summer Term drew to a close, the Band took part in the Bo’ness Children’s Fair, the Commemoration Celebration and the Prizegiving and Service on the final day of term - all events which have had to be cancelled for the past two years because of Covid. Certainly, the year has been approaching a “return to normal service” - let’s hope this continues!

A fairly large cohort of leavers must be thanked for their service to the Band over the years. They are Will N, Freddie C, Max G, Oscar J, Hamish McK, Arran C, Patrick B, Jamie H, Max M, and Finlay P. We wish these boys all the best for the future and hope that they continue to play and enjoy their piping or drumming in some shape or form.

A big “thank you” must go to Jim Walker (Drumming Instructor) and Drum Major Alexander (leading parades and general Band drill instruction), as well as to Kyle Warren (Piping instructor) and Dr Clare Nugent (Uniform “Tsar”). Without these colleagues, the Band would not be in such good shape.

On a more personal note, I am hoping to take more of a “back seat” next session and to hand over the reins to Kyle Warren, in the knowledge that the Band will continue to be in safe hands and will progress from strength to strength with no more interference from nasty pandemics!

Gordon Campbell, Master i/c Pipe Bands

LUNCHTIME CONCERTS, AUTUMN TERM 2021

During the second half of the Autumn Term of 2021, we were lucky enough to spend our Thursday lunchtimes listening to performances from some of the School’s musicians. Each week, a group of instrumentalists was put forward by their teachers to showcase the hard work which had been put in through the term. There was huge variety in every concert, whether through repertoire choice, instrument, or even performance style. We had piano, brass, woodwind, strings and contemporary concerts, all of which were of a high standard. This concert series gave the School community the opportunity to listen to some beautiful music, whilst also giving the young musicians an extremely valuable opportunity to perform in front of their teachers and peers. Although at times some nervousness was evident, it soon disappeared when the performers realised how supportive their audience was, resulting in some stellar performances across the age range, from I Form to the most senior pupils.

One thing that really struck through all the performances was the support of the boys. They all genuinely thoroughly enjoyed cheering on their friends and fellow performers. It was lovely to have a staff presence there too to augment the audience. All of the boys’ faces lit up as they stood up to take their bow, demonstrating a clear sense of pride in their musical achievements. Hopefully, it will have made performing a less daunting experience, and more of a fun activity which they can enjoy.

These lunchtime concerts have now become an important aspect of the work of the Music Department.

Iona Rae, Music Department