Progra111111e Notes CHELMSFORD COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
CROMWELL JUNIOR QUARTET, LONDON
DANE COURT ORCHESTRA, B ROAD STAIRS
Tutor: Patricia Beckett Septet in E flat, Op. 20 (1st movement)
Tutor: Sheila Nelson String Quartet, Op. 20 No. 2 (1st movement) J. F. Haydn The members of Cromwell junior Quartet belong to a larger mUSic-making group known as the Sunday Noon Group, which meets each weekend at Sheila Nelson's house. Several members of the very first Sunday Noon Group to perform at the Schools Prom are now earning their living as professional musicians, but this is not the primary aim of the group system. It is rath er to encourage joint musicmaking (singing as well as playing) as a social pastime for players of various standards. The groups are arranged by age more than technical standard, so tha t sets of friends can move together through the system. Fortunately, it is possible (not witll0ut a str uggle) to find chamber music to suit almost any combination of technical development.
Conductor: Cam} Firth Caravan Duke El/iugtoll, arr. PloyarlFirth Evening Breeze Ken Whitcol1lb, arr. Firth Summer Time in Venice Carl Signwu, arr. PloyarlFirth I Want to Hold your Hand Lennoll & McCartney, an. Firth All members of the orchestra attend Dane Court School, Broadstairs and this is their first performance at the Schools Prom.
Lllrlwig van Beethoven
Music plays an important part in the life of the pupils of Chelmsford County High School which has two choirs, two orchestras, a wind band, a jazz band and numerous vocal and instrumental groups. All members of th e septet are in the Essex Youth Orchestra and Annabel, the cellist, is a member of the National Youth Orchestra. The school received Outstanding Performance Awards in both the Junior and Senior categories of the Chamber Music section at the National Festival of Music for Youth. The junior Piano Trio performed in the final s concert of Chamber Music for Schools at St. john's, Smith Square and the Senior Chamber group have performed for BBC Essex. School musicians have taken part in the Chelmsford Cathedral Festival and during the year have raised n1any hundreds of pounds for national and local charities. Their first orchestra was fortunate to take part in a workshop given by the "London Musici" and they are indebted to Howard Davis of th e Alberni Quartet for his help and encouragement. Septet in E flat, Op. 20 Ost movement) Ludwig van Beethoven Nearly all of Beethoven's works for wind ensemble and chamber music which include parts for wind instruments, were composed in the early part of his career. The septet was first performed in Vienna in 1800.
String Quartet, Op. 20 No. 2 (1st movement) J. F Haydll Haydn's Quartet opus 20 no.2 is one of seven great quartets in C major, his favourite key for the medium. It gives special prominence to the cellist at a time when Haydn was moving aWilY fro m the dominating first violin parts of the early quartets. The opening theme is announced on the cello accompanied by second violin and viola, and immediately re-stated by a trio consisting of the three upper parts. Although the movement is basically lyrical, it passes through so me stormy moments. In the development section especially, a virtuoso second violin part lends a feeling of excitement and unrest to the fierce exchanges between first violin and cello. Calm is restored by a reference to the lyrical first subject, this time on the viola.
Over the past four years the orchestra has played numerous concerts around this country and abroad. In 1986 Dane Court Orchestra toured California for three weeks playing six concerts in various cities including Palm Springs, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Tijuana in Mexico. One of the highlights of the tour was a concert in Disneyland. The orchestra is planning another USA tour in the near future. Dane Court Orchestra practises once each week after school for two hours plus sectionals and occasional weekend rehearsals. In addition to the senior orchestra at Dane Court there are several other ensembles including bands, choirs, string orchestras, jazz ensemble and various chamber groups which meet each week. In the past year the orchestra has added saxophones and a rhythm section to what was hitherto a "classical" orchestra. This has increased the variety of music which the orchestra has in its repertoire to include other styles of music in addition to the more "classical" repertoire associated with school and youth orchestras. Caravan DlIke Ellingtoll, a/'/'. PloyarlFirth This arrangement of a very popular Duke Ellington number features percussion and bass clarinet and is marked by dynamic contrast. Evening Breeze Ken Whitcol1lb, al'r. Firth This sleazy number is full of chromaticism and colourful chord sequences around which the solo trumpet enjoys both melodic and rhythmic freedom. Summer Time in Venice Carl Sigl1la//, arr. PloyarlFirth A light-hearted number whose tune is better known than the title. Melodic interest is passed around the orchestra. I Want to Hold your Hand Lenllon & McCartllrlj. an-. Firth One of the best known Beatles hits of the sixties provides a dynami c climax to the programme.
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