Music
 |
Events
National Children’s Orchestra
The prestigious National Children’s Orchestra recently held auditions for the 2010 season. Congratulations to Mila Ferramosca (7S), Ruth Friedlander (7G) and Charlotte Strivens (7G) who have gained places in the National Children’s Under 12 Orchestra together with Amy Muellbauer, Junior School Year 6. Amy is currently in the 2009 Under-11 and regional NCO orchestras.
The standard of playing required for these auditions is very high and this is a wonderful achievement!
Superb Concerts in Wonderful Settings
Recently, we have given concerts in three of Oxford's finest venues. Chamber Choir, with pupils from Years 7 - 9, performed music by Hasse, Britten and Verdi in Merton College Chapel. A Cappella, accompanied by Chamber Orchestra, gave a stylish performance of Bach's St. John Passion in the University Church. Finally, we bade farewell to our Upper Sixth musicians in a senior concert in the Sheldonian Theatre.
Sheldonian Concert May 2009
Here are some photographs from the recent Sheldonian concert where we heard from groups including Senior Orchestra, String Orchestra, The Muses, The Barberinas, and Concert Band. It was a chance for us to hear our Leavers for the last time.
Ocean World - February 2009
The lastest extravaganza from the Music Department was the Lower School production of "Ocean World", a moving reminder of the damage that humans are doing to the world's oceans.
A chorus from the Lower School Choir joined up with the Concert Band to perform the songs and narrations with solos from the whale and her calf, the turtle and a host of other sea creatures.
The soloists were sensational, moving some of the audience (and the band!) to tears, and the chorus clearly enjoyed rocking to songs such as "Man Made Hell". It was a fantastic night.
Suter piano festival - Wednesday 28th January 2009
The Suter Piano Festival was established last year in memory of Kathleen Suter, who taught piano at Oxford High for many years. She left a legacy for the purpose of mounting an annual festival to celebrate the piano. The day affords the rare chance for students to see and hear each other play. All standards and all ages are represented. The morning session is informal and divided largely into year groups; the afternoon session is rather more formal in the presence of an adjudicator who awards a cup to the most promising player. Last year, the winner was Thalia Ilsen Nunn, who gives way for another girl to win this time. She treated the morning's audience to a lovely performance of Rachmaninov Prelude in D major.
Playing the piano can be quite a lonely pastime. Having the opportunity to share the expression of music in public is one to be relished, and many of the younger girls were experiencing this for the first time. A departure this year to confound the sense of solitude came with two piano trios (in Year 8 and Year 11), with the middle part physically squeezed between the outside players, giving a hint of comedy and obvious enjoyment. Another novelty - much more serious - was a most imaginative performance of the Bach French Suite no 6, played by four girls who took two movements of the piece each, after giving the audience an explanation of the Baroque Dance Suite form.
The afternoon's adjudicator was Karen Suter, Kathleen's daughter. She was struck by the very high standard of playing and truly agonised over the result. She had been very helpful during the course of the afternoon, offering advice and positive comment. After the Sixth Form class, she gave an impromptu mini-masterclass as she went through the six players' performances with each one at the piano.
The eventual adjudication commended
Jemima Goodall (7H) for her performance of Debussy Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum
Yang Liu (12O) for the 3rd movement of Ravel Sonatine, and
Eleanor Thompson (12X) for Debussy The Little Shepherd
Highly commended were
Saskia Ilsen Nunn (13X) for her performance of Brahms Intermezzo in A, and
Lynn Zheng (11O) Liszt Sonetto 104 del Petraca
and the winner of the Suter Piano Festival 2009 was
MICHELLE PARKER (12S) for her beautiful performance of the andante e cantabile from Scarlatti Sonata No.61
Town Hall Concert, November 2008
Our major concert in the Autumn Term took place in Oxford Town Hall. In the varied first half, Senior Orchestra gave an authoritative performance of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, and Concert Band played a swinging blues. Three of our smaller choirs were represented (The Muses, The Barberinas, A Cappella) and the African Drums Group provided a dynamic finale before the interval. The concert finished with a moving performance of Mozart's Requiem featuring a choir of 150 accompanied by the school Chamber Orchestra.
Summer Term 2008
Music Tour to Greece – Summer 2008
In early July, a special orchestra of string players and two oboists went to Greece to perform at the Concert Theatre in Cohilia, on the beautiful island of Evia, and again in the smart municipality of Rafina, outside Athens. It was the Music Department’s first trip abroad and something to be repeated. The violinist, Anastasios Mavroudhi, who studies in London, joined us for the Bach concerto. The venue in Evia is a purpose-built theatre amid a 200-year-old olive grove. The acoustics are such that on the platform, it feels as if you are making the weediest sound which is being swept into the olive trees and lost. However, from the position of the audience, it rather different: the sound is rich and full as it bounces off the back wall and around the auditorium. In Rafina, the venue was more intimate, again amongst olive trees, in the garden of the National Folk Museum. Our sound was subtly amplified electronically to create the same conditions as Cohilia.
|
 |
Lower School Concert – May 2008
The third and final Lower School Concert of the year took place on 22nd May. It was packed with good performances displaying some fine musicianship and enjoyment. This is the last concert to which girls in Year 9 contribute and they were very well represented. To have watched them mature in their concert presentation over the years is most interesting. It was good to see some this time taking music-making initiative and presenting something they had prepared and rehearsed together, such as the oboe and cor anglais duo and the unaccompanied violin duet. Instrumentalists also contributed to the two Lower School Choir pieces – a flute in El condor pasa and a trumpet in the Urchins’ chorus from Carmen. The orchestra played lustily in three pieces, including the Grand March from Aida, and the Chamber choir gave us the finale from Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and an atmospheric Strawberry Fields.
It is too difficult to single out individual performers but mention must be made of the oldest Year 9 who has attended 21 Lower School concerts in her school career. Naomi Miller enjoyed her final concert as a bona fide Year 9 in 2004, but has continued to play for the orchestra as a most valuable piano accompanist and helped in general concert organisation for the past four years. She was presented with flowers in grateful recognition. The Year 9s said their farewells and were congratulated for their contribution during their first three years at OHS.
Within the first three weeks of term, we have already put on two great shows: the first was an extraordinary and innovative Gesamtkunstwerk involving 100 girls from Year 7 to Year 13. They performed a highly varied range of music (vocal and instrumental), dance, drama and reading (poetry and prose) illustrating a train of thought on the subject of the moon. The experience was intellectually and artistically stimulating for both audience and performers.
To see the programme, click here
The second date was our second visit this year to the Sheldonian Theatre for another evening of variety - all of the musical kind this time. Again, this event included 100 performers, some of whom had not taken part in any of our concerts before. The orchestra played two movements from Beethoven’s 7th Symphony and also Grieg’s Norwegian Dances. The concert band gave us two arrangements for their unique forces: Two Polovtsian Dances and the Basin Street Blues. The Muses and the Barberinas both sang their signature close-harmony music with a great sense of entertainment.
A new inclusion was in the appearance of the African Drummers who rehearse noisily every week. This group of 15 players used the call and response technique in their well-disciplined improvisation to the joy of players and audience alike. Another innovation was the Opera Workshop presentation of the Witches Chorus from Macbeth by Verdi. Finally, the String Orchestra played the Bartok Rumanian Dances superbly; the absolute delight of this performance was complemented by eight dancers, who were even ready to encore the final three pieces.
Sheldonian Concert - November 2007
Here are some photos of the recent Sheldonian concert. The programme included Orff’s Carmina Burana. Girls from Senior Choir, Chamber Choir, Senior Orchestra, The Muses and The Barberinas gave stunning performances.
Click on an image to open it in a new window
The Hills are Alive…
With the Sound of Music!
Our Lower School Production this year was the Sound of Music. Rehearsals began in earnest just after Christmas to ensure that all three performances were a roaring success.
The singing and acting were superb, from Maria and the Captain, to Max, Elsa and Aunty Frieda and the children gave their all.
We had a fantastic nuns’ chorus and some threatening Nazi officers.
Wonderful music from the band and a fantastic set and lighting all combined to create three nights of magic!
New Music Venues
This term we were pleased and excited to hold two concerts at new venues for us in Oxford. In May our A cappella and String Orchestra concert was held in Exeter College Chapel-a beautifully restored building. String Orchestra performed the beautiful Five Variations on Dives and Lazarus by Vaughan Williams. We took advantage of the magnificent organ in the chapel to perform Vierne’s Messe Solenelle. Our Senior Concert was in St. Michael’s Church, Summertown. This concert was the final performance for the music groups and we bid a fond farewell to the year thirteens and thanked them for their hard work
Curriculum
Music is part of the core curriculum in Years 7-9. Our groups study a wide variety of musical styles and much of the work is based on composition in the keyboard room. Pupils in Years 7 and 8 are taught in groups of around 14 (half the tutor group) and in year 9 in groups of 21.
Year 7
Composing: pupils develop their ability to notate their ideas. This involves rhythmic work in several
parts and developing melodic structures for instruments and voices.
Listening: developing an appreciation of music from a variety of periods and cultures; simple dictation
tests.
Performing: developing keyboard skills for composition; class orchestra; singing; involvement in
groups outside the school.
Year 8
Composing: pupils develop an awareness of chords and the ability to use them in compositions. Techniques
from various periods and also introduced e.g. modes and drones and discords.
Listening: a selection of examples to support composing; introduction to score reading.
Performing: developing keyboard skills, in particular the ability to experiment and improvise using
chords.
Year 9
Composing: further work using chords in a variety of styles.
Listening: the development of Rock Music, Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, Bernstein’s
West Side Story and the music of Mozart.
Performing: developing keyboard skills through class and individual performances.
Year 10 and 11
Music is offered at GCSE and we follow the Edexcel syllabus. Our groups are a healthy size, with
GCSE numbering between 12 and 20.
Pupils study the following topics:
• Ternary Form
• Serialism
• Ground Bass
• Experimental music
• Variations
• Minimalism
• Rondo
• Electronic music
• 12-bar blues
• Indian rag
• Reggae
• Gamelan music
• Club dance remix
• African drumming
• Songs from musicals
• Music drawing together two cultures
Composing: pupils are required to produce two compositions lasting at least three minutes in total.
Performing: pupils must produce one solo performance, one ensemble and perform one of their compositions.
At AS and A2 our number average around 7 and we follow the Edexcel syllabus:
Aural tests: melodic and rhythmic dictation, comparison of performances, keys, chords, cadences
and modulations, historical context.
Harmony and Counterpoint: Bach chorale harmonization; 2 part work using a figured bass.
History and analysis: study of examples from the Edexcel Anthology.
Composition: one composition is required lasting not more than three minutes chosen from set topics.
Performing: all students receive individual lessons outside the class and are encouraged to join
groups in and outside school.
For A2, students may choose to produce a portfolio of compositions or perform a recital.
Extra-Curricular Activities and Achievements
Lower School Choir . An unauditioned choir for everyone who enjoys singing in
years 7-8. The repertoire includes classical pieces and 2 and 3-part arrangements of songs from
musicals and the charts. We meet on Thursday during period 5. Lower School choir performs at all
the Lower School concerts throughout the year and the Carol Service.
Chamber Choir. An auditioned choir for the strong singers in years 7-9. The repertoire
ranges from Latin sacred music to pop songs in 2, 3 and 4 parts. We perform in the Lower School
Concerts, the Carol Service and in the Town Hall concert. We also take part in concerts outside
school. Auditions are held in the first three weeks of the Autumn term.
Senior Choir (years 9-13). An unauditioned choir for everyone who wishes to gain
experience of singing the great choral works, with tenors and basses drawn from parents and friends.
Recent concerts have included Carmina Burana, Mozart Requiem and Handel’s Messiah.
A Cappella (years 8-13). This choir includes the strongest singers in the school.
The repertoire includes both sacred and secular music. Forthcoming performances include Holst’s
Songs from the Rig Veda and Durufle’s Requiem.
The Barberinas Close-harmony group for girls in years 11-13. We specialize in pop
and jazz arrangements in as many parts as we can manage!
Instrumental Groups
Preliminary Orchestra A group designed to develop ensemble skills in pupils of
grade 1-3 standard. Rehearsals are held on Friday mornings at 8.30.
Lower School Orchestra. Formed to give early orchestral experience to as many pupils as possible.
Grade 4-6 standard. The orchestra rehearses on Wednesday mornings as a full orchestra and we often
have sectional rehearsals. Lower School Orchestra play in the Lower School Concerts.
Senior Orchestra. A full symphony orchestra of some 60 players; performing works
from the mainstream classical repertoire. Players are required to be minimum grade 5 standard. The
orchestra rehearses on Thursday after school. Senior Orchestra perform in all senior school concerts
String Orchestra. For the more advanced players, minimum grade 6 standard. Sometimes
wind players are added to form a chamber orchestra. String orchestra rehearses at 8.30 on Thursday
mornings.
Concert Band. All woodwind and brass players are invited to join concert band which
rehearses on Tuesday lunchtime. We play standard band repertoire; songs, swing, film and TV theme
tunes.
African Drumming everyone welcome-no previous experience necessary! The group meets
on Thursday and Friday lunchtimes.
Weekly Rehearsals
Monday String Orchestra-12.00
Theory Club-12.00
A Cappella-4.00
Tuesday Chamber Choir-8.30
Concert Band-12.00
Wednesday Lower School Orchestra-8.30
Thursday String Orchestra-8.30
Senior Choir-12.00
African Drumming-12.00
Lower School Choir-12.55
Senior Orchestra-4.00
Friday Chamber Choir-8.30
Preliminary Orchestra-8.30
Barbershop Group-12.00
African Drumming-12.00
Music Lessons
Individual music lessons are taught by a team of 22 visiting tutors giving over 300 music lessons a week. Lessons are forty minutes long; in years 7-9 they rotate through the school day and in years 10-13 they are given in free periods.
Music lessons are arranged via the Director of Music.
Tuition is available in the following:
• Piano
• Violin, viola, cello, double bass
• Music Technology
• Music Theory
• Singing
• Clarinet, bassoon, flute, piccolo, oboe, saxophone.
• Percussion (timpani and kit)
• Classical Guitar
• Trumpet, Cornet, Trombone, Tuba, Euphonium, French Horn
• Recorder
Music Scholarships
These are offered at 11+ and 16+, and are awarded for present achievement, potential for future development and willingness to contribute to school music. Full details are available from the Admissions Secretary.