Head's Newsletter 5 May 2017

MUSIC NEWS

The beginning of the Easter holidays was delayed for 20 trebles who spent an intensive few days rehearsing for Mahler’s Symphony No. 8. The piece is otherwise known as the Symphony of a Thousand for good reason with the London Philharmonic Choir, London Symphony Chorus and Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Vladimir Jurowski.

On 3 rd April Tiffin Boys’ Choir enjoyed the privilege of singing Evensong at Westminster Abbey. Only visiting choirs of a high standard are allowed to sing there. Before rehearsal time in Cheyneygates, the medieval house of the Abbots of Westminster, the

The annual School Concert, involving members of Tiffin’s instrumental ensembles alongside all 180 pupils in Year 7 took place on 30 th March. The evening got off to a rousing start with Wind Band setting the mood with ‘Happy’ and a Lennon/McCartney medley. This was followed by sets from the String Orchestra, Brass Ensemble, Swing Band and School Orchestra, which gave a moving rendition of the second movement of Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8. After a quick stage reset a very enthusiastic Year 7 assembled for ‘Assyria’s Concern’ or ‘The Adventures of Henry Layard in Mesopotamia’, written by the school’s Composer in Residence, Simon Ferris. The boys, after only a limited amount of time practising the chorus pieces in class, produced an excellent performance particularly from soloists, Joe Desmond, Daniel McCarthy, and Georgiy Lesyuk.

boys were given the opportunity to follow an audio guided tour of the Abbey which has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of 17 monarchs. In addition Westminster Abbey is also the place where some of the most significant people in the nation's history are buried or commemorated. Evensong itself was a profound and memorable experience, especially following the week of the tragedy on Westminster Bridge and outside the Houses of Parliament.