Performing arts » Music

All pupils are invited to learn a musical instrument, which is taught as an extra-curricular activity. We have experienced peripatetic staff who teach a wide range of instruments. View the complete list of what is on offer

The musical ensembles for 2011/2012 include:

African Drumming

One of the newest clubs, forming under the guidance of Mrs Murphy, this distinct musical group embraces the very essence of communication. The group meets in the music centre on a Wednesday afternoon and has recently been inspired by a work shop hosted by Afro Roots, an educational group as well as by the skills and artistry of Mrs Murphy’s husband who plays professionally.

In Africa, people have used drum telegraphy to communicate with each other from far away for centuries. When European expeditions came into the jungles to explore the primeval forest, they were surprised to find that the message of their coming, and their intention was carried through the woods a step in advance of their arrival.

Among the famous communication drums are the drums of West Africa. From regions known today as Nigeria and Ghana, they spread across West Africa and to America and the Caribbean during the slave trade. There they were banned because they were being used by the slaves to communicate over long distances in a code unknown to their enslavers.

Choir

A choir, chorale, or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.

A body of singers who perform together is called a choir or chorus. The former term is very often applied to groups affiliated with a church (whether or not they actually occupy the choir) and the second to groups that perform in theatres or concert halls, but this distinction is far from rigid.

Rydal Penrhos has always had a proud reputation in respect of its choral traditions. In the twentieth century cds were recorded and listeners on the school’s telephone system still can enjoy the works of the choir.

The school enters, with some success, the North Wales Choral Festival which takes place in November each year at Venue Cymru. Year 7s are inducted through the Rock Gospel Choir from which invitations are given to those ready to join the Senior Choir. The Senior Choir performs at Chapel services, major festival services and notably at the carol services at the end of the Winter term. They rehearse on a Monday lunchtime and, in the lead up to major performances, in the evening.

Jazz Band

Of all of Dr Ward’s eclectic tastes and passions, none seem so suitable as the love he has for Jazz. Ably assisted by ‘soul mates’ from the Common Room, notably Mrs Mottershead and Mr Pailthorpe, the band rehearse on a Friday lunchtime and are often main performers at concerts, parents’ functions and other key dates.

The band toured Edinburgh at the end of the summer term and regularly perform out of school at local events or for local groups.

Orchestra

An orchestra is a sizeable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus. The orchestra grew by accretion throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, but changed very little in composition during the course of the twentieth century.

The school orchestra rehearses on a Thursday lunchtime and performs at the major concerts throughout the school year; Christmas, Easter and summer. The orchestra encompasses pupils from across years 7-13 and often, ensembles support chapel, and other festival, services.

Steel Band

One of the many ensembles that enjoy predominance in the musical world of Rydal Penrhos, the uniquely Caribbean flavour is much admired at the termly concerts. The band is immense fun coming up with new arrangements for traditional sounds and performing to audiences.

Steelpans (also known as steel drums or pans, and sometimes, collectively with musicians, as a steel band) is a musical instrument originating from Trinidad and Tobago. Steel pan musicians are called pannists. The correct name is Steel Pan. The pan is a chromatically pitched percussion instrument made from 55 gallon drums that usually store oil. In fact, drum refers to the steel drum containers from which the pans are made; the steel drum is correctly called a steel pan or pan as it falls into the idiophone family of instruments, and is not technically regarded as a drum or membranophone. The pan is struck by a pair of straight sticks tipped with rubber; the size and type of rubber tip is unique to the class of pan being played. Some musicians use four pan sticks, holding two in each hand. This skill and performance has been conclusively shown to have grown out of Trinidad and Tobago’s early 20th century Carnival percussion groups known as Tamboo Bamboo. Pan is the National Instrument of Trinidad and Tobago.

Musical events take place throughout the year in the form of lunchtime concerts, Chapel performances, musical productions, May Week celebrations, Easter and Christmas concerts, visits from professional ensembles and more.

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