Spending an afternoon learning new music alongside visiting senior school musicians, under the direction of a senior school Head of Department, is becoming the new norm for String Sensation. We have been lucky enough to host both Marlborough College string players, as well as Bryanston musicians, in the space of just over two terms. Our own seasoned musicians are now experts at ploughing through previously unseen music, transforming a shaky start into a professional performance in a short space of time.

It is helpful to have some real pros to boost the ranks, and that is what Bryanston provided! Their van arrived early with a selection of instruments for the afternoon, large in both size and number, as we hosted 16 of their pupils and four members of staff, playing not only traditional stringed instruments, but a harp, a bass guitar, an acoustic guitar and a shaker!

Mrs Scott, Head of Strings, is a ball of energy, and she did not let the fact that Farleigh musicians had only seen their music for about 10 minutes a few days earlier deter her from diving into it at full speed. The children rose to the challenge, as ever, mastering new time signatures, and fast notes. The Bryanston musicians turned up just as Farleigh was flagging, a perfect moment for a breather, as the seniors were suddenly all over the Recital Hall, tuning up, setting up, and ready to go. After some joint rehearsals, everyone was ready for the concert, or as ready as they would ever be. And what a concert! 

I am not sure any of us were expecting to hear a jazz trio (Ruihan BS on piano, Reece W on drums, and Loughlin T on double bass) perform Bach’s Air on the G string. Instantly recognisable, and yet so different. Loughlin went on to play Chopin's Nocturne in C# minor, arranged for double bass and piano, an extraordinary performance demonstrating the versatility of the double bass, and Loughlin! We were also treated to an engaging performance on the violin of one of the movements of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, a classic piece of programme repertoire. The first movement, Summer, was performed by Astral N, who took the time to explain the sounds that we would be hearing; the call of the cuckoo, the dove, the light breeze, the approaching storm, which brought the music to life, as did he. The two soloists were beautifully accompanied by Mrs Scott and Mr Scott, respectively.

Then it was the turn of the ensembles, first the elite and talented Bryanston string group, the Camerata, who were kept on their toes with an extract from a film score, The Architect by Kerry Muzzey, a speedy ride, showing off their dexterity. Highly Strung joined them for the next number, a performance of Beethoven’s 7th Symphony, the slow movement, demonstrating control of dynamics and articulation to great effect. 

We finally reached the moment for the grand finale, and for which all the instruments had been transported to us. Mrs Scott had created a masterful arrangement of a film score by the epic composer, Hans Zimmer, The Holiday: Maestro, from the film, The Holiday. When she arrived to rehearse this with Farleigh, she was probably not quite sure how it would turn out, given the shaky start, but she need not have worried; not only did Farleigh outdo themselves, including Emily H, drafted in at short notice to play the cymbal, but Bryanston added the magic, and together they held the audience spellbound, till Mrs Scott released us.

Immense thanks go to the Bryanston pupils for being such an inspiration to everyone, and to the staff who accompanied them; Joe (the driver of the van), Mrs Hywel-Davies (Music Office Manager), Mr Scott (Deputy Director of Music and Head of Keyboard), Mr Iles (Director of Music and shaker player), and of course, Mrs Scott (Head of Strings) for all her energy and enthusiasm. Big thanks also go to the Farleigh string teachers, Mrs Flower, Mrs Hopkins and Mr Frampton, who always prepare their pupils so well for every occasion. Huge thanks to Mr Reeves, who makes these events possible; it was he who succinctly summed up the day as a 'Treat for a Tuesday,' and it was exactly that. ENORMOUS thanks go to all the members of String Sensation, who always turn up with smiles on their faces, eager and ready, and take everything in their stride!

Teresa Henderson