2022 hasn ’ t been the easiest of years . With restrictions only just lifting , we finally began to take the first steps back into the world of large ensemble performance . One of many groups returning with a bang this year was Choral Society , led by our Assistant Director of Music , Mr Harvey , with the ambitious goal of performing Carl Orff ’ s Carmina Burana by the end of the Lent term . I had the immense privilege of being able to play one of the two accompanying pianos , alongside Mr Wey , during my final year at Sevenoaks .
Reuniting the school ’ s largest choir for the first time in two years wasn ’ t without its challenges , however , and our Friday lunchtime rehearsals were far from conventional . Rather than being positioned on stage , students of all ages were spread amongst the audience seating for social distancing , facing the stage where Mr Harvey conducted . But more significantly , everyone was required to sing in masks – a necessary precaution , but one that not only compromised breathing but also stifled the voice . Even so , none of this dampened the excitement for the feat we had set out to accomplish .
Based on a collection of poems dating back to the 13th century , Carmina Burana ’ s sheer scale and diversity are what make the 25-movement cantata such a spectacular choral work . In accompanying a choir of such size , I discovered that one of the greatest challenges was watching the conductor at all times and remaining constantly alert to shifts in tempo and dynamics . Despite several cancelled rehearsals , progress was rapid and the day we had been preparing for was fast approaching . However , disaster struck at the last moment as several members of the department fell ill , and the concert was cancelled .
Nevertheless , all hope was not lost ; last-minute arrangements made it possible for the performance to occur immediately after the Easter break . On the day itself we were joined by professional baritone soloist Arthur Coomber , and Ms Day as soprano soloist . Combined with the Parents ’ Choir and the whole array of percussionists who had toiled behind the scenes all term , there were close to one hundred musicians on stage . With all eyes on Mr Harvey , the signal was given and the music thundered to life . From the modal harmonies of the quasi-medieval third movement to the lively seventh movement and the pulse-racing 22nd movement , the movements that followed went past in a blur . At times , no sooner had one section of the choir taken centre stage but another eclipsed it , as the music weaved in Orff ’ s signature theatrical style . After close to an hour , the cantata at last came back to where it began – the 25th movement , a reprise of the first . Playing those ground-shaking chords for the final time , I reflected on my beginnings as a musician at the school as my time at Sevenoaks drew to a close . When the movement reached its thunderous finale , the audience burst into a standing ovation and the full wonder of the moment sank in .
But what shall endure for far longer than any applause are the memories of how a hundred individuals came together that night as one entity with the sole purpose of raising the roof with music . It has been a huge honour to work under Mr Harvey and Mr Wey ’ s guidance with the school ’ s finest musicians , and I cannot wait to see what is in store for the next generation of music-makers at Sevenoaks .
Malek Marar , Upper Sixth
The concert began with the most superlative performance of Liszt ’ s concert study La leggierezza . Eliza Ruffle , in her farewell performance at the school , dazzled us with the most technically assured and musically captivating performance ; it has been a privilege to hear her play so wonderfully and imaginatively these last five years . She was followed by the Sennocke Consort , its members finally getting to perform the Fauré Requiem , which they had been deprived of as a result of the national closure of schools during the pandemic . Beautifully phrased throughout , reaching from the depths of the Libera Me to the celestial heights of the In Paradisum , this was a glorious way to send off the departing Upper Sixth , who have been musical and artistic stalwarts since their arrival at Sevenoaks School .
Christopher Dyer , Director of Music
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