You can now watch the Christmas Concert video at HayesCreates
A huge well done to all students involved today – for the months of rehearsal, for your brilliant performances, but also for your amazing attitude towards getting kit out, lugging stuff around, tidying it away afterwards, and sorting the tech – you are awesome!
We very much hope to be able to perform to live audiences again in 2022. In the meantime, here is our video from today. The sound quality is pretty naff – the sound on our backup iPad recordings was actually much better, but we haven’t had time to edit them all together in the best way. So it’s all a bit rough and ready, but it gives you some idea of how fabulous our lovely students have been today.
Thank you all. Have a great Christmas, and we’ll see you in 2022!
As you are aware, we have taken the decision, in the light of the current situation regarding COVID, to move our Christmas Concert online. We will be rehearsing and filming during the day on Wednesday 15th December, and releasing the concert as a YouTube premiere event at 6.30pm the same day. Make sure you let all your family and friends know so they can watch it at home. Thank you for all your hard work in rehearsals this term. It’s going to be a fab concert 🙂
Here is the concert schedule for Wednesday 15th. Everything is in the Hall unless otherwise stated.
Please make sure you know when you need to be in the hall that day and remember that you will need to copy up any class work missed.
Choir and Musical Theatre singers: You need to be word perfect by next Wednesday.
Choir & Musical Theatre singers: Please click here and scroll down to hear this term’s songs and practise your part. The Musical Theatre choreography videos are also on this link so that you can be move perfect too.
Concert band: Have a listen to these recordings and even better, practise your part whilst playing along. If you have taken your music home, please remember to bring it back next Wednesday.
The chord that makes Christmas music sound so Christmassy!
BYMT news
For those of you not already in a BYMT ensemble, take a look at this:
BYMT ‘Bitesize’ on Friday 7 January 2022. Choose an instrument & come along and try it! Booking essential via https://buff.ly/3demoBN
Radio recommendations:
Christmas Sounds
Handpicked festive music for every Christmas occasion from BBC Sounds which is great if you are already fed up with the usual Christmas songs! Click here to choose from these playlists:
Radio 2 Celebrates Songwriting
Exploring the art and craft of the world’s songwriters, featuring John Legend on The Beatles’ influence, Adele at the BBC, the Queen Story, plus much more. Click here to listen.
How about a heavy metal hurdy-gurdy performance at the next MusicFest in February?!
The hurdy-gurdy is a stringed instrument that dates back to Medieval times. Its sound is produced by a hand-cranked, rosined wheel that turns, rubbing against strings. Strings can then be depressed to change the pitch. The hurdy-gurdy also has other strings that act as drones to underpin the moving notes, in a style similar to bagpipes.
Polish hurdy-gurdyist Michalina Malisz has been discovering new repertoire for the instrument and loves blending the sound of the hurdy-gurdy with her favourite genres: metal, Celtic and cinematic music.
Well done to the Hayes School contingent who took part in the BYMT concerts last weekend. It was great to see you perform in person with your BYMT ensembles again.
Whilst on the subject of BYMT …
For those of you not already in a BYMT ensemble, take a look at this:
Concerts coming up at school:
We have taken the decision, in the light of the current situation regarding COVID, to move our Christmas Concert online. We will be rehearsing and filming during the day on Wednesday 15th December, and releasing the concert as a YouTube premiere event at 6.30pm the same day.
Choir & Musical Theatre singers: Please click here to hear this term’s songs and practise your part. The Musical Theatre choreography videos are also on this link.
Spotlight on: Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim 1930-2021
As many of you would have heard, Stephen Sondheim died last week aged 91. The American composer and lyricist was a leading light of musical theatre over the course of more than six decades.
He started his theatre career by writing the lyrics for West Side Story (1957) and Gypsy (1959) before becoming a composer and lyricist. Sondheim’s best-known works include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962), Company (1970), Follies (1971), A Little Night Music (1973), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979), Merrily We Roll Along (1981), Sunday in the Park with George (1984), and Into the Woods (1987).
Sunday in the Park with George(music and lyrics by Sondheim and book by James Lapine) follows painter Georges Seurat in the months leading up to the completion of his most famous painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte:
Consumed by his need to “finish the hat,” Seurat alienates the French bourgeoisie, spurns his fellow artists, and neglects his lover Dot, not realising that his actions will reverberate over the next 100 years. The musical number Sunday, features at the end of Act I and II. George takes control of the subjects of his painting, who sing in harmony, transforming them into the final tableau of his finished painting.
The following clip is from Sondheim! The Birthday Concert, a concert celebrating Stephen’s 80th birthday. It was held in New York in 2010. Enjoy!
Whilst on the subject of Sondheim, his 1981 musical Merrily We Roll Along is soon to be performed at the Laban Theatre, Deptford.
The show tells the story of three friends, and how their lives and friendship change over twenty years; it focuses particularly on Franklin Shepard, a once-talented composer of musicals who, over those twenty years, abandons his friends and songwriting career to become a producer of Hollywood movies. Like the play on which it is based, the show’s story moves backwards in time. It begins in 1976 at the friends’ lowest moment and gradually moves back until 1957, at their youthful best.
Thank you to everyone who performed at the Hayes Christmas Lights event on Saturday. The local community always appreciates you being there. Well done to all involved.
Musical Theatre choreography workshop
Huge thanks to Larissa for teaching us
What a fab session! Thank you to all the students who took part. You can view the videos from the session here. Keep practising the songs and moves so you are ready for the Christmas Concert.
Music Tour update
Unfortunately, we will not be able to go on our proposed music tour next April as we have not received sufficient interest from students to make the tour financially viable. We know lots of you are disappointed and we are too. Thank you to those of you who had signed up. We have a couple of ideas to try and make up for the disappointment, so watch this space.
Concerts coming up:
Please note the change of date for the Christmas Concert.
Choir & Musical Theatre singers: Please click here to hear this term’s songs and practise your part.
Felix Klieser is a German professional horn player who began playing the horn at age 3. He was born without arms, but that hasn’t stopped him from becoming a virtuoso on the French horn. He plays the French horn by using his left foot to action the valves whilst the horn is held on a tripod. He is currently Artist in Residence with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and will tour with the orchestra for the 2021/2022 season. He made his debut with the orchestra earlier this month in a performance of Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 4, conducted by Kirill Karabits. Hear Felix talking here and watch a clip from his debut with the BSO below.
Well done to all students who took part in the Year 7 Concert on Monday evening. It was lovely to see the audience enjoying seeing and hearing you perform on the Hayes stage for the first time. Thank you also to Will in year 8 and the year 12s. Your help was very much appreciated.
Concerts coming up:
Please note the change of date for the Christmas Concert.
Please make sure you attend all rehearsals this term and remember to let the organiser know if you are unable to attend.
Choir & Musical Theatre singers: click here to hear this term’s songs and practise your part.
Musical theatre singers: Don’t forget the choreography session after school next Wednesday (24th) until 5pm.
Make sure you know the words to both songs off by heart by then!
Fancy a trip up to London? Here are some free and ticketed events to consider:
Radio programme recommendation
Get to know a selection of music from the inside with a leading musician. Click here to listen
How about asking for a Mbira (also known as a finger harp and kalimba) for Christmas, and then performing on it in February’s MusicFest? Try out this interactive musical Google doodle:
Earth, Wind & Fire are an innovative American band that have spanned the musical genres of R&B, soul, funk, jazz, disco, pop, dance, Latin, and Afro-pop. With sales of over 90 million records, they are one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time. The band is known for its kalimba sound, dynamic horn section, energetic and elaborate stage shows, and the contrast between Philip Bailey’s falsetto vocals and Maurice White’s baritone.
Each week in The Listening Service podcast, Tom Service introduces a different way of listening to and imagining a musical idea. How do composers begin a piece of music? Why is repetition so important in all kinds of music, from pop to classical? When does noise become music? In short – how does music actually work?
The most recent episode explores the connections between Klezmer and classical music. Klezmer music is a genre of music derived from and built upon eastern European music in the Jewish tradition.
We are rehearsing a piece featuring Klezmer in Concert Band at the moment:
Click here to listen to the Listening Service podcast on Klezmer music.
And finally …
Mazel Tov is a Jewish phrase used to express congratulations for a happy and significant occasion. Giora Feidman is an Argentine-born Israeli clarinetist who specializes in klezmer music. Enjoy this famous Klezmer melody.
Get your buckets and spades ready, we’re off to the Isle of Wight for music tour in 2022. We are SO excited to be off on tour again – it’s going to be a great trip so please get your deposit in asap to reserve your place. Your parents/guardians will soon receive a tour letter with all the details, but let us know if you are a new member of choir, musical theatre or concert band and would like to come on tour so we can get a letter to you asap.
Please speak to Miss Werry if you have any questions.
More details to follow. Watch this space!
Concerts coming up:
Please make sure you attend all rehearsals this term and remember to let the organiser know if you are unable to attend.
Choir & Musical Theatre singers: click here to hear this term’s songs and practise your part.
Year 7 Concert – Monday 15th November
Which music class will win the song contest?
Keep practising your class song. You’ll need to know the lyrics off by heart.
MusicFest
Well done again to all those who took part in October’s MusicFest. The next Music Fest is Wednesday 9th February2022 so get planning!
Get your buckets and spades ready, we’re off to the Isle of Wight for music tour in 2022.
More information to follow on cost, excursions and concerts, as well as how to reserve your place.
We are really looking forward to taking you all on music tour again. In the meantime, here’s the video from our last tour back in 2019. Enjoy!
Last night’s MusicFest
What a fab concert! Well done again to everyone who took part (performers, tech team and stagehands). You are all a credit to Hayes School.
Year 7 Concert
Which music class will win the song contest?
Keep practising your class song during half term. You’ll need to know the lyrics off by heart.
Sam Cook (1931 – 1964) was an American singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Cooke is commonly referred to as the “King of Soul” for his distinctive vocals. He was a central part of the Civil Rights Movement, using his influence and popularity with the white and black population to campaign for racial equality.
1)
The Oxted and Limpsfield Music Society are delighted to announce their first concert of the 2021-22 Season:
Michael Collins, Clarinet, with Michael McHale, Piano
Michael Collins MBE is one of the most complete musicians of his generation. He received the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Instrumentalist of the Year Award in 2007. With a continuing, distinguished career as a clarinet soloist, he has in recent years also become highly regarded as a conductor. He is Artistic Director in Residence of the London Mozart Players, and from 2010 – 2018 he was the Principal Conductor of the City of London Sinfonia. Recent highlights have included worldwide appearances as a soloist and a conductor. In 2017 Michael was awarded a Grammy for his disc ‘Shakespeare Songs’ with Ian Bostridge and Sir Antonio Pappano. Michael is in great demand as a chamber musician, performing regularly with Sir András Schiff, Martha Argerich, Stephen Hough, Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis. He has appeared at prestigious events such as the Proms, the Aldeburgh Festival, Edinburgh Festival, City of London Festival, Cheltenham International Festival and the Bath Mozartfest. During the 2019-20 season he was Artist in Residence at the Wigmore Hall which included concerts with Stephen Hough, as well as tonight’s pianist, Michael McHale.
2)
Click here to see a list of FREE recitals on Saturdays at St George’s Parish Church, Beckenham. Entry is free with a retiring collection to support the music of St. George’s Parish Church.
Firstly, we need to say a huge WELL DONE to Miss Werry who completed the London Marathon last Sunday. 26.2 MILES!!! Not only that, she smashed her fundraising target for The Brooke. The Brooke is an international charity that protects and improves the lives of horses, donkeys and mules which give people in the developing world the opportunity to work their way out of poverty. Read about their work here.
New DeadlinE: Monday 11th October by 5pm
Please get your entries in for MusicFest by 5pm on Monday 11th October using this form.
Students in any year group are welcome to perform – it doesn’t matter if this is your first performance or your thousandth! All communication with performers will be done using your school email address, so be prepared to respond to emails once you’ve put your entry in.
If you want Miss W to play piano for your piece, please give her the sheet music ASAP if you haven’t already (and organise a run through).
All year 7s need to be practising their class song at home, as well as learning the lyrics off by heart in preparation for the Year 7 Concert. Your teacher will have also spoken to the class about auditions to choose the class soloist. Please speak to your music teacher if you have any questions.
In June 2021, rising star violinist Randall Goosby released Roots, an exploration of the music written by Black composers and inspired by Black American culture. The album is a homage to the pioneering musicians that paved the way for Goosby and his generation of young artists, and looks forward to the future as well.
Goosby says, “I am so grateful for the opportunity to share this album during such a pivotal moment in history. It has been a year of division and isolation for so many – I hope this music will inspire not only the kind of curiosity and creativity that brings people together, but also the reflection, understanding and compassion we so desperately need moving forward.”
“Many of these African-American composers – William Grant Still, Florence Price, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson – had to navigate society at a time when racism, prejudice and segregation were commonplace. Today, artists like myself, and other young artists of colour, enjoy more of a sense of freedom and confidence in pursuing a career in classical music.”
Goosby’s sparkling enthusiasm for the violin seeks to show young people that music can inspire regardless of background, and with the release of Roots, he continues to recognise the immense impact of the work done by Black and female composers in the last century. He says, “If it weren’t for these composers, these artists and this music, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing today. This recording is a tribute to their lives and experiences, and their dedication to creating this art that we all love.”
Michael Collins MBE is one of the most complete musicians of his generation. He received the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Instrumentalist of the Year Award in 2007. With a continuing, distinguished career as a clarinet soloist, he has in recent years also become highly regarded as a conductor. He is Artistic Director in Residence of the London Mozart Players, and from 2010 – 2018 he was the Principal Conductor of the City of London Sinfonia. Recent highlights have included worldwide appearances as a soloist and a conductor. In 2017 Michael was awarded a Grammy for his disc ‘Shakespeare Songs’ with Ian Bostridge and Sir Antonio Pappano. Michael is in great demand as a chamber musician, performing regularly with Sir András Schiff, Martha Argerich, Stephen Hough, Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis. He has appeared at prestigious events such as the Proms, the Aldeburgh Festival, Edinburgh Festival, City of London Festival, Cheltenham International Festival and the Bath Mozartfest. During the 2019-20 season he was Artist in Residence at the Wigmore Hall which included concerts with Stephen Hough, as well as tonight’s pianist, Michael McHale.
2)
Click here to see a list of FREE recitals on Saturdays at St George’s Parish Church, Beckenham. Entry is free with a retiring collection to support the music of St. George’s Parish Church.
And finally …
Try out Google’s interactive experiment ‘Paint with Music’ by clicking here.
(Warning: This has the potential to be highly addictive!)
There are only 1.5 weeks to go until our first concert of the year! MusicFests are informal concerts where students from any year group can perform pieces of their own choice to a friendly and supportive audience. We always have a huge range of music, from students’ very first public performance to students who are already hugely experienced musicians. We have all styles of music from classical to rock to musical theatre and students’ own compositions. There are solos, duets and groups.
Here is the video from a previous MusicFest so you can get a flavour of what it’s like:
Please get your entries in for MusicFest by 5pm on Friday 8th October using this form.
Students in any year group are welcome to perform – it doesn’t matter if this is your first performance or your thousandth! All communication with performers will be done using your school email address, so be prepared to respond to emails once you’ve put your entry in.
If you want Miss W to play piano for your piece, please give her the sheet music ASAP if you haven’t already (and organise a run through).
Michael Collins MBE is one of the most complete musicians of his generation. He received the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Instrumentalist of the Year Award in 2007. With a continuing, distinguished career as a clarinet soloist, he has in recent years also become highly regarded as a conductor. He is Artistic Director in Residence of the London Mozart Players, and from 2010 – 2018 he was the Principal Conductor of the City of London Sinfonia. Recent highlights have included worldwide appearances as a soloist and a conductor. In 2017 Michael was awarded a Grammy for his disc ‘Shakespeare Songs’ with Ian Bostridge and Sir Antonio Pappano. Michael is in great demand as a chamber musician, performing regularly with Sir András Schiff, Martha Argerich, Stephen Hough, Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis. He has appeared at prestigious events such as the Proms, the Aldeburgh Festival, Edinburgh Festival, City of London Festival, Cheltenham International Festival and the Bath Mozartfest. During the 2019-20 season he was Artist in Residence at the Wigmore Hall which included concerts with Stephen Hough, as well as tonight’s pianist, Michael McHale.
2)
Click here to see a list of free recitals on Saturdays at St George’s Parish Church, Beckenham.
Hayes Music blog 