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Premieres of new music
Two pieces of new music were heard for the very first time at Andover Light Orchestra's recent concert
for Andover United Reformed Church:
Megan's Aire, featuring Jill Thatcher on Flute, was composed by the orchestra's musical director,
Kevin Riley, who also gave a fluent rendition, on trombone, of his own arrangement of 'Slipping Away'.
The convivial setting of the Church Hall provided an ideal opportunity for small groups in the orchestra
to perform a wide variety of individual pieces, including a Haydn Trio and two Strauss Polkas.
Variety is the watchword of the orchestra in its concert programmes, and this was no exception: Beginning
with 'The Lights', written by Kevin Riley to celebrate the opening of the new theatre last year, classical favourites 'Berceuse'
by Faure, and Prokofieff's 'Kije's Wedding' followed, mingling with selections from 'Chicago' and 'My Fair Lady'.
Glenn Miller's 'Moonlight Serenade' set the mood for the second half of this full programme, which
featured the Tacet Team, the orchestra's brass section, with 'Unchained Melody' and a Beatles' medley. A bassoon duet: Lionel
Bart's 'Where is Love' , and 'Those Hot Sunny Days', another Riley composition, in a bossa nova style, brought us to
a Western film selection called 'Go West' and, all too soon, the end of the concert.
Look out for more fun packed evenings with Andover Light Orchestra at Chilbolton Village Hall on 30th
November, The Lights on 15th December, and Vernham Dean Village Hall on 20th December 2007.
A LITTLE LIGHT MUSIC
A crisp evening greeted the audience as they made their way to 'The Lights'.
With the festive season in full swing a Christmas Concert given by the talented Andover Light Orchestra
was long overdue.
To open and ' clear the cobwebs ' as the conductor Kevin Riley put it, the full orchestra played "The
Lights" composed in honour of the theatre and the orchestra, bringing wonderful applause.
The first solo of the concert, a beautiful arrangement of "O Holy Night" was played by Kate Hughes
on french horn, demonstrating considerable skill on this difficult instrument, then a rare treat as three flugal horns, led
by Ros Yarlett, with Chris Kirby and Nicky Coombes played Neil Sedaka's " Laughter in the Rain ".
Several members of the audience assisted on stage during one christmas melody with their Jingle bells.
The three youngest, Gabrielle and Charlotte Snook and Savannah Cowie (2 years 3 months) took the stage by storm, Savannah
was quite determined to 'out Jingle' everyone else, and it is safe to say a star was born.
The "Twelve Days of Christmas" had the audience leaping to its feet proving a great success as each
row was given a verse to sing along with the orchestra.
Three flautists, Helen Hibbitt, Jean Lovell and Sarah Ward, who had recently passed her Grade 8 ,
gave us a seasonal "Holiday for Flutes".
As a finale Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" left the audience on a festive high and the orchestra
with applause ringing in their ears.
Most of the music arranged or composed by Kevin Riley is now available by clicking
here.
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