Music
Gustav Holst was Director of Music at the school during the period he composed his orchestral suite, The Planets; he was succeeded by Herbert Howells before John Gardner followed in the 1950s. Gardner wrote many memorable pieces for the school, including his popular Christmas carols Tomorrow Shall be My Dancing Day and The Holly and the Ivy.
The school has many music programs, for mainstream pupils, and also scholarship or advanced pupils. The training orchestra, called the "Sinfonia", is generally for years 7-9, however some lower ability students stay on. It trains for one and a half hours a week. The advanced orchestra, called the "Symphony", is generally for years 10 and above, however, higher ability and scholarship musicians from younger year groups perform in it as well. It trains for two hours a week. There are also a number of string, brass and flute groups, as well as a wind band. The school also has a choral program. For Lower School students (ages 11-13), there is the Junior Choir. For Middle School Students (ages 14-16) there is a Middle School Choir. Both of these are open to all. However, for the Senior School (ages 16-18), there is a select choir. For the entire school, there is an advanced choir - "Paulina Voices" - to which admission is by audition only.
Read more about this topic: St Paul's Girls' School
Famous quotes containing the word music:
“What is our life? a play of passion;
Our mirth the music of division;
Our mothers’ wombs the tiring-houses be
Where we are dressed for this short comedy.”
—Sir Walter Raleigh (1552?–1618)
“Hell is full of musical amateurs: music is the brandy of the damned.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
“Noble and wise men once believed in the music of the spheres: noble and wise men still continue to believe in the “moral significance of existence.” But one day even this sphere-music will no longer be audible to them! They will wake up and take note that their ears were dreaming.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)