[singlereed]

For the next few days you can hear my daughter Romilly, who is a first year Music student atd the University of Cambridge, playing soprano sax accompaniment to the Choir of St John's College. It is a Mark VI soprano, S80 C* and a Vandoren no 4 reed. She is aware the intonation wobbles a bit here and there but pleads a total lack of a chance to warm-up in her defence! Enjoy. PS, it's in the first carol, from about 1 min 30

 

[singlereed]

PS, it's in the first carol, from about 1 min 30

 

[RootyTootoot]

That was lovely. You must be very proud. Personally I thought she sounded superb. To put this in context for non uk members, the advent carol service at St John's will be the most important musical event in the chapel choir's year and the college will have one of the best choirs in the whole country (well actually one of the best choirs in the world for that kind of music). So they must have thought a lot of her to ask her to play there.

I always think the soprano is a gorgeous classical instrument. Same cannot be said for alto and tenor (don't worry folks I am wearing my flame retardant underpants so go ahead ).

Just as a side note, I applied to St John's myself (25 years ago) and was rejected for being too working class. :twisted::mrgreen:

(..actually, it was for being too stupid..)

 

[AndyB1970]

Would this be the same Romilly?
http://www.andyscott.org.uk/commissions.htm

Just curious Did the same piece for my Grade 6 recently......and recognised the name.

 

[milandro]

This is a hint for a touch of exotic and a little eccentric Xmas music (traditionally played on popular oboe and pipes

How about the composition of " St. Alphonse Maria de Liguori" " Tu scendi dalle stelle" this is a Italian classic

or in this version of the even more traditional Neapolitan Version " Quanne nascette ninno"

 

[singlereed]

Yes, Andy B - this was written for Romilly when she was about 10 you can see her here http://www.andyscott.org.uk/commissions.htm at the premiere. She's 19 now!

 

[AndyB1970]

Yes, Andy B - this was written for Romilly when she was about 10 you can see her here http://www.andyscott.org.uk/commissions.htm at the premiere. She's 19 now!

Bet she just loves that picture now Well I'm a "bit" further behind in my learning, I'm 41 and just did my Grade 6 earlier this year. Pleasing to see she has continued music, fantastic stuff!

 

[singlereed]

Go for it Andy - I started from scratch at 40 and got as far as doing an ATCL Diploma. These days, I prefer just playing in a big band and a sax choir with occasional wind band excursions. She doesn't mind the picture, we're still very much in touch with Andy and I think she'd be glad to be pictured with him any time.

 

[singlereed]

Milandro, thanks for those links. In the first one, it reminds me that intonation is all relative Meanwhile, I love the last piece. I have a fantastic album by guitarist Duck Baker called The Salutation in which he arranged and played some lovely carols including the one that you call La Cantata dei Pistori. He called it the Bagpiper's Carol and joined it to the Snow lay on the ground. Thoroughly recommended if you like this kind of music. You can hear a few clips here

 

[milandro]

nice! I will listen to it.
La cantata dei pastori is a Catholic religious theatre piece which has its roots in the Southern Italian popular musical tradition which revolves around the tradition of the nativity scene as instituted by St. Francis of Assisi.
The third link sees Giovanni Mauriello one of the Singers of the Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare which was at the time directed by the Maestro De Simone.

 

[Dr G]

Singlereed, how did your daughters settle on their instruments of choice?

Kudos to all for excellent performances - and congrats to you for supporting their musical endeavors.

 

[singlereed]

Hi Dr G. My three daughters all started on recorder and piano as soon as they were able to, my wife taught them to begin with. My eldest, Megan, gravitated towards the flute aged 6, the Romilly always fancied saxophone but started on a C clarinet, moving on to a curved soprano sax, then alto and tenor - all by the time she was 10. Lydie, the youngest tried violin and din't like it (thank goodness), had lessons on tenor horn with a local brass band and briefly tried the trumpet but when she heard and saw the French horn, she wanted that and hasn't looked back. She's the one who gets loads of gigs!

 

[Dr G]

Very cool, SR, thanks. It'll be interesting to see how things develop in my household - kids are 8 and 5 now. They listen to and enjoy most everything we play in the home and we are quite eclectic. I'll be happy just knowing that they have music in their lives.

All the best to you and yours!

 

[AndyB1970]

Go for it Andy - I started from scratch at 40 and got as far as doing an ATCL Diploma. These days, I prefer just playing in a big band and a sax choir with occasional wind band excursions. She doesn't mind the picture, we're still very much in touch with Andy and I think she'd be glad to be pictured with him any time.

Andy (Scott) is such a great guy, seen him about 4 times this year on courses or for a drink etc, in fact the first time I met him back in May I played this piece to him and he spoke for a few minutes about writing the piece and it's inspiration, i.e. Romilly. I'm going over to France next April for a sax course run by Andy - can't wait.

 

[singlereed]

The College Choir has put it on its own website for a few weeks - first item on the programme.