“What a fabulous afternoon the SuperStrings and Friends had in Truro Methodist Church on Sunday July 10th. This was our third and biggest adventure yet, including for the first time woodwind, brass and percussion players, an idea that came from Gareth Churcher (CMST Head of Service) to create a supersized orchestra for our younger players.”
Our programme began with the full orchestra playing three short Scottish Dances by Peter Martin. Conducted by Gareth Churcher these were perfectly suited to this combination and level of players, giving everyone a moment to shine. Next came three string orchestra only pieces, 'Noble Maiden Fair' from the disney film Brave especially arranged for us by Stuart MacQaurrie. Sting's beautiful ballad 'Fields of Gold' came next and then a lively foot tapping sea shanty called 'The Wellerman'.
To round off our short concert the whole orchestra came back together to play David Stone's arrangement of Mussorgsky's 'The Great Gate of Kiev' which brought down the house. How can you fail to be excited by this music when the final few bars involve huge, loud sounds, drums, organ and every instrument playing and giving their best effort.
“There is no shortage of reasons why playing in an ensemble benefits children. It allows young people to create something magical and preparing for a concert provides constant motivation to practice and improve over a number of weeks.
The finished performance may look easy, but it’s challenging to collaborate with many other players to make one piece of music sound whole, in tune, and expressive. Every player must learn to communicate and work as a team to deliver one musical idea. Therefore, an orchestral musician learns to listen, harmonise and follow direction. Something the young people in SuperStrings & Friends are learning to do very successfully at a very early age.”
“The Superstrings met for their summer term rehearsal and concert earlier this term and this time they were joined by woodwind, brass and percussion players. It was a wonderful sight to see 90 young musicians playing together and to hear their rousing rendition of Mussorgsky’s Great Gate of Kiev and Martin’s Scottish Dances. The strings began the concert with three pieces of their own which they played with confidence and a lovely, warm balanced string sound.”
Watch this space! We are already planning our next epic Christmas concert which will be in Truro Methodist Church on December 11th.
