51
Bo r l a s i a n 2 0 1 3
In School
Laurie Holloway Trio concert
with Cantorum
Not every school choir has the chance to sing with one
of Britain‘s finest pianists and composers; indeed, even
fewer school choirs are invited to do so. So, when Borlase‘s
biggest and best mixed-voice choir, Cantorum, were asked
to sing with the legendary Laurie Holloway Trio at Norden
farm inOctober 2012, it was impossible to turn down- even
though the year had barely started, and the Cantorum-ers
were finding it challenging just to remember to come to
rehearsals. How were we going to put together an entirely
new programme, with a new crop of singers, while trying
to impress such a prestigious trio? The odds were certainly
against us.
Yet, as always seems to happen in the Borlase Music
Department, we pulled it out of the bag. Laurie visited
Borlase a week in advance of the concert, leading a
workshop and playing the piano with such deft expertise
that the choir forgot to come in with their entries on
several occasions; we were all standing agog at his
virtuosity. Thankfully, however, we remembered to sing in
the concert itself. Laurie and his trio (with Dave Olney on
bass and Harold Fisher on drums) played some smooth-
as-velvet jazz standards, while Cantorum sang a selection
of Tavener, Campion and Morley. The concert was also
punctuated with performances from up-and-coming jazz
stars, including Borlase‘s Berenice Cunningham Walker
with an effortlessly silky rendition of ‚Come Away With
Me‘. A personal higlight was when Cantorum and the Trio
performed together with ‚S‘wonderful‘ by Gershwin and
‚Not while I‘m Around‘ by Sondheim. It was truly inspiring
to share the stage and perform these classic numbers with
such consummate professionals.
Thanks must be given to all of the newmembers who rose
to the challenge of learning a new
repertoire to such a high standard (and, of course, to the
supreme Dr P for leading us all).
Beth Potter Y12
Verdi’s Requiem
It’s not every day that a group of Borlase musicians get
to perform alongside professionals to accompany the
Marlow Community Choir in a performance of Giuseppe
Verdi’s Requiem in the Eton College School Hall. In fact,
it was Saturday the 2nd of February 2013 when such an
event took place.
Fourteen (if I counted correctly) Borlase students stacked
themselves into the gargantuan School Hall of Eton, which
is perhaps best described as Valhalla sans Odin.With a high
arched ceiling and archaic decor the location was ideal
for the performance of such a dramatic piece of music.
Sitting among the collection of students, professionals
and Dr Parsons, the first terrifyingly loud and extensively
reverberant note was played, and followed by many more.
Having had several rehearsals beforehand, the Borlasians
in the orchestra were prepared (to some extent) for the
exceptionally challenging (I hope I don’t solely speak for
myself ) piece of music which these notes formed.
Verdi’s Requiem is perhaps best known for the 2nd
Movement ‘Dies Irae’, which is exceptionally loud,
exceptionally dramatic, and exceptionally hard to play
(again, this could be only me). Originally written in
memory of the poet Alessandro Manzoni, it is split into 7
movements and performed by four soloists, a choir and,
of course, an orchestra. A common question is ‘what is it
like to experience the full force of the piece from inside the
orchestra?’ Frommy point of view the experience is similar
to that of the audience, but slightly louder and, being a
viola player (don’t laugh). with an alternative emphasis.
However, it is truly amazing to be sat inside a mass of
sound so loud that it feels as if it will carry of one’s ears into
the audience along with the chords.
Overall, the performance of Verdi’s requiem was an
experience not to be forgotten. Many a compliment
followed and, as there will be future performances by the
combination of Borlase musicians and Marlow community
choir, it would be against my duty not to recommend
attendance from everyone who reads this in these future
performances.
Seb Wride Y12
Christmas with the Borlase Music
Department
In November at Borlase the nights arrived sooner, the dark
blanket sky hung long and low as theWinter termdragged
on. But as the days became shorter, rehearsals in the Arts
department became longer in anticipation of the plethora
of upcoming musical events; Christmas was a proverbial
light on the horizon.
Mr Robson’s Concert
First to kick off the festivities was Mr Robson, with his
beautifully intimate concert held in the Wethered Room
on 10
th
December. The repertoire boasted a multitude of
Baroque and Renaissance pieces by composers ranging
from Bach and Handel to Dowland and Mudge, performed
expertly by students and teachers alike: Tim Byatt, Beth
Potter, Alex Garrett, and Dr Parsons on strings; Georgina
