Review of their end of term concert
Where would a summer Sunday be without the Junior Choir Prom? And this year we had a composition written specially for them, no less!
The full company began with Caccini’s “Ave Maria”. It’s a party piece for them and it went well. And next a major piece: Tom Bove, a Choir Dad, had set Psalm 19 for the occasion, carrying on a tradition going back to Purcell, Handel and many more. There was a nice flowing line suited to children’s voices, and four solos gave some of our young singers – Roland Foster, James Crick, Clara Bove (daughter of the composer, who also sang later) and Lindsay Fitzpatrick (I told you one would pop up!) a chance to shine. It is quite a long piece and it finishes with an “Amen” showing off the top voices.
Roland Foster then stunned us all by singing “Y Deryn Pur” in fluent Welsh! I am sure the Welsh-speaking RAM students of whom there are quite a few, would be impressed!
Lydia Kurtulus then gave us an Arietta for piano by Clementi (all grown-up pieces here) and then Lottie Faulkner, a very young singer, sang “Part of My World” (I was learning all the time – I didn’t know a lot of these pieces. It did me good!)
James Crick and his violin are coming on a lot and he produced some nice Hungarian dance rhythms in Kodaly’s “Intermezzo”.
We couldn’t last long without another Fitzpatrick and Clark was next up with “Imperial March” from “Star Wars”. When you’re the only boy with three sisters you have to keep your end up!
Remaining in the family, Evelyn performed “The Daisies” and then Louise sang “Where e’re you walk” in a sweet, promising voice. This Handel aria seems to wander from voice to voice – I think it started life for a tenor.
Mary Leonard played “Na krmitku” which apparently means “Bird in the Feeding Box”. I told you I was learning! Thank you, Mary!
And, yes, one more Fitzpatrick to go: Lindsay sang “the Bird’s Farewell” by Richard Rodney Bennett, and confirmed my opinion that we just might have a soprano coming along for later.
Tissues were undoubtedly reached for when Victoria Scott-Linden sang “On my own” from “Les Misérables”. And quite right too.
And then the great surprise. Jordan Nash sat down at the piano and played the coolest, most sophisticated 60s Swing. At 8, he’s too young for Ronnie Scott’s, but hang in there…..
And of course we ended with the Junior Choir Theme Tune “The Lord bless you and keep you”. And, Junior Choir, I am sure he will!