Today’s music is the Overture to Prince Igor by Borodin.
Soon after I sat my higher music exam I was “strongly encouraged” to go to one of the Glasgow School’s summer music courses. At that time there were five – three orchestras, a concert band and a brass band. I had never been to anything like that, but was persuaded to audition.
So – to my first ever ‘real’ orchestral concert – I have explained before that the school orchestra wasn’t a ‘normal’ one. Prince Igor opened the programme, so this, I guess, was my debut in the orchestral world that would prove a big part of my life for many years. This concert was almost 50 years ago now.
There is a much longer version of this story in the anecdotes. I should say that this is NOT a recording of the concert – although I do have one on an old tape reel which I haven’t listened to for years.
Alexander Borodin : Prince Igor Overture
Comments :
Nigel Baillie
Reading your post, I was reminded of when, as a young lad, I used to go with my folks when they would visit your own mum & dad in Penilee. You were of course somewhat older than me 😉 but I rarely saw you on any of these visits because you were always in your room listening to classical music on your headphones 😂
Brian Milligan
I think there was a ‘Jazz’ course as well. I remember during fortnight there was an evening where each section of the orchestra had to do a party piece.
George R McConnell
There may well have been – but I don’t remember it – I do remember the “talent night” though with everyone doing their party piece. Most were great – I was on the staff at the concert band for several years – some were cringeworthy😂
I do particularly remember a conducting competition the year I was at Castle Toward – the conductor (John Carewe) was the judge and when one of the trumpet players was having his go I well remember John being doubled up in laughter behind one of the pillars😂😂