On Friday last week we held our annual Friday Night is Music Night, featuring a varied programme performed by student ensembles. The concert included orchestral works, folk-inspired compositions, and jazz pieces, reflecting the range of musical activity within our School.
The String Ensemble and Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Katherine Collison, began the evening with Romanian Folk Dances by Béla Bartók. These pieces, inspired by Transylvanian folk traditions, were played with rhythmic precision and character. Brâul (Sash Dance) and Bot tánc (Stick Dance) highlighted the ensemble’s responsiveness to dynamic contrasts.
The String Ensemble continued with Grange Blues by Christian Morris. The interplay between the strings, piano, and drumkit created an engaging texture, with syncopated rhythms and a gradual build in intensity.
The Chamber Orchestra, directed by Emily Holland, performed the final two movements from Britten’s Simple Symphony, Op. 4. The Sentimental Sarabande was played with warmth, while the Frolicsome Finale captured the energy of Britten’s writing. The orchestra handled the contrast between the two movements effectively.
The Symphony Orchestra, under John Mountford, played Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, Op. 84, delivering a performance that conveyed the drama of Goethe’s play. This was followed by March to the Scaffold from Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. The brass and woodwind sections shaped the movement’s dramatic elements well, particularly the eerie clarinet solo and the final orchestral climax.
The Concert Band, conducted by Steve Foster, performed selections from Ernest Tomlinson’s Suite of English Folk-Dances. The chosen movements maintained the character of the original folk tunes. This was followed by Shenandoah, arranged by Frank Ticheli, which featured controlled dynamics and phrasing.
The Big Band, directed by Steve Foster, closed the concert with a selection of jazz and funk arrangements. Strike Up The Band by George and Ira Gershwin opened the set with a strong rhythmic drive, while The Jazz Police by Gordon Goodwin challenged the players with its intricate lines. Cute by Neal Hefti and Living for the City by Stevie Wonder provided contrast before Street Life brought the evening to a close.
The concert presented a range of styles and instrumental combinations, demonstrating the work of students and staff in preparing a well-structured programme.
