Senior Orchestra

Programme notes

'A Spring Celebration' features the individual performances of our symphony and jazz orchestras. The repertoire list gives you the running order and indicates which orchestra is performing (NYO Nottingham Youth Orchestra, NYIO Intermediate Orchestra, NYTO Training Orchestra, NYJO Jazz Orchestra, Percussion).

1. NYIO - Symphony in D Minor (Franck) - 1st Movement

Written by César Franck, the first movement introduces the main musical ideas that shape the whole symphony. It opens with a dark, dramatic theme before moving into warmer, more lyrical passages. Rich harmonies, expressive string writing, and powerful climaxes give this movement strong emotional depth and set the character for the rest of the work.

2. NYIO - Selections from Encanto

Music from Encanto is known for its infectious songs and emotional storytelling. This suite features popular numbers such as 'We Don’t Talk About Bruno' and 'Surface Pressure', combining Latin rhythms, rich harmonies, and expressive melodies. The arrangement allows the orchestra to recreate the excitement and warmth of the film.

3. NYIO - Selections from Moana 2

Based on music from Moana 2, these selections continue Moana’s journey of adventure and self-discovery. The music blends modern pop style with Pacific-inspired rhythms and melodies. Strong vocal-style themes, energetic percussion, and colourful orchestration bring the spirit of the film to life in a concert setting.

4. NYIO - Berceuse and Finale from 'The Firebird'

In the Berceuse and Finale from The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky, the music moves from calm and mystery to brilliant celebration. The gentle Berceuse features a soft, flowing lullaby melody, creating a peaceful and dreamlike atmosphere after the drama of earlier scenes.

This quiet moment leads directly into the powerful Finale, where the orchestra builds towards a triumphant and joyful conclusion. With glowing harmonies, bold brass writing, and sweeping melodies, Stravinsky creates a thrilling sense of victory and renewal. Together, these two movements showcase the orchestra’s expressive range, from delicate lyricism to full, energetic brilliance.

5. PERCUSSION SET - DRUMLINE

Drums have been used throughout history to add atmosphere and excitement; from the 16th century drumming soldiers into battle, to the present day performing at large sports arenas mainly in the USA.

Most American schools have their own drumline or marching band consisting of snare drums, toms, bass drums and cymbals. An important part of the performance is the visual spectacle as drummers often click each other's sticks or perform tricks with their sticks as they march around the arena. The drums are normally mounted on harnesses but today we will be using our orchestral percussion instruments and staying firmly at the back of the orchestra!

We have a selection of short pieces:
Groove Army and Unleash! by Williams Edwards and Tadpole, Rock You We Will and Sub-Sonic by Cassidy Byars.

6. NYO - Symphony No. 5 (Shostakovich) - Movements I & II

Composed by Dmitri Shostakovich, this symphony was written during a difficult period in the composer’s life. The first movement is dramatic and intense, with powerful brass and driving rhythms, while the second movement is lighter and more sarcastic, using dance-like themes and sharp contrasts. Together, they show Shostakovich’s ability to combine emotion, humour, and strength in a single work.

7. INTERVAL - NYJO in the Bar

This relaxed interval feature presents music in a lighter, more informal style, often inspired by jazz and popular genres. It allows NYJO's musicians to explore different sounds, rhythms, and performance styles while creating a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for the audience.

8. NYTO - Born to be Wild

The heavy metal classic 'Born To Be Wild' was written by Mars Bonfire and first recorded by the group Steppenwolf. Although the lyrics do not actually mention motorbikes the song is often considered to denote the appearance and attitude of bikers since being featured in the film Easy Rider. The song is possibly the first of the “heavy metal” genre and in the second verse refers to “heavy metal thunder”; however this would be a description not of a music style but rather a motorcycle.

9. NYTO - Matchmaker (from 'Fiddler on the Roof')

The legendary 1964 Broadway musical (and film of 1971) Fiddler On The Roof is set in 1905 Russia, centring on a poor Jewish milkman who is trying, in an ever-changing world, to maintain his traditional and cultural standards by marrying off his three eldest daughters by using a marriage broker. The song 'Matchmaker' is sung by one of the girls hoping she will grant a “perfect match”.

10. NYTO - The Blue Danube Waltz

'The Blue Danube Waltz' is not one waltz but five intertwined waltz themes. Here we play two of those themes. In 1866 Strauss was commissioned to write a choral piece for the Vienna Men’s Choral Society, with words by the Society’s poet, Joseph Weil, to uplift the people who were reeling after losing the Austro-Prussian War. The composer adapted it later as a purely orchestral version for the 1867 Paris World’s Fair, where it became a great success and remains one of the most consistently popular pieces in the classical repertoire.

11. NYTO - Hey Song

The glam rock instrumental Rock and Roll (part 2) is a rock hit famous for its distinctive guitar riffs, heavy drums and vocal shout, making it widely known as the The Hey Song.

12. NYTO - Scenes from 'The Marriage of Figaro'

Count Almaviva is determined to seduce Figaro’s fiancé, Susanna, before their wedding. However, the neglected Countess Almaviva, Figaro and Susanna conspire to embarrass the Count. A further complication is that Cherubino, a page boy, is infatuated with the countess. Meanwhile, a former housekeeper demands that Figaro marries her to repay an earlier debt but in a further twist it turns out that she is in fact his mother. After much confusion involving Susanna and the Countess changing clothes, clandestine meetings in the forest, the Count falling in love with his wife again and Cherubino falling in love with the Count’s daughter, we at last see 'The Marriage of Figaro'.

13. NYTO - Peer Gynt Suite Selections

In 1867, the playwright Henrik Ibsen requested that Edvard Grieg write incidental music to accompany his play about the fantastic adventures of a brash young poet, 'Peer Gynt'. Here we will hear two numbers taken from the suites that have arisen from the play; “Morning Mood” which depicts the rising sun over the Moroccan desert, while the well known “In The Hall Of The Mountain King” is played as Peer enters the royal hall filled with trolls, gnomes and goblins surrounding a Mountain King sitting ominously on his throne with crown and sceptre in his hands. This features one of the most famous accelerandos ever written!

14. PERCUSSION SET - DRUMLINE

Drums have been used throughout history to add atmosphere and excitement; from the 16th century drumming soldiers into battle, to the present day performing at large sports arenas mainly in the USA.

Most American schools have their own drumline or marching band consisting of snare drums, toms, bass drums and cymbals. An important part of the performance is the visual spectacle as drummers often click each others sticks or perform other tricks with their sticks as they march around the arena. The drums are normally mounted on harnesses but today we will be using our orchestral percussion instruments and staying firmly at the back of the orchestra!

We have a selection of short pieces:
Groove Army and Unleash! by Williams Edwards and Tadpole, Rock You We Will and Sub-Sonic by Cassidy Byars.

15. NYO - Symphony No. 5 (Shostakovich) - Movements III & IV

The final two movements bring Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony to a powerful conclusion. The third movement is slow and emotional, featuring expressive string writing and reflective melodies. The fourth movement builds from quiet tension to a dramatic, triumphant ending with blazing brass and full orchestral sound. Together, they create a thrilling and unforgettable finale.