GSAL Year 9 Music Students Editor's Note: The Year 9 music students have been studying Jazz, and we have put together this remote recording of ‘Summertime’, a song originally written by George Gershwin and DuBose Heywood in 1934 for their 1935 opera ‘Porgy and Bess’. As you can see from the screen shot shown below, … Continue reading Summertime
The A61s - Year 11 Band Editor's Note: Here for your listening pleasure are The A61s, a talented Year 11 band at GSAL. Some of the band have been studying ‘Britpop’ in Mrs Sidwell's lessons, but any resemblance to the songs of Oasis is coincidental. Band members are: Oliver (Guitar and vocal); Jack (Piano); Tom … Continue reading Saviour of Rock ‘N’ Roll
GSAL Advanced String Group Editor's Note: Enjoy this remote recording of the GSAL Advanced String group performing part of William Boyce’s Symphony No.1, thought to date from between 1750-1765. Violins: Karen, Jago, Tom, Izzy, Natalia, Anushree, Lila, Jo; Violas: Karen, Jo; Cellos: Alex, Hannah, Sally. AWK https://youtu.be/DP1CeI3slmc
GSAL Year 7 'Rock Up' Band Editor's Note: The Year 7 ‘Rock Up’ band have produced this fantastic video performance of The Beatles' 1965 UK chart-topping song Day Tripper. I assume the choice of song was ironic, as they learnt and recorded their individual parts during lockdown. The track is shared here alongside the original. … Continue reading Day Tripper
Jack - Year 11 Musician Editor's Note: Mrs Sidwell, who taught Jack, says: 'Don't be fooled by the calm piano intro. It develops into something very different from the recordings we have sent out so far.' It's worth listening to on headphones for the effect, and because there's one or two angry moments that you may … Continue reading Good News
GSAL Senior String Group Editor's Note: Contrary to the general perception of this new form of ensemble playing, it is not technologically possible for musicians to perform live together online. Latency means that music cannot be played accurately in time with another musician. Instead, each part is recorded separately in the musician’s home, and then … Continue reading Clocks
GSAL Virtual Voices Editor's Note: During the period of lockdown, pupils, parents, staff and alumni came together to create this wonderful virtual performance of American soul and R&B singer Ben E. King's timeless song Stand by Me. The song was originally inspired by an early 20th century gospel hymn; there have since been over 400 … Continue reading Stand by Me
David - Year 10 Musician Editor's Note: Year 10 student David plays and sings 'To Build a Home' by English electronic music group The Cinematic Orchestra. The track was performed and recorded remotely during the lockdown period of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. AWK https://youtu.be/cQSesVZIc58?list=PLtwCN9UWnAli8pf-Lt3jihwIRxyu6piSt
James - Year 11 Musician Editor's Note: James Y11 plays a short version of the jazz standard Autumn Leaves, originally composed by Joseph Kosma in 1945. This famous jazz piece has accumulated over 1,000 commercial recordings by a plethora of leading musicians. AWK/CPD https://youtu.be/5tmEux2UaMc
Ben - Year 9 Musician Editor's Note: Year 9 student Ben performs The Entertainer, a classic ragtime piece written by American composer and pianist Scott Joplin in 1902. Trivia question: this piece was used as the theme music for which 1973 Oscar-winning film? CPD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxWdxwPpscw
The GSAL Journal 