Every year, the music school celebrates the extensive musical talents of Canford pupils in the annual summer concert. 1975 was no different, but that year, the music school decided to host the concert with a bit of a difference. Despite the brand new music school that opened in 1974, the director of music opted for a different setting for part of the 1975 concert.
"With a brand new school of music built, where do you think Canford School held their summer concert? No, not on the top of Victoria Tower, but on the river bank.
Admittedly the concert did begin in the music school with the 2nd orchestra playing Mussorgsky's Theme from "The Great Gate of Kiev", which seemed to be overwhelmingly dominated by the percussion department; followed appropriately enough by Handel's minuet from "The Water Music" in preparation for the second half on the river.
Robin Beveridge then played Beethoven's Cello Sonata in A as his last successful solo performance at Canford School.
This was followed by the Chapel Choir, a trio by Haydn for viola, cello and double-bass, and to conclude the first comparatively normal part of the concert the first orchestra made a brave attempt to play Auber's Overture "The Bronze Horse", conducted by Beverley Manning who at one point had difficulty in restraining his exuberance for the music which rather worried various members of the orchestra closest to him.
During the interval, the slow migration to the river bank began and coffee was served while the participants in the 2nd part of the concert clambered precariously into tubs and other vessels moored on the river banks. The madrigal singers began, though found slight difficulty in competing with the noise of the water rushing over the salmon leap.
Both the brass and wood-wind ensembles made successful contributions to the concert, situated on the farther side of the river among the trees. Christopher Daly's guitar solos were unfortunately inaudible to the major part of the audience, and needed amplification for the music to be given the full appreciation it deserved.
The Mississippi Bush Choir made a thoroughly enjoyable performance, and to end this rather experimental concert Christopher Daly appropriately played "Orlando Sleepeth", and the audience and performers dispersed, thankfully without any need for John Ainsworth to display his life-saving capabilities. This rather unusual event was obviously greatly enjoyed, and hopefully it will be repeated next year with slight adaptations from previous experience."
Article taken from 1972 Canfordian
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