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Percussionist: Bethany Cordall
Guest pianists: Sebastian Grand and Tom Hicks
Conductor: Mervyn Grand
Choir Conductor : Rachel Wright
Sunday 5 February 2012
St James Concert Hall
BWCI Camerata Concert Series
Picture by: Abbie Dellar aged 8
Guernsey Camerata
together with the Guernsey Music Centre Primary and Boys Choirs
Thanks
The Guille-Alles Library for supplying some of the music for this concert
The Guernsey Arts Commission for their support.
Poster competion : Abbie Dellar (Winner) and Rubi Hockey (Runner-up)
Next concert - October 2012
PROGRAMME
Overture from Die Fledermaus - Johann Strauss II
Die Fledermaus is the title of an operetta, which is a short play set to music, by the composer Johann Strauss. Fledermaus means a flying
mouse, or a bat in other words, and the opera is called this because one of the characters dresses as a bat at a fancy dress party. The overture is
played before the curtain rises and the story begins. This particular one is full of different dances and Johann Strauss II was known as “The Waltz
King” because his ballroom music was very popular in his home city of Vienna in Austria.
Light Cavalry Overture - Franz von Suppé (1819 – 1895)
The story of Swan Lake is about a Prince and Odette, a beautiful woman who has been turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer. The only way the
spell can be broken is if a man falls in love with her. The sorcerer tries to confuse the Prince by disguising his own daughter as Odette but
eventually the Prince realises what has happened and sets off to find Odette to explain. There is a fight with the sorcerer, and the Prince and
Odette jump into the lake. The spell is broken, but they drown, followed by the sorcerer and his daughter. The ballet ends with the spirits of the
Prince and Odette ascending into heaven.
Hoe-Down from Rodeo - Copland
Like Swan Lake, Rodeo is a ballet, but the music sounds very different because it is by an American composer who used traditional American
folk music to tell a story about a cowgirl who tries to find a cowboy who will marry her. Cowboys meet at a Rodeo to compete against one
another in all the traditional skills that they need to work on a ranch. A Hoe-Down is a quick dance which is often performed at Rodeos.
The Pink Panther - Henry Mancini
The Pink Panther was a series of comedy films starring Peter Sellers as the French police detective Jacques Clouseau. The pink panther was
originally a large and valuable pink diamond but the opening of the original film included the following animated character which became very
famous, partly because of the theme music by Henri Mancini. The composer was for a while an arranger and pianist in the Glenn Miller
Orchestra. The music is in a jazz style and the instruments include a saxophone which is not often found in an orchestra.
Flight of the Bumble Bee - Rimsky-Korsakov arranged by Martin Cordall
Since it was written as an orchestral piece as part of his opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan, Rimsky-Korsakov’s the Flight of the Bumble Bee has been
arranged for lots of different instruments, mainly because the music is fast and difficult to play.
The Teddy Bear’s Picnic - Bratton arranged by Frank Sadler
The tune to Teddy Bears’ Picnic was written by the American composer John Walter Bratton in 1907 and the words of the song were added by
Irish songwriter Jimmy Kennedy in 1932. Kennedy lived and is buried near a church in Taunton, Somerset and local legend has it that the small
wooded area between the church and the local scout hut was the inspiration for his lyrics.
INTERVAL
Three songs performed by the Music Centre Primary and Boys Choirs, conducted by Rachel Wright
Down in the Jungle – Traditional arr. Redding and Lee
Tiger Tango – Lawrence
Badgers and Hedgehogs – Carter
The Carnival of the Animals – Saint-Saëns
The Carnival of the Animals was composed in February 1886 for an unusual combination of instruments, including 2 pianos. It has 14 short
movements or sections and contains lots of musical jokes. The composer, Saint-Saëns, wanted to be known as a serious musician, so only
allowed a few performances during his lifetime but since his death it has become one of his most popular works.
Listen out in particular for the low double bass representing the Elephant, the beautiful, famous cello tune for the swan and pianists practising
their scales!
During this performance each of the movements is introduced by a poem by Ogden Nash:
1.
3.
5.
7.
9.
11.
13.
Introduction and Royal March of the Lion
Wild Asses; quick animals
The Elephant
Aquarium
The Cuckoo in the Heart of the Woods
Pianists
The Swan
2.
4.
6.
8.
10.
12.
14.
Cocks and Hens
Tortoises
Kangaroos
Characters with Long Ears (Mules)
Aviary
Fossils
Finale
Conductor - Mervyn Grand
Born in Norfolk, Mervyn studied violin with Frederick Grinke whilst at school and later graduated from London
University where he studied the piano with George Kinnear and conducting with Arthur Davison. Whilst a student
he gained an ARCM piano diploma and performed the Grieg Piano Concerto at St Martin’s in the Fields, London. After
a period playing and teaching in and around London, he moved to Hampshire and became Senior Manager for the
Music Service where he was responsible for instrumental tuition in a large part of the county and undertook school
inspections for OFSTED. During this period he performed a good deal of orchestral and chamber music and was the
soloist in Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto at Guildford Cathedral.
In 2000 he moved with his family to Guernsey to become Head of the Schools’ Music Service where he has been
privileged to teach many promising young Island musicians. He has conducted the Guernsey Youth Orchestra at
Symphony Hall, Birmingham and led successful Music Centre tours to Australia, France, Germany and Canada. A
member the Channel Islands Music Council, he has organised many educational concerts for schools by visiting
professional musicians. A long-standing member of the orchestra, he is delighted to have the opportunity to
conduct the Guernsey Camerata in this Family Concert and to share the stage with Guernsey students, past and
present.
Leader - Nicholas Miller
Nicholas Miller was born in Hertfordshire and began learning the violin at the age of eight. Following a period of
study with Felix Andrievsky he continued his studies at the Royal Academy of Music with Carmel Kaine, where he
won numerous prizes for both solo and chamber music. He was also awarded the prestigious Recital Diploma.
While still at the Academy he won the sought after English Speaking Union Scholarship to the Yale University
Summer School in Connecticut, USA , for a programme of chamber music.
The following year, with awards from the Countess of Munster Trust, Martin Fund and The Royal Society of Arts,
Nicholas commenced two years study at the Juilliard School, New York with the world renowned Dorothy DeLay.
On completion of his studies he joined the BBC Symphony Orchestra for two years before embarking on a freelance
career. Nicholas has taught the violin at both Wells Cathedral School and the Yehudi Menuhin School. He is also an
Associate of the Royal Academy of Music where he is currently a Professor of Violin. He plays on a violin by Camillus
Camilli of Mantua dated 1746.
Picture by: Rubi Hockey aged 6 - Poster competition Runner-up
The Soloists
Tom Hicks
The 18-year-old Guernsey pianist has been successful in many competitions
including first prize in the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe Junior Intercollegiate
Competition 2011, first prize and the EPTA UK Salver in the Croydon Advanced
Piano Concerto Competition and first prize in the Junior Bakst Memorial Prize for
the playing of Chopin. He has also won awards such as the Richards’ Prize for piano
and musicianship and the Dennis Midwood Keyboard Prize from Chetham’s School
of Music and has recently been awarded a John Bigg scholarship from the European
Piano Teachers Association UK.
After lessons in Guernsey with Mervyn Grand he gained a place at Chetham’s School
of Music in 2009, studying with Murray McLachlan, with whom he is continuing on
the prestigious joint course at The Royal Northern College of Music and The
Manchester University. He also plays regularly to musicians including Christopher
Elton and Peter Donohoe.
Tom has performed in venues such as St James’ Piccadilly in London, The Royal
Festival Hall in London, Steinway-to-Heaven in Padua and The Bridgewater Hall in
Manchester. Following the warm reception and standing ovation from the Guernsey
audience for his concerto debut performance of Rachmaninov’s First Concerto, he
looks forward to performing the composer’s Fourth Concerto with the same
orchestra, The Guernsey Sinfonietta under the baton of Sebastian Grand, in July.
Sebastian Grand
Born in 1988, Sebastian is currently studying on a Masters course at the Royal
Academy of Music, under the tutelage of Ian Fountain. He is a graduate of the Joint
Course between the University of Manchester and the Royal Northern College of
Music (RNCM), where he studied with Paul Janes and was a prizewinner at both
institutions. His formative years were spent in Guernsey, learning with his father
Mervyn Grand, and later with Vanessa Latarche.
Having recently graduated with a First-class Honours Degree and concurrent
Performance Diploma, Seb has already won numerous prizes for his pianism and
musicianship. He was awarded the
Hargreaves Prize for outstanding achievement in each year of his studies at the
University and he also gained the Procter-Gregg prize for an end-of-year recital. At
the RNCM, Seb won the Piano Duo Prize and gained the Clifton Helliwell Memorial
Award for his final recital. He is also a prizewinner at the Llangollen International
Eisteddfod, having competed there in July 2010.
Concerto appearances include Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Mendelssohn’s Piano
Concerto No. 1, Bartok’s Concerto for Two Pianos and Percussion and the Grieg
Concerto. As a talented conductor, Seb founded the Guernsey Sinfonietta in August
2009 and conducted the Odyssey Symphony Orchestra in their London debut in
October
Bethany Cordall
Beth Cordall began her percussion studies in Guernsey with Lucy Livermore. She
played with various Schools Music Service ensembles and the National Childrens’
Orchestra before gaining a place at The Purcell School, London, when she was 14 and
Chethams’ School of Music, Manchester two years later.
At 15 Beth was offered a place in the National Youth Orchestra and at 17 became
section principal. With the NYO she peformed in 30 concerts at major concert
halls across the country, including The Barbican, Sage Gateshead, Snape Maltings,
Birmingham Symphony Hall and the Albert Hall BBC Proms seasons. Part of the NYO
experience was a solo marimba performance in the Picasso room at the Tate Modern!
Another highlight whilst at Chethams was being selected for LSO St.Lukes
Academy as one of 20 under twenty-fives to study intensively with the LSO. Beth is
currently in her final year at Worcester College, Oxford, where she is a music scholar
First violins
Nicholas Miller - leader
Michael Sullivan
Suzanne George
Sarah Van Vlymen
Alessia Beebe
William Le Bargy
Nicole Wyatt
Megan de Garis
Robin Emerson
Second violins
Edward Barry
Vineta Ceple
Amanda Shaw
Jo Martorella
Catharine Deller
Rebecca David
Lucie De Guerin
Adele Prince
Janine Mallett
Violas
Penny Filer
Amanda Bennett
Andrew Dimelow
Stella Harris
Alan Cross
Jessica Nash
Cellos
Martin Thomas
Mary Cordall
Christopher Joslin
Lucy-Claire Joslin
Jo Atkinson
Hannah Damant
Liz Gill
Double Bass
Anne Dorey
Caroline Wilkes-Green
Stephen Cameron
Flutes
Dan Madden
Elle Parks
Piccolo
Caroline Carter
Oboes
Elizabeth Courtney
Michael Walsh
Clarinets
Claire Claxton
Elizabeth Woodington
Base Clarinet
Emily Maindonald
Bassoons
Jean Owen
Caroline Moody
Horns
David Ansell
Andrew Dempster
Finlay Bain
Wendy-Anne Dimelow
Trumpets
Adrian King
Adrian Tostevin
Matthew Bourgaize
Tuba
Brian Gaudion
Trombones
James Kierle
Gregory Stevens
Kevin Stevens
Percussion
Bethany Cordall
Ellen Le Huray
Joshua Cottam
Did you know?
A recording of Teddy Bear’s Picnic by the Henry Hall Orchestra made in 1932 was used for more than
30 years by BBC audio engineers to test and calibrate audio equipment.
Some people think that some competitions in Rodeos are cruel to animals and for this reason they are
banned in the United Kingdom.
Even though Strauss was born into a family of Viennese composers, his father wanted him to become a
banker and he had to learn to play the violin in secret. His music and that of other Austrian composers is
still played regularly on January 1st each year in the New Year’s Concert from Vienna which is televised
around the World.
Violinist Oliver Lewis broke the record for the fastest performance of The Flight of the Bumble Bee on
BBC’s Blue Peter in 2010, playing the piece in one minute and 3.356 seconds but Canadian violinist
Eric Speed broke the record again in Montreal in 2011, playing the piece in only 53 seconds!
See if you can work out the mystery instrument by answering the following questions.
The first answer is completed for you.
Badgers
Which animal goes with Hedgehogs in Andrew Carter’s Song
In which country was Johann Strauss born?
Which unusual instrument, normally associated with jazz music, is included in the
orchestra for the Pink Panther theme?
Which rhythm or style is found in a lot of Jazz music?
Which instrument usually gives the “A” at the beginning of a concert for the rest of the
orchestra to tune to?
What name is given to the piece of music that is played before the curtain rises on an
opera or ballet?
Who wrote the poems to introduce the Carnival of the Animals in the second half of
the concert?
Th
y Bears Picn
d
d
e
ic
eT
If you go down to the woods today
Yo u ’ r e s u r e o f a b i g s u r p r i s e
If you go down to the woods today
Yo u b e t t e r g o i n d i s g u i s e
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain because
To d a y ’s t h e d a y t h e t e d d y b e a r s h a v e t h e i r p i c n i c
INSTRUMENTAL
Every teddy bear who’s been good
Is sure of a treat today
There’s lots of marvellous things to eat
And wonderful games to play
Beneath the trees, where nobody sees
They’ll hide and seek as long as they please
‘Cause that’s the way the teddy bears have their picnic
Picnic time for teddy bears
The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today
Watch them, catch them unawares
And see them picnic on their holiday
See them gaily gad about
They love, to play and shout, they never have any cares
At six o’clock their mommies and daddies
Will take them home to bed
Because they’re tired little teddy bears
If you go down in the woods today
Yo u b e t t e r n o t g o a l o n e
It’s lovely down in the woods today
But safer to stay at home
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there together because
To d a y ’s t h e d a y t h e t e d d y b e a r s h a v e t h e i r p i c n i c
Camerata Concert Series
“The BWCI Group is delighted to be associated with the Guernsey Camerata as its
corporate sponsor. This orchestra makes a significant contribution to the local
classical music scene and helps foster the development of the more advanced players
on the island. It provides a great incentive for players to strive towards the full
realisation of their potential.”
Stephen Ainsworth, Senior Partner, BWCI Group
Focused, practical and innovative
The BWCI Group was established in 1979 and is the largest firm of actuaries and consultants in the
Channel Islands. We provide a broad range of employee benefits, investment and insurance
services to our clients based in the Channel Islands, the UK and internationally.
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