Christmas Concerts at Naworth Castle, Cumbria and Matfen Hall, Northumberland
| The Mowden Choir, the Concert Band, the finalists of the school Reading Competition and many instrumental musicians have been working very hard since half term in preparation for a busy series of concerts, carol singing outings and carol services, which began this week with a visit to Naworth Castle, near Brampton, Cumbria. In the magnificent Great Hall, the stage was filled with players, readers and singers. The hall was filled with parents, former and future Mowden parents and many other friends. Afterwards, by kind permission of our hosts, Philip and Elizabeth Howard, there was a reception for the visitors and a slap up supper for the performers. |
On Thursday, a
similar group went to the more local but equally sumptuous location
of the Great Hall at Matfen Hall, to play to an audience from closer to home.
Sir Hugh and Lady Anna Blackett kindly hosted a reception at the back of the
hall after the concert. Both evenings produced excellent performances. Our
thanks go especially to Mick Fowlds and Andrew Passmore, who wrote music,
prepared the performers and conducted the shows. |
MUSIC PLAYED AT NAWORTH
| I saw a Maiden | Choir & Concert Band |
Old Basque Noel |
| Orientale | Honor Weatherall (Oboe) | Cui |
| O little town of Bethlehem | Audience/Concert Band | Traditional |
| Adagio | James
Gibbons (Horn) | Khachaturian |
| As with Gladness Men of Old | Audience/Concert Band | Kocher |
| Largo & Allemande | Alicia Walker (Flute) | Loeillet |
| The Little Shepherd Boy | Mowden Choir | Fowlds |
| Away in a Manger | Mowden Choir | arr. Passmore |
| Nutty | Eleanor Armstrong (Trombone) | Monk |
| It came upon the midnight clear | Audience/Concert Band | Traditional |
| Bethlehem Down | Choir & Concert Band (Victoria Smith-soloist) | Warlock |
| O come, all ye Faithful | Choir & Concert Band | Traditional |
| Five Spot After Dark | Rory Sale (Alto Sax) | Golson |
| Angels from the Realms
of Glory | Choir & Concert Band | Old French |
| Showbusiness | Concert Band | Berlin |
ALSO PLAYED AT MATFEN
| Linden Lea | Max Rudd (Treble) | Vaughan-Williams |
| Evening Prayer | Alice Cheesbrough (Horn) | Humperdinck |
| Blue Room | Angus Shepherd (Alto Sax) | Rodgers |
| The Virgin Slumber Song | Lilias Jeffery (Soprano) | Reger |
| La Chevaleresque | Katie Aitchison (Piano) | Burgmuller |
| Where are you,
Christmas? | Saskia Simpson
(Mezzo Soprano) | Horner |
READINGS
| Advent at Christmas | George Thwaytes | W.H.Auden |
| What the Donkey Saw | Verity Bedford | U.A.Fanthorpe |
| A Busy Day | Max Rudd | R.Crompton |
| My Christmas; Mum's Christmas | Alex
Howard / Ruaraidh Richardson Eliza Dundas / Millie Deacon | S Forsyth |
| I keep my Snowman in the Freezer | McMillan |
Arrangements: Mick
Fowlds BA (Hons), LGSM
Accompanist: Andrew
Passmore BA (Hons)
Collection in aid of The
Calvert Trust