PRogRAmme NoTeS TuESdAy 8 NOvEMbER PlAY
SoUTH WilTS gRAmmAR ScHool STRiNg cHAmBeR oRcHeSTRA
WilTSHiRe cHildReN'S mASSed cHoiR
PLAY is an original piece written by composer Tim Steiner, commissioned by MFY and Rockschool for the 2011 season. PLAY has been written to be infinitely flexible, with a range of parts playable by any number and any combination of instruments and voices. PLAY has been performed across the MFY season including at the Regional Festivals, Primary and Family Prom concerts and at MFY’s six day National Festival in Birmingham.
South Wilts Grammar School for Girls is a state school in the cathedral city of Salisbury with a thriving music department. The Chamber Orchestra is just one of several ensembles which include a full orchestra, wind band and choirs. The orchestra enjoys performing a varied repertoire of music from a range of periods and styles – it’s not all baroque! Tonight they will be performing without a conductor.
Wiltshire Music Service is part of the Department for Children and Education of Wiltshire Council. It supports schools in the development of music education of the highest quality, which is accessible to all. It is dedicated to raising standards in schools and maximising the potential of young people within the county. The service works extensively across the county, providing instrumental and vocal tuition in schools. Through its lively and engaging Wider Opportunities programmes and its involvement with Sing Up it has transformed music learning for large numbers of pupils in primary schools. It runs forty ensembles and choirs through its Young Musicians Clubs based in four districts and the flagship Wiltshire and Swindon Youth Orchestra and Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra. In 2011 the service’s self evaluation partner said: Wiltshire Music Service is an outstanding service that is highly effective and represents outstanding value for money. a close partnership forged between Wiltshire Music Service, Wiltshire youth arts Partnership and Wiltshire Music Centre has enabled the service to lead the formation of the county’s music education hub and embed partnership working in the county to the benefit of some of its most vulnerable children and young people. For this evening’s performance some of the county’s best ‘singing schools’ and choirs have been brought together enabling these young people to achieve the highest standard of performance and to produce a truly thrilling sound.
MFY aims to inspire, guide and showcase more original material created and performed by young people – the next generation of singer songwriters, collaborators, composers, performers and producers. MFY is committed to promoting new music and PLAY is part of its contribution to this. Tonight’s version of PLAY acts as the overture to the concert, involving 800 young performers and will feature Lewis West on cornet and MC Ryan Pearson. You can download the full parts at mfy.org.uk/thesoundvault
In Corelli’s time the Christmas Eve festivities of the great Italian houses often included after dinner concerts prior to Midnight Mass. Corelli's Concerto Grosso, Op 6, No 8 in G minor ('Christmas Concerto') may well have been heard at these entertainments and perhaps even at the Vatican. The group will be playing a selection of movements concluding with the famous Pastorale which evokes images of the shepherds in the fields and angels hovering over Bethlehem. Violin Erika Holden**, Fiona Mashford, Christabell Pidduck, Alice Poppleton**, Rebecca Prince, Alex Richards, Abigail Tan Viola Rachel Maxey, Emily Tan, Helena Wynn Cello Flora Burns, Hannah Bonney** Harpsichord Caroline Halls
The pieces chosen for tonight’s performance all reflect the educational values of Wiltshire: trusting in others, believing in yourself, and doing your best. You Raise Me Up is a powerful ballad that makes us all realise we can achieve more if we have faith in others and work together. Reach for the Positive is a wonderfully catchy song, written by the effervescent Brenda Rattray, which is a life affirming statement about how to look for the good in everything and keep going when times are hard. World at my Feet was written to tell children everywhere that they have the power to make their dreams come true and that each and every one of them holds the future in their hands. Thank you to all the staff and parents who’ve helped prepare for tonight’s performance and to Steve Abbott and Petra Randall for their musical direction. Choir All Cannings C E Primary School, Bishop Wordsworth's Boys Grammar School, Box C E Primary School, Broadchalke C E Aided Primary School, Ivy Lane Primary School, Kington St Michael C E Primary School, Newton Tony C E V C Primary School, Ogbourne St George and St Andrew V C C E Primary School, Ramsbury School, St Barnabas C E School, The Mead Community Primary School, West Wiltshire Young Singers and Salisbury Area Young Musicians’ Children’s Choir
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ScHoolS PRom 2011