An eclectic programme of music was put together for the first of this year’s themed QE concerts, entitled Dusk to Dawn. All the pieces performed had some link to the theme of ‘music of the night’.
“The concert was a great success,” said QE’s Director of Music, Kieron Howe. “Notwithstanding the thematic link between the repertoire, there was still a huge amount of variety in the genres performed – exhibiting the talent we have at the School and enabling the audience to enjoy the music on a new level.”
"It was the first opportunity for a number of our ensembles to perform this academic year, and also the first opportunity for many boys in Year 7 to give a performance at QE.”
The Training Band played pieces from Lloyd-Webber’s Phantom of the Opera, the Junior Strings performed an arrangement of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and the Camerata and Symphony Orchestra tackled Elgar’s Chanson de Matin and Mussorgsky’s Night on a Bare Mountain.
A Camerata medley from the early 20th century was accompanied by the dance troupe from Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School, who will be travelling on a joint tour with QE boys to Boston. The musical items were interspersed with readings linked to the theme, from authors as diverse as Auden, Dylan Thomas, Shakespeare, Robert Frost and Walter de la Mare.
The programme also included songs from The Lion King and a medley from The Beatles’ Hard Day’s Night album played by the Training Band and the Junior String Orchestra. The School’s Junior Indian Music Ensemble performed the traditional raga pieces , Hanumathodi and Raaravedha Gopal.
In his programme notes, Mr Howe added: “I would like to thank the boys who performed for their commitment to the extra-curricular life of the School and also the directors of the ensembles for their continued dedication to their groups. I would also like to thank two of our Year 11 pupils, Praveen Prathapan and Janan Sathiendran, who worked with the Junior Indian Music Ensemble to prepare for the concert.”