Rob Young Piano

In Orchestra this term we are celebrating the lives of Korngold, Bernstein and Marquez. Korngold was an Austrian composer, who left Europe in the 1930s and became a conductor in America. He was active in theatre throughout Europe whilst he was in his 20s. With the end of the second world war, Korngold retired from films to concentrate on music for the concert hall. The Violin Concerto was the first such work that Korngold wrote, following some initial persuasion by a fellow violinist.

The next piece we are playing are the Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. It has jazz, Latin rhythms and musical comedy conventions for a big production on Broadway.

The final piece we are playing, Danzon No. 2, is one of the most frequently popular and frequently performed Mexican classical orchestral compositions. It was composed by the writer Arturo Marquez, and is a popular piece for full orchestra. Informally known as the second national anthem of Mexico, it is enjoyed as an emblem of Mexican music and culture.

Come and see the concert on Saturday 20^th June!