Welcome to the home of musical performance in The GSAL Journal. Student performances are shared below in reverse chronological order. If you have any questions about any of the resources shared here, please email or speak to a member of staff in the department. Mrs Sidwell & Mr Knowles – Heads of Music
Follow the GSAL Music Department on Twitter: @GSALarts19
Good News
Jack – Year 11 Student (own composition, remote recording)
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 not want to share with your household. AWK/PJS
Saviour of Rock ‘N’ Roll
The A61s (remote recording)
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 (Bass Guitar); Mia (Drum Kit). (Rohan plays keyboard in the band, although not on this track.) AWK
Soldier’s Joy
GSAL Junior Strings (remote recording)
‘Clocks’ by Coldplay
GSAL Senior Strings (remote recording)
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 a good deal of editing goes on to make the finished version. Like all of us, the students are looking forward to playing together again, but for now, this method keeps them practicing. Please enjoy the attached instrumental version of ‘Clocks’ by British rock band Coldplay. AWK
‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’ by Justin Timberlake
GSAL Concert Band (remote recording)
‘Summertime’ by George Gershwin and DuBose Heywood
GSAL Year 9 Students (remote recording)
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’. A total of 18 musicians in the year made varied contributions; lead vocals are sung by Izzie and Marcus. The students recorded their parts on mobile phones, so it’s not up to the standard of a live performance, but we hope it was a good learning experience. AWK
‘Cancion’ by Mark Andes
Daniel – Year 7 Student (remote recording)
‘Day Tripper’ by The Beatles
GSAL Year 7 Rock Up Band (remote recording)
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. William – Vocals; Oliver – Electric Guitar; George – Piano; Archie – Drum Kit. AWK
‘Stand By Me’ by Ben E. King
GSAL Virtual Voices (remote recording)
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 recorded versions of the song, performed by many different artists. CPD
Aly Crocker
GSAL Folk Ensemble (remote recording)
Editor’s Note: This recording of the traditional Allie (Ally) Crocker Reel by the GSAL Folk Ensemble was recorded on mobile ‘phones during the Covid-19 lockdown period. The instrumentalists are: Issy and Tom (fiddles); Abi and Lilian (flutes); Lucas (guitar). Enjoy! AWK
‘Autumn Leaves’ by Joseph Kosma
James – Year 11 Student (remote recording)
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
‘To Build a Home’ by The Cinematic Orchestra
David – Year 10 Student (remote recording)
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
‘The Entertainer’ by Scott Joplin
Ben – Year 9 Student (remote recording)
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
The Game
Lucas – Year 12 Student (own composition, remote recording)
Editor’s Note: Please find here for your enjoyment a song entitled ‘The Game’ which was written, performed and recorded at home during lockdown by Year 12 Music student Lucas. Lucas also performed on a recent home recording of Allie Crocker’s Reel by the GSAL Folk Ensemble. AWK
Brahms Intermezzo Op.118
Karen – Year 13 Student (remote recording)
Editor’s Note: Here for your enjoyment is the full recording of Karen’s home recording of Brahms Intermezzo Op.118 in A Major. As many of you may know, Karen has an offer to study Music at St Catherine’s College, Cambridge from September. AWK
‘Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive’ by Harold Arlen & Johnny Mercer
Lucy – Year 13 Student (remote recording)
Editor’s Note: Please enjoy this remote recording of Lucy-Anne in Year 13 singing ‘Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive’. Lucy-Anne chose the song for its positivity, and is happy to share it among the school community. Composed in 1944, with music by Harold Arlen, composer of, among others, ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’; lyrics by Johnny Mercer, composer of ‘Autumn Leaves’ and ‘Moon River’. AWK
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