Symphony Hall Experience for Year Seven
On Tuesday 6 February, Year Seven went to Symphony Hall, in Birmingham, to watch the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s Key Stage 3 Schools Concert. This hour-long concert, featuring the full CBSO and conductor Michael Seal, introduced the audience to the four families of the orchestra in turn, showcasing the colours and dynamic possibilities of each family through classical repertoire by Dvorak, Anna Clyne, Gabrieli and Respighi. Following music from the game ‘Angry Birds’ and ‘Harry Potter’, the whole audience was on their feet moving to Quincy Jones’s ‘Soul Bossa Nova’.
Members of Year Seven said of the concert:
“It was interesting to see lots of different instruments. I liked seeing the glockenspiels and the harp”.
“I liked the Angry Birds piece because I’ve heard it so many times without realising an orchestra played it”.
“I enjoyed the woodwind group (consisting of bassoons, oboes and clarinets) because their sound was very upbeat. Also, the Angry Birds piece of music was fun and upbeat as well”.
“I liked the timpani drums. It was very cool to hear how they can make different sounds by hitting the edge of the drum. My favourite piece was the one where you had to imagine the Roman soldiers coming home”.
Year Seven were seated in the choir stalls in Symphony Hall, behind the orchestra, giving a superb and fascinating view of the orchestra at work!