School News

A CLASS ACT INDEED!

17/11/08

On Thursday 13th November, the City of London Freemen’s School Music Department welcomed over 400 guests to the inaugural concert at Dorking Halls.  Over 160 children performed music from a whole range of different styles.  There was Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Twentieth Century, Jazz, Gospels, Spirituals and even African music.  Our marvellous musicians buzzed, tooted, scraped, plucked, hit and sang for the audiences listening and viewing pleasure. 

It is very difficult to put into words the enormity of this event or the atmosphere that was created on the night. Since the concert, members of staff have been stopped in Epsom and Leatherhead, by members of the public eager to comment favourably on what they heard and saw.  Perhaps this is testament to the excitement that has been created!

The evening began with a rousing fanfare from Senior Brass, which was a test of endurance for the trumpeters with high C's and D's, and a test of lung power for the lower brass with long, loud phrases.  Senior Orchestra was up next with Brahms’ ‘Academic Festival Overture’.  CLFS Senior Orchestra has made a name for itself in recent years, tackling difficult pieces from standard orchestral repertoire.  They coped extremely well with the most demanding piece they have played so far.

After this, Jeremy Cole performed the first movement of Mozart’s 23rd Piano Concerto, K 488 with a reduced orchestra of strings plus flutes, clarinets, bassoons and horns.  Jeremy has worked tirelessly for the department and he will be sadly missed when he leaves the School in summer 2009.  He has been elected as the Organ Scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge from October 2010, and will take up the Organ Scholarship to Hereford Cathedral in September 2009. 

Jazz Band then demonstrated their skill at performing in a relaxed yet controlled style.  This is difficult to do, but so necessary for this style of music.  They played two well loved charts, Jobim’s ‘One Note Samba’ and Ellis’s ‘The Chicken’.

We were lucky to be able to welcome Diana Greenman, Chief Executive of Music In Hospitals.  This is the charity that we chose to donate to as part of the evening’s proceedings.

After an emotive talk, Cantabile and Phoenix Junior choirs led us into the interval with three well know Gospels: Withers’ ‘Lean On Me’, Newton’s ‘Amazing Grace’ and the traditional ‘Down by the Riverside’.  All 83 children sang their hearts out.  They sang from memory, in three part harmony and a lot of them are only 9 years old.  What a way to finish the first half. 

If the audience thought that they were in for a more relaxed second half, they were in for a surprise, because the African Drummers kicked off the proceedings with a lively rendition of ‘N’ya ga limba’, a Guinean welcome song and rhythm.  The first of two Vaughan Williams’ moments followed, with the ever improving Senior Wind Band tackling his Folk Song Suite with great aplomb.

We were then treated to the prodigious talent that is Rebecca Baker.  A Lower 4 pupil, she came to Freemen’s in September 2007 and was invited to play with the Senior Orchestra immediately!  She performed ‘Winter’ from Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’ to great applause. 

 

It was left to the senior singers to perform the first two of three final items.  Three Tippett Spirituals from his Oratorio ‘A Child of Our Time’: ‘Steal Away’, ‘Nobody Knows’ and ‘Go Down Moses’ were sung beautifully by Camerata.  After a brief change around, Senior Choir lightened the mood with Gershwin’s ‘S’Wonderful’, Chilcott’s arrangement of ‘Londonderry Air’ and Porter’s ‘Lets Do It’.

Finally, Senior and Junior Choirs joined together to perform Vaughan Williams’ ‘Antiphon’, which brought the whole proceedings to a celebratory end.

Now that the dust is starting to settle and we move on to thinking about Christmas and beyond, it is important to remember just how impressive A Class Act was.  We are so proud of all of the children.  The performers played and sang louder and prouder than we could have ever imagined.  The Stage Crew worked tirelessly and efficiently.  Front of House was managed very professionally and many staff gave their time generously.

                      

Undoubtedly, CLFS Music Department managed in its primary vision, to enable our musicians to be heard and appreciated on a larger scale.  It is certainly something that all of us will remember for a very long time.