Music update
by Graeme StevensonThe new series of lunchtime concerts begins on Friday 19 April with Angela Stevenson on Cello. Ms Stevenson is based in Amsterdam and plays with the Dutch Radio Symphony Orchestra. Throughout the rest of the season, the concerts will be the usual mix of University groups such as the string ensemble which will be performing Bach's Orchestra suite No. 2 in b minor with Joanna Wilcock on flute and the Bach Consort are preparing a progamme which includes Handel's Coronation Anthem (My Heart is Inditing).
The first main event of the term will be the annual Come and Sing which will take place on 20 April in the chaplaincy centre. This year, rather than performing a single work as in previous years, it will be more of a choral pops programmes including Mendelssohn's Hear My Prayer and Faure's Cantique de Jean Racine.
It's been another busy term for the music society, The two main society concerts were the highlights of the term.
We had a change of venue for our spring concert - the choir and orchestra performed in the inspiring acoustics and surroundings of St. Paul's Cathedral. Our most ambitious programme in a number of years featured two major works: Mendelssohn's 5th Symphony The Reformation and Mozart's Requiem. It has been hard work all term trying to learn these pieces in only eight rehearsals but was worth it in the end. Special mention should go to Simon Carter for leading of the orchestra and to our four soloists who were all recruited from the choir: Shiona Tasker, Jennifer Wilson, Alex Keith and Jamie Wilson.
The society jazz night, featuring the big band, small band jazz and the charismatic voice of singer Marion Jordan, in the foyer of the Bonar Hall was equally successful.
This term also allowed us an opportunity to thank our associate members for their generous support and kindness in the form of a complimentary afternoon concert featuring a variety of soloists and groups from within the society. This took place in our recently decorated music room, which now also provides a showcase for some remarkable artwork from the archives of Duncan of Jordanstone.
As well as our joint evening concert, a number of groups had to rehearse for their own individual concerts. The orchestra performed excerpts from Mendelssohn 5 and a superbly extrovert account of Duel of the Fates from Star Wars: Episode 1. The chamber choir, as well as rehearsing for their tour to Lisbon at Easter, also prepared Stanford's Songs of the Fleet for their lunchtime concert at the beginning of March.
On the social side, the music society and Opsoc got together at the music society annual ball and proved that we don't all have two left feet after all!
Overall, the music society has had a highly successful and enjoyable year. All that remains now is to look forward to next year and hope that we continue to move onwards and upwards!
Despite most of the evening groups having finished for the year, the lunchtime groups will continue in third term. So if you fancy Bach on a Tuesday, a violin (or viola or cello or bass) on a Wednesday or a gentle sing on a Thursday please let me know.
As always, up-to-date information is available on the web:
www.dundee.ac.uk/music
www.dusa.dundee.ac.uk/musicsociety
www.dusa.dundee.ac.uk/opsoc
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