Music

MUSIC

The House Singing Competition was held just before the half-term break in October and was won by Manor. On St Cecilia's Day we again attempted to combine the unlikely elements of Evensong, Supper and a

Concert. The combination of St Peter's and St Olave's Choirs always

produces good music and it is a pity that the concert was marred by

untidy stage management due to lack of rehearsal time. Taking ad-

vantage of a relatively slack last week, the Wind Band gave a pleasantly informal Carol Concert in Hall which contrasted well with the more

serious business of the Carol Service. Again, we are grateful to Mr David Cooper who came over from Denby to play the organ.

Before the Epiphany Procession Dr Jackson asked the Choirs to

attend a rehearsal with the Minster Choir on Saturday. This has not been done previously, and it had certain advantages. The use of the little

chamber organ in the Carol of the Star also was an attractive change

and it was good to take part in "All they from Saba" once more, though next time we must remember to use the Latin edition. A small group

of instrumentalists supplied an off stage orchestra for a production of "The Three Old Men" and one or two singers joined Archbishop Holgate's and Queen Anne for a full-scale performance of Handel's "Saul" which was given in our Chapel. Another select group of singers

gave a devotional performance of the Plainsong—Vittoria St Matthew Passion to an even more select audience—in number, four. A case of bad publicity, perhaps, and a contrast with the "Messiah" performance where every available seat was taken.

In May the Choir went to Ripon for the R.S.C.M. Schools Choir Festival and we all dutifully watched the stick and reasonably successfully disguised the fact that we were using the wrong edition of one of the anthems. (So were many others.) The "Messiah" performance was another pleasing Junior School liaison, but the condition that we had to use more than the basic choir caused some headaches. In the end we settled for a mammoth "Hallelujah" and "Worthy is The Lamb" with well over three quarters of the Junior School bolstering or battering the treble line. Once again lack of rehearsal time made the performance nerve wracking for those in charge. The first time the non-choir singers of the Junior School heard the orchestra was at the performance Why is it that musicians are expected to produce concerts out of a hat? Plays or sporting events would never entertain the idea. Mr Riley's absence through most of the Summer Term has made life difficult for the Wind

Band: they did attempt a public performance but the standard was not

typical of them and we abandoned any further events during the term.

An orchestral concert was given, however, in the last week of term and this was a farewell to Mr Sandercock who has done such marvellous work with string teaching over the years. The existence of a string section is due entirely to him and his keen enthusiasm. We wish him well in his new job at Whitgift School, Croydon.

The Music Prize Competition was held also in the last week of term and prizes were won as follows: Keyboard: Andrew Birtle; Strings: Patrick Crowley; Woodwind: Mark Iveson.

Old Peterites joined the Choir for the Commemoration Service and it is hoped that this will have given a feeling of continuity with the School past and present as well as increasing our musical potential.

During the holidays a residential course for talented String players from all over the country was held at School. This was promoted by Pro Corda. Last year the Royal School of Church Music held its residential Cathedral Choristers Course at School. K.R.P. 17