Training Orchestra

Programme notes

Welcome to this afternoon’s concert. We hope you will enjoy the great variety of music we will presenting today.

1. Let Me Entertain You

NYTO starts with music from the Stephen Sondheim/Julie Styne play and film Gypsy, where the song Let Me Entertain You is sung by the the burlesque entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee.  We hope we entertain you today but perhaps not in quite the same way as Rose Lee!

2. Beauty and the Beast

In 2015 the Disney film Beauty and the Beast was one of the most expensive films ever made, but made up for this by becoming the second highest grossing film in 2017 and the tenth highest grossing film of all time.  Here is a medley from the film:  Belle, Beauty and the Beast and Be Our Guest. 

3. Born To Be Wild

Born To Be Wild, performed by Steppenwolf, was used during the credit sequence of the seminal motorcycle road trip film Easy Rider starring Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda.

4. What's Up At The Symphony

Looney Tunes created so many well known cartoon characters; far too many to list but the favourites are Wile E Coyote and Road Runner, Tweety Pie and Sylvester, Daffy Duck and of course Bugs Bunny and his arch enemy, the hunter,  Elmer Fudd, with their catch phrases “What’s up, Doc” and “That’s All Folks!”. In What’s Up At The Symphony Looney Tunes uses classical music as a background for adventures with Bugs and Elmer, a famous one being Elmer singing “Kill the Wabbit” to the Ride Of The Valkeries. 

5. Medieval Legend

Medieval Legend is a fantasy for orchestra written by Michael Story. A fanfare introduction leads to a rustic dance section which is followed by a wistful, gentle tune before returning to the dance.

6. Egmont Overture

The Opera Egmont, from which this Egmont Overture is taken,  is Beethoven’s tribute to the 16th century Dutch martyr.  The Count of Egmont was a Dutch Nobleman who led the Flemish resistance against the Spanish rule in the Netherlands.  Though under threat of being arrested he refused to run away and give up his ideal of liberty. He was eventually caught and beheaded.  This will be heard by two strong descending notes from the strings. After some mournful chords from the woodwind the country rises up against the oppressors.