Now may we singen
Christmas 2019 marked the official general release of The Choir of Westminster School’s debut album on the international record label, Signum. Now may we singen: Music for Advent and Christmas was recording of the week on Classic FM’s Drive and reviewed in Gramophone Magazine and BBC Music Magazine which included it in its top ten Christmas playlist.
Silent Night (Gruber, arr. Barry Rose)
In December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, each year group within the Choir of Westminster School formed its own bubble choir. This is an excerpt taken from a performance given by the Year 13 (known at Westminster as ‘Remove’) Choir in Westminster Abbey by the grave of the Unknown Warrior.
Peace on Earth (Errollyn Wallen, CBE)
During the COVID-19 pandemic, each year group within the Choir of Westminster School formed its own bubble choir. Errollyn Wallen CBE wrote both the words and music to Peace on Earth, performed here in December 2020 in Westminster Abbey by the Year 9 (known at Westminster as ‘Fifth Form’) Choir accompanied on the harp by Tatiana (Year 12).
Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah (Handel)
On Thursday 21 March 2019, The Choir and Baroque Ensemble of Westminster School and The Westminster Choral Society performed George Frideric Handel’s Messiah in Westminster Abbey with soloists Julia Doyle (soprano), Catherine Hopper (mezzo soprano), Andrew Staples (tenor) and Jonathan Brown (bass), conducted by Tim Garrard. This was the most wonderful opportunity for the singers and instrumentalists to perform this most famous work in Westminster Abbey, the building in which Handel himself is buried.
The School Prayer (T D Garrard)
This setting of Westminster’s ‘The School Prayer’ was written in 2014 by Tim Garrard, Director of Music, on the occasion of the retirement of the then Head Master, Dr Stephen Spurr. This recording was made during the COVID-19 2020 Lockdown. Members of the choir recorded their parts remotely, and Rowan Lovell (Music Technician) compiled them together to create this video performance.
Life gets better (Morris / Swana)
In 2019, pupils from Burdett-Coutt’s & Townshend Foundation, Churchill Gardens Primary Academy, Harris Westminster Sixth Form, St Matthew’s Westminster, and Westminster School performed this song at the Boarding Schools’ Association’s Conference Dinner. Life gets better was co-written by Solomon Morris (OW) and Westminster’s Head of Jazz and Popular Music, Dan Swana.
Elixir (Studio7)
Westminster’s bands have opportunities to perform at various events including the Pop Music Concert and September Saturday. In this 2017 recording, filmed in the Manoukian Music Centre, ‘Studio 7’ perform Elixir.
Decay (Slow Pink)
This music video of Decay by ‘Slow Pink’ was shot in various locations around the School including Little Dean’s Yard.
Gabriel’s Oboe (Ennio Morricone)
At the beginning of 2020-21, the new Fifth Form (Year 9) pupils’ first experience of ensemble music making at Westminster was in year-group bubbles due to the pandemic. This is a performance of Gabriel’s Oboe by Ennio Morricone from the motion picture ‘The Mission’, arranged by Robert Longfield, with the Fifth Form String Ensemble and oboist, Alexandre.
Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus (Vaughan Williams)
The Sixth Form (Year 12) String Ensemble perform the Introduction from Five Variants of ‘Dives and Lazarus’ by Vaughan Williams in an arrangement for String Orchestra and Harp, socially distanced and in a year-group bubble in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.