Shrewsbury
A series of spectacular concerts at Shrewsbury for St Cecilia
The patron saint of music must have been smiling down on Shrewsbury after a spectacular series of concerts in her honour over the weekend.
The St Cecilia Weekend is always one of the cultural highlights of the Salopian’s calendar, and this year’s programme, under Mrs McKenzie’s inspirational leadership, was truly extraordinary. For the second year running, the repertoire for Friday’s concert was primarily chosen by the students, and this was evident in the enjoyment and commitment with which they performed.
The evening opened with performances by the Concert Band, under the baton of Mrs Landon, playing two pieces by contemporary composer Michael Sweeney. Remus Y (O, IV) writes that “Celtic Farewell is a musical memorial arranged by Michael Sweeney in 2016, containing elements of the traditional Scottish ballad, The Parting Glass. The simple yet grand melodies are pleasing, and the Celtic influence can be clearly observed throughout the piece.” Nowhere is this influence clearer than in the instrumentation, with the opportunity for a solo piper, Logan P (R, V)
This was followed by Across the Northern Sky. James W (O, IV) writes “Composed in 2022 for the 50th anniversary of Eckroth Music, with its flowing, upbeat melodies, the piece begins with an antiphonal brass fanfare before moving into a beautiful chorale in the middle. Across the Northern Sky concludes with a lively rhythmic finale which captures the ever-changing landscape of the northern states.
“The programme continued to explore the influence of folk music through the String Orchestra’s vibrant performance of Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances, inspired by gypsy violinists and traditional Eastern European Dances, and the Symphony Orchestra’s rousing rendition of Dvorak’s New World Symphony. Joanna C (QE, IV) observed that “Dvorak was influenced not only by music he had heard, but by what he had seen, in America. Dvorak was interested in Native American music and the Africa-American spirituals he heard in North America. A flute solo theme in the 1st movement of the symphony resembles the African-American spiritual Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. The symphony was truly multinational in its foundations.’”
The power of music to comment on global events could also be seen in At Dawn they Slept performed by the Wind Orchestra – a moving meditation on the cost of war, perhaps appropriate for the weekend following Remembrance Sunday. The haunting trumpet part provides a modern twist on the Last Post. This was beautifully played by Ivo W (I, UVI) who writes: “The piece was written as an act of remembrance for those who died at Pearl Harbor in 1941, an event that mark America’s entrance into World War II. It features stirring woodwind melodies in contrast with more dissonant themes and raucous percussion to convey the chaos of war. It concludes on an optimistic note however that looks to a brighter future.”
The concert concluded with Shostakovich’s jazz suite No. 2. Saxophonist Nat T (EDH, UVI) writes: “Believed to have been composed sometime after 1956, Dmitri Shostakovich’s famous Suite for Jazz Orchestra No.2 in its entirety consists of 8 movements. The melody of the 7th movement, Waltz II, is the most widely recognised out of the Suite; one which I love bringing to life in my own way in the opening saxophone solo. It also goes by the name of Suite for Variety Orchestra No.1 (as it was originally called) but, due to an editorial footnote error in Shostakovich’s collected works edition published in 1984, it was misnamed as Suite for Jazz Orchestra No.2, which still sticks to this day. I particularly enjoy the jovial and light semi quaver passages in Dance II and how this contrasts with the lilting triple time signature of Waltz II.”
Saturday’s concert shone a spotlight on our choral singers and chamber orchestra, performing alongside the massed ranks of the Shrewsbury community choir. The programme included some brilliant new repertoire, including Rebecca Dale’s Materna Requiem. This is a beautifully moving and uplifting tribute to her late mother, who died in 2010. The work draws from both the traditional text of the Catholic Mass and contemporary poetry and is a homage to parents everywhere. It was stunningly performed by the choir, with solos by professional singers Margaret Lingas and Richard James alongside students Grace H (QE, UVI), Anna M (EDH, UVI), and Harrison R (Ch, III).
The chamber choir also performed Don Gillthorpe’s brilliant Jazz Missa Brevis, accompanied by our very own jazz ensemble, the Fraggle Brothers. The piece written for ‘Sing for Pleasure’, a national choral charity, and celebrates a variety of Jazz styles. It showcased wonderful solos from across the choir, with particular congratulations due to Hettie S (EDH, LVI), Zara B (MSH, V), Anna M (EDH, UVI), Emma B (MSH, UVI), Rose F (G, UVI), James G (RAJC, UVI) and Luke W (SH, UVI) for their soulful vocal performances.
There was still more to come: Sunday saw Shrewsbury host both the Children’s Concert and the Foodbank Christmas Fayre, both hugely popular events. The children’s concert gave our young visitors the chance to play along with the jazz band and experience some brilliant performances by our singers and musicians, including songs from ‘Barbie’ by April H (MSH, IV) and ‘The Little Mermaid’ by Daisy S (G, UVI). Meanwhile, over in Quod, shoppers were entertained by the mellifluous sound of the Fraggle Brothers (Ivo, Jensen, Ethan, Max and Billy) playing a medley of hits guaranteed to get the audience into the Christmas spirit.
The weekend was a truly extraordinary showcase of musical talent, and the students and music faculty can be hugely proud of what they have accomplished.
Dr Helen Brown
Deputy Head (Co-curricular)
