* Section Leader ** Soloist
HENRIETTA BARNETT SCHOOL CARNATIC ENSEMBLE
GREATER GWENT YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA
MILTON KEYNES MUSIC SERVICE PIANO TRIO
Carnatic music is considered one of the oldest systems of music in the world and is a very complex system of music that requires much thought, both artistically and technically. The basis of carnatic music is the system of ragas (melodic scales) and talas (rhythmic cycles). There are seven rhythmic cycles and seventy-two fundamental ragas. All other ragas are considered to have originated from these.
Students in the Greater Gwent Youth Jazz Orchestra come from the four authorities that constitute Greater Gwent, Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen. The group meets once a year for its annual course in February and regularly works alongside professional jazz musicians such as Percy Pursglove, Dave O'Higgins, Jim Mullen and many others. Recently the orchestra invited musicians from Northamptonshire County Youth Big Band to collaborate and perform together. This was a fantastic success with great music being played and friendships made. The ensemble often explores contemporary literature with many pieces and arrangements being less than a year old.
Milton Keynes Music Service is a council based service that aims to offer musical experiences to children all over Milton Keynes. It offers a variety of musical pathways beginning with first access opportunities to the majority of schools in the area. Children then get the opportunity to learn a musical instrument in smaller groups if they wish. The piano trio is one of many senior groups from the weekly Music Centre.
Naviena began learning carnatic vocals at the age of three under the tutelage of Shrimathi Sugirthakala Kadatcham while her sister, Bhavana, began learning carnatic violin at the age of five from Shrimathi Kalaivani Indrakumar. Over the years they have performed in many carnatic concerts at a wide range of venues, such as the Royal Festival Hall and the Purcell Room. Naviena has successfully attained her Performance and Theory Diplomas in carnatic music, passing with distinction, along with Bhavana who is currently awaiting her Post Diploma Examination result. Janan has been learning tabla since the age of six under the tutelage of Sukhdeep Singh Dhanjal. He regularly performs in Asian cultural events and is also a member of SAMYO, the National South Asian Youth Orchestra. Mannavan Vanthanadi Thozhi, composed by the veteran South Indian Music Director K V Mahadevan, was scored for the film Thiruvarutchelvar in 1967. This devotional song is set in the classic raga of Kalyani and is sung by the reknowned Indian playback singer Pulapaka Susheela, who celebrates her 77th birthday today.
Cuaba, composed by the American musician Frank Williams, is an upbeat contemporary Latin chart which features tight ensemble playing from the band. Solo space is given on this occasion to Aled Vaghela on keys. Comfortably Hot, composed by young British composer Ed Puddick is part of a three piece Suite for Big Band and was originally commissioned in 2011. It has a 'dirty funk groove' at its heart with angular melodies coming from the horns. Featured soloists are Jason Savory on guitar and the orchestra’s two tenor players James Stuttard and Bryn Davies who will battle it out for tenor supremacy!
Tonight the group will play the first movement, Allegro con Fuoco, from Chopin's Piano Trio in G minor. Chopin was a musical prodigy who had been published as a composer before his eighth birthday. He wrote this work while still studying at the Warsaw Conservatory where he was described as “extremely talented” and “a musical genius.” The first movement has been called a “dark and agitated” movement and the musical direction from Chopin is “quickly and with fire.” Violin Hermione Fleck Cello Wayne Chan Piano Jordan Choy
Performers Byrn Davies**, Thomas De-Roy Jones, Josh Fish, Ella Greenhalgh, Grace Hart, Rhianwen Head, Lloyd Pearce, Lucy Phillips, Evan Roberts, Jason Savory**, James Sherwood, Rob Spencer, James Stuttard**, Rhiannon Symmonds, Aled Vaghela**, Owen Williams, Esther Williams, Mairgread Yule
Vocals Naviena Selvarajah Violin Bhavana Selvarajah Miruthangam Janan Sathiendran
SCHOOLS PROM 2012
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