On Tuesday this week we witnessed more than one hundred performers playing and singing in twelve different Ensembles at the Spring Concert.
The smallest ensemble was the piano duet with giving a fantastic performance on two pianos from “Scaramouche” by Milhaud.
Larger ensembles were presented by our instrumental teaching team, performing a range of music from different periods and genres. Ms H led the flutes in “Twilight”; Ms D led her violins in “Por Una Cabeza” featuring a soloist; Mr D led his guitars and supporting musicians in “Norwegian Wood”; Mr V’s saxes and clarinet performed a slow gospel-like arrangement of “Amazing Grace”; students from the Thursday afternoon Small Ensembles activity performed their own arrangement of “Fly Me To The Moon”, and Mr D directed his Vocal Ensemble in “Ticket To Ride”, and, with the BSP Community Choir, provided the pre-concert music in the atrium of the Kett building.
The Teachers’ Wind Quintet comprises an oboe, a horn, a flute, a sax and a clarinet. For the third time in concert, this professional level ensemble has incorporated two of our more advanced musicians into its ranks in order to give these students an insight into professional rehearsals and concert performances. Playing flute and alto sax, they certainly rose to the occasion and were part of a very memorable performance of three “Hungarian Dances” by Farkas.
Orchestra gave excellent performances in a range of genres, spanning a three-hundred-year period, although heavily biased to the later part of the 20th Century!
Jazz Band performed some lively high-energy instrumental pieces as well as the classic “Fever”, featuring a lead student vocalist.
The Choir repertoire included an impressive a capella performance of “Let It Be” and three other songs accompanied by the piano or guitar.
We were privileged at the end of the concert to have the Headmaster invite a Year 12 student to explain to the audience and performers his vision which has led him to compose an “Anthem for the BSP”. This piece is written for piano, orchestra and choir, and incorporates the school motto, both in English and Latin, into the choir lyrics.
It was given its premiere performance during the concert and was well received by an enthusiastic audience. There will be more about this piece in the coming weeks…
To all the pupils and teachers who performed and helped in this concert in any way; and to the parents and guests who made up the audience – our thanks to you all!
