Lower School Concert
As the company motto reminds us each time we pass under the gate at the end of the Long Drive, Concordia Parvae Res Crescunt: small things grow in harmony. The Lower School Concert on Monday was for many boys their first experience of performing in a concert at Merchant Taylors'. It brought together performances from ensembles and soloists in the Third, Upper Third, and Fourth Forms. We hope that this experience will encourage the youngest boys in the school to continue in their musical journeys, growing together in harmony.
Introduced by the Head of Lower School, Dr Hesketh, the concert opened with an enthusiastic performance by the Wind Band of the theme from Star Wars. This was followed by a solo performance of Paint it Black from Nathaniel W (4ths) on the cello, and then another from Markus F (4ths) who sang a song from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Eashar S (3rds) then gave a confident rendition of Purcell's Air in D minor, having just had a few lessons as part of the Rare Breeds Instrumental Trial Scheme.
Sinfonia then took to the proverbial stage to play an arrangement of the ever-popular Greensleeves, before Josh S (U3rds) played the Prelude by Rachmaninoff in C# minor. This was followed by Thomas B (4ths) who played the Overture from Carmen. Next came the Rare Breeds String Ensemble, whose diverse array of sounds was neatly titled Air on the Open Strings. The boys in this group have only had about four lessons on their chosen instruments, and had not until the morning of the concert played in an ensemble setting. The sound was joyous. Aiden De A (4ths) then played Bach/Gounod's Ave Maria on the cello, before Rohan D (U3rds) played some chirpy music on the piano, namely Take the 'A' Train by Billy Strayhorn. After this, Evy A (3rds) took centre stage with the delightful miniature Spic and Span by the Blackwells. By this time the Rare Breeds Wind Ensemble had taken their places and delivered an assortment of joyful noises to a beaming audience. Mr Couldridge remarked that the rendition of a thitherto unknown masterpiece by Stockhasuen was an unexpected delight. Hearty applause followed, but some miscommunication meant that the scheduled performance by Yugo F (U3rds) did not happen as intended.
Ethan G (4ths) took to the organ bench to give a rendition of the Prelude in B-flat attributed to the great master J. S. Bach. The final item of such a concert could not be anything but the massed singing of the Third Form. If only the whole school sang as lustily as did the Thirds! First came the Gershwins' Fascinating Rhythm, before the concert concluded with a medley of the spirituals When the Saints and This Train. Such was the delight of the audience that this number was repeated (to quote Horatio Spafford) not in part but the whole. This being done, the concert ended at a splendid 8.05pm.
It is well to note that the enthusiasm not only of the boys but also their parents necessitated the moving of this concert from the Exam Hall to the Great Hall in order to accommodate everyone. We hope that such enthusiasm for music continues as we look ahead to future concerts, namely the musical (West Side Story) next half term, and the Teatime Concert a week later on Friday 29th November. The latter of these will take place at 4.30pm in the Recital Hall and will be preceded by a positively lavish selection of baked goods, alongside various caffeinated beverages.