GREAT BRAK NEWS - The Carpe Musicam! Pops Band performed, bringing the Muse Festival in Great Brak to a close on a joyful note.
The Muse Festival is a celebration of arts and culture. The concert, held in the NG Church in Great Brak on Sunday, 22 September, was one of the highlights of the festival.
The Carpe Musicam! Orchestra and Choir are the realisation of a dream of the musical partnership of manager Elsabe Barkhuizen and conductor and music selector Norman Carless.
Fun, educational space
The pair sought to provide a safe, fun and educational space for young - and not-so-young musicians - to learn the not-so-gentle art of orchestral playing.
The Pops Band consists of 23 instrumentalists, mainly school children and a few of the Carpe Musicam! orchestra's mature members.
The Pops Band is geared towards a younger audience.
Instrumentation
The instrumentation is different because there are fewer members in the Pops Band than in the full orchestra, with its greater variety of instruments.
The Carpe Musicam! orchestra always performs with the choir, but the Pops Band is without a choir, therefore just instrumental music.
Norman introduced the Pops Band ensemble and one could see this is a project close to his heart.
Practised
Light heartedly, he explained that the members practised throughout the week and at the last practice before the concert, the last “false note” was played and sorted out.
The concert started off with an Abba medley, setting a fun mood. One could see the audience's enjoyment.
There were some classical pieces which included Mozart and then a slight rock twist with Eine Kleine Rock Musik.
Enjoying themselves
I saw a few adults moving to the music, tapping their feet and enjoying themselves.
Then followed some well-known marches. I had to stop myself from marching down the church aisle.
The concert finished with a medley of Queen hits that soon had audience members tapping their feet and clapping.
Violin and flutes
The lead violin and flutes were extremely pleasing to the ear.
Norman and Elsabe kept tune while the young musicians harmonised beautifully.
The next Carpe Musicam! Orchestra and Choir concerts are today, 27 September, at the George South Primary School, 29 September in the NG Church in Sedgefield and on 6 October in the town hall in Mossel Bay.
For tickets and more information, see www.carpemusicam. co.za.
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