Beaumont School Music Department

Beaumont Music Department presents  Tuesday Tunes ; weekly recommendations for all audiences, curated by the Beaumont Music staff. Recommendations for this week: Ron Carter - So What (Album) 'So What' is most commonly associated with the great Miles Davis. Here is it the opening track on this (slightly) obscure jazz trio album. Ron Carter is an exceptional bass player who elevates the instrument to a true vehicle for jazz improvisation. Enjoy this record. - Mr. G Prelude on Rhosymedre  by Ralph Vaughan Williams Sometimes it's the lesser known works which you hold dearly. I came across this prelude on a Welsh hymn when I was in Year 10. My music teacher was Welsh and loved finding arrangements of the music of his homeland. We performed this in our school orchestra and I instantly loved it. It's probably the emergence of a slow hymn tune from a larger texture which I really love.  Originally an organ piece, here is the work as arranged for a strin...

Beaumont Music Department presents  Tuesday Tunes ; weekly recommendations for all audiences, curated by the Beaumont Music staff. Recommendations for this week: Jammin' the Blues (1944) A 1944 short film from Warner Bros., featuring a host of jazz legends and some amazing music. Incredible improvisation, great swing, awesome riffs; pretty much everything you could ever want in a YouTube video. Enjoy.  - Mr G I love listening to a beautiful countertenor voice singing stunning Baroque music. Here is the sublime Iestyn Davies singing Handel's Eternal Source of Light Divine  from his Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne. Plus heavenly trumpet playing. Happy Tuesday.  Ms D

Hopefully you are all having a restful weekend and maybe some of you are still counting/eating the eggs from your Easter Egg Hunt. Whether you are Christian or not, the Easter story has evoked some sublime music from composers over the years. This year, I'm focussing on my main man, Johann Sebastian Bach, mainly because his style is studied at A Level. This is the perfect time to put the four-part chorale and the sound world of the two part counterpoint into context. BBC Radio 3 has a plethora of programmes about Bach and his Passions. Last week we heard the St John Passion and St Matthew Passion  live. Tuning in to either of these and listening to how Bach sets these evocative texts will really bring this style to life. You will hear the dramatic choruses, reflective arias, and of course, contemplative chorales. I am pretty sure you could get your hands on a score if you tried (hello imslp) so take some time out to soak up this really beautiful music.  If you are a Spo...

Beaumont Music Department presents  Tuesday Tunes ; weekly recommendations for all audiences, curated by the Beaumont Music staff. Recommendations for this week: Gamelan Galak Tika A group combining the music of the Balinese Gamelan with a whole variety of styles from around the world. Led by composer Evan Ziporyn, this group are amazing and their music is crazy and fun. This is sure to go down well with students in KS4 and 5 - but trust me, these guys are amazing. - Mr G Despite being away in Pembrokeshire, I couldn’t resist contributing to Tuesday Tunes. This week is Holy Week in the Christian Calendar and it brings back very fond memories of visiting Buckfast Abbey for the Easter weekend and singing for the services from Maundy Thursday through to Easter Sunday.  There is nothing better for the soul than making music with friends and for years, a group of us from Oxford and another from Cambridge (brought together by two very close friends) would get toge...

I write this week's reflections from a holiday cottage in Somerset - a much needed weekend away after a very intense final week of term. After a very pleasant Year 8 Parent Consultation Evening on Tuesday, Wednesday evening was our Easter Concert. The concert was a huge success; every item was played wonderfully, and the diverse range of ensembles was a joy to watch. We were so impressed with the musicianship, professionalism and commitment of our students, and so happy with the concert. It really was the perfect way to end the term. On concert day itself, we found out that the Vocal Ensemble has been selected to perform with Aled Jones as part of his forthcoming UK tour. This is incredibly exciting! The summer term gets busier and busier, so watch this space to find out what we are up to. We hope everyone has a lovely Easter. Whether you are revising, relaxing, playing, or something else, have a great time. See you in a couple of weeks. - Mr Guinane

Beaumont Music Department presents  Tuesday Tunes ; weekly recommendations for all audiences, curated by the Beaumont Music staff. Recommendations for this week: J ohn Luther Adams - Become Ocean An orchestral composition by John Luther Adams ( not the arguably more well-known John Adams from last week) from me this week. This single-movement work won a Pulitzer Prize and a Grammy in 2014. It is a sublime piece, perfect for the end of a long term. Inspired by the oceans of Alaska, it is an immersive work that needs to be played through good speakers or headphones. Enjoy. - Mr G Brahms - String Sextet in B flat With the advent of this lovely weather (long may it continue), this always makes me turn to Brahms' String Sextet in B flat major. The opening texture really makes me think of the trees blossoming and the sun emerging from the clouds.  Lush. - Ms D

Last week (the sixth week in a gruelling seven-week term) saw final rehearsals for many ensembles, ahead of our Easter Concert. On Tuesday the Training Ensemble performed at the Mayor's Pride Awards at Sopwell House, to a very appreciative audience. On Wednesday, selected members of the Vocal Ensemble performed a composition by Year 13 student Michael Winter. The ensemble really appreciated the chance to rehearse and perform the work of a fellow student, and the piece itself is great! Currently, many students are either taking instrumental grade exams, or getting results. There are fantastic results coming in - well done and congratulations to everyone involved. Particular congratulations go to Year 11 student Alice Fraser, who received a distinction in her Grade 8 Piano exam. Next week is our Easter Concert, so the department remains at full speed as we approach the end of term. We look forward to seeing many of you in the hall, at 7pm on Wednesday evening. - Mr Guinane