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Welcome to the Music Support Group

If you are interested in music, then why not check out the main Music pages here  

The Music Support Group exists to support and encourage the musical life of the school, both financially and in other ways, and to give assistance to the music staff in any way possible. It gives those with a particular interest in music the opportunity to meet socially, to contribute ideas on how music can be promoted in the school, to raise funds for equipment and tours and to help with the organisation of musical events of all kinds.

Autumn Concert

Carmina Burana Raises the Roof

This year’s Joint (Merchant Taylors’and St Helen’s) Concert took place on Monday 30th March. The Great Hall was full to capacity and the audience was privileged to be part of an evening of wonderful orchestral and choral music.

The programme began with the Merchant Taylors’ and St Helen’s Orchestra playing Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No 4, probably the most well known of the series after “Land of Hope and Glory”!  We were then treated to a superb performance of Saint-Saens Cello Concerto in A minor, soloist Jeremy Samuel. This concerto breaks slightly from the traditional form in that it was written as one continuous movement but it is one of the most popular in the repertoire and considered by some to be the finest of all cello concertos.

Katharine Sammes then proceeded to stun the audience with an amazing performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Trombone Concerto in B flat. This concerto was written while Rimsky-Korsakov was Inspector of Military Bands in Russia and it is thought that the original accompaniment was for Military Band (although this evening’s performance was the orchestral version). The piece shows off the versatility of the instrument – and expertise of the player- and Katharine was well able to rise to the challenge.

After the Interval it took some time to assemble the massed choirs of MTS, St Helen’s, St John’s School, Northwood, The South Oxhey Children’s Choir and the Parent’s Choral Society along with the augmented “Carmina Burana Orchestra”. But it was worth the wait! Carmina Burana was Carl Orff’s first major work and consists of a series of twenty-four12th and 13th century songs and poems set to music. There are a variety of themes, beautiful melodies and famous, dramatic choruses. Guest soloists were Sarah Dacey – Soprano and Alistair Bamford – Baritone. Zakiy Manji – Counter Tenor provided the solo voice for Cignus ustus cantat (the Roast Swan). The Final Chorus of Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi (Fortune, Empress of the World) raised the roof and Mr Hobson’s wish of it being heard in Rickmansworth was probably granted! 

All in all an evening of outstanding music which will be difficult to follow next year – now there’s a challenge!

Mair Sowood
Music Support Group

The performance of Carmina Burana was recorded for the BBC2 series “The Choir”.

Mulcaster win House Music Competition

This year’s House Music Competition took place on Wednesday 15th October. As usual the programme included a wide variety of music, from Bach to Stevie Wonder, and some FUKPs of arrangements by the boys themselves.

The competition was judged by Phil Culling, Director of Music at Godolphin and Latimer School who commented that he was very impressed with the standard especially as it was self directed. During his adjudication, as well as commenting on the music, he was able to give the boys some useful tips for the future on rehearsal techniques and presentation. Mulcaster took first position in the Instrumental section with a stunning performance of a Klezmer Medley, arranged and Directed by Jeremy Samuel. Andrewes were winners of the vocal section with an excellent rendition of My Evaline, Directed by Robert Grasse and Alex Pott. Mulcaster took the Trophy for best overall performance.