Beaumont School Music Department

Life-changing news. Last night, I stumbled across an article informing me that ECM Records has released its entire catalogue on various streaming services . ECM Records, founded in 1969 by producer Manfred Eicher, is one of the best record labels in the world for fans of jazz and classical music. ECM releases are known for their superb recording quality, fascinating artwork, and for featuring some of the most innovative music being composed and recorded. Long absent from streaming services, ECM has always maintained that physical CDs and LPs were the best way to hear their music. In a recent press release revealing this news, they reiterate this position, and point the finger squarely a music piracy for 'forcing' this move to streaming. This opens up the debate about music consumption in a digital age, but for us as consumers, it means that hundreds of outstanding recordings are now much more available. The main ECM label focusses on jazz, and releases such as Keith Jarr...

These guys turn 50 this year. Obviously none of them is 50 years old, but if you don't know this group, then you should get to know them. Formed in 1968, this all six-piece male vocal ensemble have made a name for their stunning singing, ranging from Renaissance polyphony to arrangement of more current hits. For me, I have always loved going through the huge numbers of arrangements that they have made available to us. Most of them are really approachable by the amateur ensemble, and over the years, some of their arrangements have become real Vocal Ensemble favourites. I try to make a point of teaching And So it Goes  to every cohort, and this, along with Lonesome Road and She's Always a Woman  will remain very dear to past and present members' hearts. The King's Singers have recently released Gold , a three-album compilation to celebrate their 50th Anniversary. Listen to it here . Vocal Ensemble, I look forward to taking you to their concert in January.  ...

Year 11, you go on mock exam leave on Friday. During exam leave, we would like you to continue to attend clubs where possible. Attendance is compulsory for Big Band, Vocal Ensemble and Orchestra, unless you have an exam (and giving advance notice for missed rehearsals is basic manners). If you need to miss a club for revision, fine, but please remember your responsibilities as senior members of the department. We are busy preparing for a number of concerts, and rely on our senior musicians to set a good example for our younger students. The department is only as good as it is thanks to the continued commitment of our amazing students (you lot). Also, music is a brilliant way to relax, and take your mind off exams during mocks. You are expected to attend your instrumental lessons as usual.  If there is a clash with an exam, please sort it out with your teacher. Missed lessons for no reason will be charged. Good luck, go and smash your mocks. D&G x

I just found a short documentary on BBC Radio 4 Extra from 1999. It concerns Grout's 'A History a Western Music', a book every music student will know VERY well. Worth a listen for students past, present and future! Student Bibles: The History of Western Music

Interesting read - inner pulse guys, inner pulse! The Beat Goes On: A Short History of the Metronome From the WQXR Blog

"A church or school without a choir is like a body without a soul." John Rutter delivers a very important statement about music in our lives.  I truly feel passionate about every word he says. Please watch, it is so important.

This 1950 cartoon by Looney Tunes is Bugs Bunny at his operatic finest.  Bugs escapes the obsessed Elmer Fudd and they find themselves in a production of  Il Barbiere di Siviglia  at (presumably) the Hollywood Bowl. Obligatory antics ensue, and we go all in on a creatively animated scalp massage. Rabbit Of Seville from Wet The Face on Vimeo .

I've got loads of better things to do, but I got really excited about this piece of music today and I was compelled to blog about it. Argentinian composer Osvaldo Golijov (b. 1960) wrote this piece,  The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind, in 1994. In the words of the composer: "Eight centuries ago Isaac The Blind, the great kabbalist rabbi of Provence, dictated a manuscript in which he asserted that all things and events in the universe are product of combinations of the Hebrew alphabet's letters: 'Their root is in a name, for the letters are like branches, which appear in the manner of flickering flames, mobile, and nevertheless linked to the coal'. His conviction still resonates today: don't we have scientists who believe that the clue to our life and fate is hidden in other codes?" Notes from the composer continue  here . The piece is scored for string quartet and 'klezmer clarinet', and uses traditional Jewish melodies, including tho...

The moment some of you have been waiting for! Please come for a singing audition at the following times: Tuesday 12th September at lunchtime in Music: Year 11 & 6th form Thursday 14th September after school in Music: Years 7-10 Friday 15th September after school (1440): recalls You will be expected to sing the opening of the stage  version of the song Sound of Music . Please note this has an extra introduction which you won't have heard in the film. Music for this can be found in the red hopper outside the Music Office. A video can be found here - you need to learn from 0:00-1:23. The words are below too. My day in the hills Has come to an end, I know. A star has come out To tell me it's time to go. But deep in the dark green shadows, There are voices that urge me to stay. So I pause and I wait and I listen, For one more sound, For one more lovely thing That the hills might say! The hills are alive With the sound of music, With songs they have sung, For a...

This is an amazing cartoon. A  Silly Symphonies  short from Disney about a young forbidden love between a violin from the Land of Classical and a saxophone from the Isle of Jazz. Their interactions drive the two nations to war, but then they step back and chill out after they learn to respect all kinds of music. Can you name the famous pieces featured? Classical pieces of note include Beethoven’s  Eroica  and Wagner's 'Flight of the Valkyries'.

Thank you to those of you who auditioned for Vocal Ensemble and Training Ensemble today. The standard was excellent and I would like to reiterate what I said about not being too disheartened if you didn't get into your ensemble of choice.  Please stay in choir and continue to build your confidence there and try again next time. The places offered to you are on the understanding that you maintain your commitment to Choir and where applicable, Male Voice Choir. It is essential that you attend all rehearsals and that any reasons for missing one are given to me in advance. You must remember your music for each rehearsal too. If you are unable to adhere to this, we reserve the right to reconsider your membership. The first Vocal Ensemble rehearsal is tomorrow (Wednesday 6th September) after school until 5pm. The first Training Ensemble rehearsal is Tuesday September 19th at lunchtime. Vocal Ensemble Sopranos : Hannah Carruthers, Beth DM, Nell, Lucy, Mae, Bethany, Tamsin...

Arts Gala 2016 I thought the arts gala was a terrific performance done by all of the schools from all around the county. I thought that it could had not been done better by any other arts gala from around the world. I was really not looking forward to it and I thought it was not going to be good at all. But I was wrong, I thought that everyone who took part of the arts gala did a great job. The Great Albert Hall was the greatest privilege that I had in my whole lifetime so I thank the person who made the arts gala to tell them what a fantastic job they did.

Dear all, Auditions for our two chamber choirs will take place after school on Tuesday 5th September after school.  Please sign up on the door outside of the Music Office. You need only put down your name. This will go up some time next week.  You will be asked to sing the soprano line (tune) of  Ave Verum Corpus  by Mozart (up to bar 18). The music can be found  here , as well as in Ms Doan's red pigeon hole (outside the Music Office) from next week. If you are lower voice, please see Mr Guinane or Ms Doan for clarification. We are looking for a clear tone, accuracy of pitch and rhythm, and musicality. Pronunciation of Latin is not the most important thing. You will audition once, and should you be successful, we will place you in the appropriate ensemble. Vocal Ensemble rehearsals take place after school on Wednesdays, and Training Ensemble rehearsals at lunchtime on Tuesdays. Should you be offered a place, you will be expected to atte...

The Summer Concert is on Tuesday 18th July. A very detailed Parent Mail has been sent - please make sure your parents have checked it. On the day, we will meet at 1205 (start of P5) in Music. Make sure you have all your music, instruments, and a packed lunch. Bring water . We will go by coach to St. Paul's Church, Blandford Road, and rehearse all afternoon. If you are in Year 11 or 13, you may make your own way there, be there latest 1245, but earlier if you want to be helpful. You will be making your way home from St. Paul's at 1525, so please let us know asap if this is going to be a problem. You will need to be back at St. Paul's for 6.30pm, in Summer Uniform (black or black and white for Yr11 and above). Any questions to Music Captains. It is going to be a great concert. Mr Guinane and Ms Doan

For the Lego trailers, click  here . For Soundtrap access, reactivate your account by clicking here . Make sure you sign in with your school google account.

I went to see The Wind in the Willows performed at the Abbey Theatre and it was literally amazing! All the thought process behind it was just incredible. They had real water for the river, so Ratty’s boat could really move from one side of the stage to the other, without any strings to ruin the effect or get in the way. The scene changes were so swift and controlled that I barely saw them! The backdrops were so convincingly real that sometimes I actually felt like I was relaxing by Ratty’s river, running from weasels in the forest or having a party at Toad Hall.  Art forms involved were music, drama, lighting, design, visual art, sculpture, and fashion and costume. There was something in that show for everyone, whether you liked designing, sewing, acting, painting, sculpting, face-painting etc…  I would recommend this show to others as it’s appropriate for all ages, has outstanding actors, life-like scenery and is all-in-all, a fun way to spend your time. It can also,...

Beaumont Music Department presents  Tuesday Tunes ; weekly recommendations for all audiences, curated by the Beaumont Music staff. Recommendations for this week: Henry Threadgill - Old Locks and Irregular Verbs Pt. 4 Jazz meets contemporary 'Classical' music in this chamber piece by American composer Henry Threadgill. Mr G We all say quite casually sometimes how music can change your life. I genuinely believe it can and that everyone's experience will be different.  Listen here to  Six brand new monologues developed and produced by BBC Writersroom celebrating the transformative power of music. Ms D

Beaumont Music Department presents  Tuesday Tunes ; weekly recommendations for all audiences, curated by the Beaumont Music staff. Recommendations for this week: Alexander D Great - Haiti This week Year 10 were visited by Calypsonian musician Alexander D Great. He performed some of his songs and together they wrote a simple Calypso. His songs were amazing, but I was particular struck by 'Haiti', the tune for which Alex was awarded the title of 'London Calypso Monarch' in 2010. Written after the earthquake which destroyed Haiti in 2010, it investigates many of the issues plaguing the country. - Mr G The Mendelssohn Octet reminds me of some really fun university days. I remember rehearsing this on a summer's evening in Brasenose Chapel, very much like tonight, and loving it and loving life. An absolutely cracking piece of chamber music.  Enjoy. - Ms D

Beaumont Music Department presents  Tuesday Tunes ; weekly recommendations for all audiences, curated by the Beaumont Music staff. Recommendations for this week: Billie Holiday - That Ole Devil Called Love Something very simple this week; quite simply one of the greatest pieces of vocal jazz ever recorded. It needs no other words. - Mr G