Aluredian
36
T
his year's Spring Concert
rounded off a week of musical
events that celebrated the
centenary of our Chapel, and
it proved a fitting finale to the
term. The string orchestra
opened proceedings with three movements
from Holst's St Paul's Suite, a piece actually
written for a school orchestra, but which is far
from straightforward. The King's players
though coped admirably with the many
demands made of them, particularly in the final
movement with its tricky conflicting time
signatures.
A change of timbre was ushered in by the
brass ensemble, with their performances of
Swing Low and an Allemande by Samuel
Scheidt, which showed some beautifully
unanimous phrasing and good team intonation.
The chamber music theme continued with the
senior string quartet and their movement from
Borodin's 2nd String Quartet in D. Here there
was some most impressive individual playing,
and a carefully rehearsed but totally natural
sense of ensemble.
The centrepiece of the concert was the sixmovement
Suite Antique by John Rutter, in
which the flute soloist was Jessica Danaher.
This work is a major undertaking, not a
lightweight frivolity, and Jessica impressed
hugely with her beautiful sound and elegant
phrasing. Sympathetic and stylish
accompaniment came from the string orchestra,
conducted by Director of Music Colin Albery.
Reinforcements then joined them on stage, as
the full symphony orchestra performed two
more substantial works, the Serenade for
Orchestra by William Mathias, and Britten's
Soirées Musicales. The orchestra was in fine
form, with plenty of exciting dynamic contrasts,
and a huge amount of rhythmic energy. The
sense of ensemble again impressed in two
performances that were immaculately
presented.
It was left to the wind band to provide the
finale, and what a rousing one it was, with an
arrangement of Hans Zimmer's music to Pirates
of the Caribbean. In the capable hands of
conductor Karen Fergusson, there was much to
admire here, with warm wind playing from
flutes, clarinets and saxophones, all driven with
precision by an impressive rhythm section. An
excellent way to bring to a close our chapel
centenary celebrations.
Spring
Concert
by
Chris Holmes
Jessica Danaher, the
soloist in John Rutter's
Suite Antique