May 1953

Page 33

6.

Madrigal

Arthur Sullivan "When the buds are blossoming" from Ruddigore 7. Chorus, Orchestra, Solo Contralto and Solo Pianoforte Constant Lambert The Rio Grande (the poem by Sacheverell Sitwell) Solo Contralto: MARY DAVIES Solo Pianoforte: R. B. ATKINSON Henry Eccles 8 Sonata for Violin and Pianoforte J. A. SUTTON R. ATKINSON 9. Solo Pianoforte John Ireland Puck's Birthday A. BLOOMFIELD 10. Solo Viola Alan Richardson (a) Sussex Lullaby adapted Howard Ferguson (b) A Jig (from Irish Folk Tunes) W. B. HAWKINS 11. Solo Pianoforte John Field Rondo Scherzoso R. SHEPHERD 12. Chorus and Orchestra The celebrated Ode in Honour of Great Britain called Thomas Arne RULE, BRITANNIA arr. Sargent (words by James Thomson) The audience is invited to join in the Chorus:— Rule Britannia! Britannia rule the waves, Britons ne—ver will be slaves. -

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

THE NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN It was in 'August, 1949, that I first had the privilege of hearing the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, then five courses old. The following morning, the "Yorkshire Post" music critic said :"I was not the only person at the concert to be completely taken by surprise when these enthusiastic youngsters opened the programme with Dvorak's "Carnival" overture. Here was alert, disciplined and even sensitive playing that set up a magnificent sound and could have put to shame many a professional orchestra. Perhaps I should not be believed when I say that, in all the music I have heard during the past month (Edinburgh Festival; Salzburg Festival), nothing has quite excited me so much as the noise of this orchestra; an emotion aroused, no doubt, as much by genuine feeling behind the playing as by the playing itself." I, too, was left with glowing reminiscences of that memorable night : I resolved to become a member of the Orchestra. But it was not until '1951 that was chosen to play on their twelfth course at Liverpool. All this time the N.Y.O. had been building up its reputation. I had had a second chance of hearing them in Hull (January, '1954 The "Hull Daily Mail" clearly appreciated the qualities of this one hundred and twenty-strong body of musicians between the ages of thirteen and nineteen :

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May 1953 by StPetersYork - Issuu