National Festival of Music for Youth - Regions 2008
We spent the morning at Cripps Hall, to watch groups from the centre perform. Everyone performed incredibly well.
Festival Band - played Mazama, a piece about a tribe of American Indians who lived on the side of the volcano and were wiped out when it erupted. A fantastic piece, incorporating chant, ’special instrument effects’ (like breathing through the instrument), ocarinas and a whole host of percussion, including the play brass who played ‘bell sticks’. An excellent performance.
Mini Music - performed ‘old lady who lived in a shoe’, who had 21 children, singing, reciting and performing with piano, glock and percussion accompaniments. Very colourful and very well done.
Skull and Trombones - played a brass arrangement of the music from ‘The Pirates of the Carribbean’. Quite a visual spectacular, with full pirate attire, makeup and growls. We tried to track down the evil looking conductor, but she seemed to vanish as quickly as she arrived … (they all ran off the stage when someone started firing canons …).
Festival Strings - performed ‘Reel, Blues and Gig’ a piece by Peter Smalley, arranged by Ms Paterson. Included practically every string player that comes to the centre. The group was almost too big for the stage! Another great performance of an exiting piece, especially with so many players.
We mustn’t forget the Junior Festival Band who played last weekend accompanied with animations by the Art Attack group, playing the ‘John Williams Trilogy’, including music from Jurassic Park, Schindler’s list and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to watch them personally, but I’m told they played really well and the animations were super.
Kevin.