Tonight G and I went to the Matfen Hall Hotel, which is in a very large Victorian building. We gathered in the Hall - which rises up to a very high roof, with a stair case rising up to the first floor with a Christmas tree in the corner.
Mowden Hall School were giving their Christmas concert for parents and friends, using the staircase and the area below as their stage.
We were greeted by G's eldest daughter and husband and settled down for what we knew would be a memorable hour or two.
We were not disappointed. From Goldfinger played by the Concert Band to Tango and Jingle Bell Rock by the same group, we were held spellbound by the enormous talent and dedicated teaching and leading for 1 1/2 hours. We were allowed to join in too!
It would be wrong to name names but even so I will name 3. Every soloist or duettist or group player deserves a special mention.
Anyway - first to be named is Camilla. She is G's grand-daughter and sang Young's Christmas Night with another soprano. It is a beautiful piece and was a joy to listen to.
A young man called Fergus played Telemann's sonata in f minor for bassoon. He is enormously talented and plays a number of instruments. I think it was the bassoon that he took up by request last summer and went straight to Grade IV. He also joined 3 girls to play in a Flute Ensemble with Rae's Vegas Vacation.
The last is way out the most accomplished performer. His name is Steven and I think he is Vietnamese, though I am not sure. He plays the Cello like a master. Tonight it was Squire's Tarantella. He well deserved the longest ovation of the evening.
In amongst all this the concert band were kept busy. They accompanied us all in O little Town of Bethlehem, See amid the winter's snow, Good King Wenceslas and God rest ye merry. They accompanied the Mowden Choir for several pieces and they also played 'I don't know how to love him' - Lloyd-Webber - as well as the start and end as mentioned above.
There were 4 readings all beautifully practised and read. Unfortunately the accoustics were not perfect for readers, so my slightly dulled hearing meant that I did not get all the words.
On top of all that we were entertained by two pianists, a trumpeter, 2 flautists and another soprano.
The school is incredibly lucky to have a very strong music department. A brand new carol written especially by one of the teachers, was excellent and all the settings were written by the same man. He also played in the Concert band if not accompanieying on the piano.
After that eulogy I think I must see if I can get something out of the school - a term free for Camilla perhaps!!!
What ever, we went home very happy.
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4 comments:
it sounds a lovely evening. We too went to a carol thing last night which was mainly lovely - but with a 30 minute sermon!! F9 had asked me (on seeing it in the printed pamphlet) what was a sermon. You'll find out, I thought, but explained that it was a long speech designed to make us think. Long indeedy and most "inappropriate" given the number of primary school children (our school choir had been invited by the local university to take part and did so beautifully) - awash with rape and disembowlment and general murder. I switched off after a while and started counting the number of people whom I could spot who had fallen asleep. But the choral part, the Christmassy part was just lovely.
Thank you, Withy. That brings back so many happy memories. Our boys loved their time there so much and we as parents really missed it when they left.
sounds wonderful Withy, the Mary Madelene song is beautiful.
That does sound magical, and so much talent! I went to my children's nativity play last night - hmm, maybe not quite so much talent, but some very sincere and memorable performances from the 4 and 5 year olds!
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