Training Orchestra

Programme notes

Welcome to the first concert of this season by the NYO ensembles.  A great variety of music awaits, so please sit back and enjoy.

Highlights From Harry Potter

NYTO starts this afternoon very quietly with extracts from the music for the Harry Potter films.  Many of the recognisable tunes are here, so come with us on a journey to Hogwarts.

The Can-Can

There are many versions of the story involving Orpheus.  Offenbach wrote the opera 'Orpheus in the Underworld' in which Orpheus, a talented lyre player, whose music could charm animals, birds and even stones, was married to Eurydice.  Sadly, she gets bitten by a viper and dies.  Orpheus is so upset by this that he vows to go into the Underworld and bring her back.

When he reaches the gate, he entrances the three headed dog, Cerberus, with his music and is allowed to enter. He finds Hades and his wife Persephone and so pleases them with his playing that Hades lets Eurydice go but on the one condition that she must walk behind Orpheus, and he must not turn to look at her.

As Orpheus, with Eurydice following, is about to emerge into the outside world he can no longer hear Eurydice’s footsteps. Thinking he has been tricked he turns, only to see her being pulled back into the Underworld forever.

Orpheus is devastated by this and plays a mournful song on his lyre but gets attacked and killed by a band of Maenado (female followers of Dionysus). However, his head remains intact and continues to sing as it floats off on the water.

The Danse Infernal appears in the final act of the opera and has been adopted as the 'Can-Can', a raunchy high kicking dance, by the Folies Bergére and the Moulin Rouge in Paris, and is probably Offenbach’s best-known composition.

Dance of the Clowns

'Dance of The Clowns' is one of the incidental pieces of music Mendelssohn wrote for the Shakespeare play A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which takes place in an enchanted forest where a group of villagers (the clowns) are rehearsing a play.  One of them, Bottom, gets charmed by the fairies and wakes with an ass’s head.  In the music the “ee-aws” can be clearly heard.

Fuguey Fruities

I’m sure you’re all familiar with a musical round – one person starts a tune, then another joins in by starting at the beginning creating a sort of musical chase. A fugue is essentially the same but more complicated with many twists and turns of rhythm and key.

In 'Fuguey Fruities' you will notice the fugal element and the “fruitie” part is based on Oranges and Lemons.

Music from Frozen

From the favourite Disney animated film 'Frozen' comes a selection of tunes – Do You Want To Build A Snowman, For The First Time In Forever and Let It Go.

It's Christmastime

With the Christmas market built in the Market Square and shops already bedecked with tinsel and baubles, NYTO would like to wish you Season’s Greetings with 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town' and we hope you 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas'.