By Raven Highley
After a necessary reschedule due to a heatwave on the original date, Reading Youth Orchestra performed their end of term concert, A Summer of Songs and Solos on 5th September at The Abbey School. As the title suggests there was a mix of full orchestra pieces and small group or solos to showcase members hard work throughout the summer term and the academic year.
The programme began with Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity” from The Planets. This majestic and beautiful piece required the whole orchestra to work together throughout its many contrasting sections. There was something to let every instrument shine, as the accompanying and main melodies shifted between parts of the orchestra. The middle section was goosebumps inducing as a picture was painted of a great expanse with a yearning string melody with a hint of sadness that built into a grand flourish contrasting the other lively sections.
The attention then moved to the soloists of the night. First up was a trio, comprised of Zoé Langlois (flute), Bee Highley (flute), and Thiren Sockanathan (piccolo), playing Fireflies by Herman Beeftink. A gentle and lullaby-like piece, the three wind instruments flittered in and out of the piano accompaniment (provided by Judith Creighton) like the namesake of the piece and navigated the high notes of the piece masterfully. Next, there were contrasting lows from a double bass solo with Abi Saxton, playing two movements from Sonata No. 3 by Alessandro Scarlatti. The complimentary fast and slow of each movement, combined with the baroque ornamentation made for an engaging selection and highlighted the range of Abi’s ability on her instrument. To round off the selection of soloists, Taylor Tse played “Sax-o-phun” by Rudy Wiedoeft. He described it in his own words as “informal”, but it was no less impressive. The wandering swing of the saxophone soon had everyone nodding along, showing off a range of techniques and great skill at performance.
The night was closed out with two different medleys, the first being Fantasia on British Sea Songs by Henry Wood. The piece is a collection of British sea songs, arranged by Peter Lawson and includes “Rule Britannia!” as well as “Jack’s The Lad”, a piece that speeds up gradually as it goes along with a practically frenetic ending. Being so brass-heavy, the medley was grand and dramatic, the weight of history felt in every note.
Sticking to the sea theme, the night ended with Swashbuckling Encore, a collection of pirate and sea themed melodies by the orchestra’s own Pippa Moore. No section was unprovided for and the musicians provided flair to the dramatic and catchy melodies, making it the star of the night for its passion and fervour.
