Programme Notes NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNTY YOUTH CONCERT BAND Musical Director: Alan Suttie Age range of performers: 15-21 years Shepherd's Hey Percy Grainger Variations on a John Bames Chance Korean Folk Song The Northamptonshire County Youth Concert Band was formed in 1977 and has now become the ultimate poal for yOWlg wind players in the County, havmg progressed through the County Junior Band and the County Training Band, all of which meet at the Central Music School in Northampton on a weekly basis during term time. Under Jolm Greaves' leadership, the band won countless awards including the Boosey & Hawkes Gold Award at the finals three years running, as well as making three appearances at the Schools Proms. Since Alan Suttie took over the Directorship in 1992, the band has appeared again at the Schools Prom 81ld on television, as well as winning a Gold Award at the B & H London and Soutfi-East Festival in November 1993. To cap another successful year, the band won an Outstanding Performance Award at this year's National Festival of Music for Youth, and was asked to play at this year's BASBWE Conference in Huddersfield, giving the world premiere of Michael Ball's Saxophone Concerto. Shepherd's Hey Percy Grainger in agricultural clistricts in various parts 0: England, teams of 'Morris Men', decked out with jingling bells and other 拢-inery, can still be seen dancing to Shepherd's Hey and other traditional dance tunes. This particular tune is based on an orchestration of a traditional folk tune collected by Cecil Sharp. This tune is dedicated to Edvard Grieg. Variations on a John Barnes Chance Korean Folk Song The first part of the theme is given out by the clarinets in unison, whilst the second half has a second line added by fl utes and piccolo. TI,e theme is repeated a fourth higher supported by an unchanging major chord. Tbere then follow five demanding variations (watch out for tne melody upside down in one of them), the 'Iast of which builds over a percussion ostinato to a rousing finish.
ENDANGERED SPECIES, LEICESTER Musical Director: Richard Fairhurst Age range of performers: 13-19 years Solar Miles Davis, arr. Richard Fairhurst Softly as in RomberglHammerstein a Morning Sunrise arr. Richard Fairhurst This exciting new modern jazz ensemble has come together partly as a result of last year's National Festival of Music fo r Youth. Musical Director, Richard Fairhurst (piano) and Tim Giles (drums) both performed at last year's Festival in separate groups and went on to develop common interests at the Guildhall School of Music. Richard subsequently met Joe Peel at Leicester School of Music and these three young musicians formed their own trio. Richard Fairhmst only started playing the piano at the age of 14 at Ratcliffe College in Leicestershire and is a remarkable young jazz talent with skills as a performer, arranger and composer. The brilliance of dnunmer Tim Gill'S (age 14) has already been noted by experts Il1 the jazz community and Joe Peel's distinctive bass support completes the balanced mix of ability. ltis quite unusual for such a high quality .small modtfrn jazz combination to emerge at ~le youth level. All three are dedicated to developing careers i.n the field of
music. READING YOUTH ORCHESTRA Musical Director: Robert Roscoe Age range of performers: 13-19 years Fugue in D minor HU111phrey Hare Pines of Rome: Ot/orino Respighi The Pines of the Appian Way Pomp and Circumstance Edward Elgar March No. 1: 'Land of Hope and Glory' Fugue in D minor HllIllphrel) Hare I-Iumphrey Hare was tlle founder and firs t conductor of Reading Youth Orchestra. TI,e Senior Science Master at Leighton Park School, he was also " talented ama teur musician and occasional composer. This orchestral fugue is based on themes from incidental music which Hare wrote for the Greek play 'Agamemnon' and received a rapturous reception from audiences on the orchestra's first foreign tour to Germany in 1947. Pines of Rome: Ottorino Respigili The Pines of the Appian Way Inspired by the city of Rome, Respighi composed three symphonic poems. All are skilfully wrought, well-constructed, imaginative piece..s with a nostalgic, evoca tive power, that does not fade with n,e years, 'The Pines' WilE first performed 01 Rome in 1924. The four movements (which are linked) aIe devoted to the Pines in various surroundings. The final movement, The Pines of the Appian Way', draws ad,awn picture on one of the ancient Romans' great milita.ry road leading out of the city. "Indistinctly, ince5. antly, Ill!' rhythm of innumerable steps .. a vision of past glories; trumpets bray and the ilrmy of the Consul advances in the grandeur of a newly risen SW] towards the SaCTed Wav and mounts, in triumph, the Capitoline Hill." . Pomp and Circumstance Ed,mrd Elgar March No. 1: 'land of Hope and Glory' This march WilS composed in 1 Ill. Referring to the tune in the trio cti n, El<>ar said to one of his 'Enigma' friend _, 'Dorabelfa路, "1'I'e ~ot a tune that will knock 'em - knock 'em fl at'. In the same year, the march \,'a, pla\'ed at a London Promenade concert conducted by Henry Wood. The march \\'a, indeed a knockout, the audience callins for three encores.
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