Music Entering School Assembly, Any recollections? Options

[clavicembalo]

In my earlier teaching career, when my Tutor Group had an Assembly, I would make sure that we registered swiftly, so that I could get to the piano in the hall in time for me to play something as folk arrived.

Unfortunately though, as the intake dramatically increased, so did pupils' noise level and eventually Heads of House preferred to marshal the troops without a musical backing.

However, I fondly remember marching into Assembly in my own Primary/Junior School years. Many different pieces of music might have been played, but the ones I particularly recall were movements from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, in particular, what I now know to be the Miniature Overture, Russian Dance and Chinese Dance. When I hear these played today, they immediately take me back to those early years.

In those days it was played from a presumably well-worn LP, on a Record Player.

Did your school have favourites too?

[andante_in_c]

Oh yes! In the infants it was Soldier's March by Schumann. In the juniors we had the Bach (attrib.) Minuet in G (can't have marched to that!) and several other Bach pieces: I remember Jesu, joy of man's desiring and another Bach chorale I've never known the name of. I used to go home and try and play them on my recorder. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[clavicembalo]

Oh yes! In the infants it was Soldier's March by Schumann. In the juniors we had the Bach (attrib.) Minuet in G (can't have marched to that!) and several other Bach pieces: I remember Jesu, joy of man's desiring and another Bach chorale I've never known the name of. I used to go home and try and play them on my recorder. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Might it have been Sheep May Safely Graze? I'm trying to think of very well-known chorales/chorale-type pieces.

[andante_in_c]

Oh yes! In the infants it was Soldier's March by Schumann. In the juniors we had the Bach (attrib.) Minuet in G (can't have marched to that!) and several other Bach pieces: I remember Jesu, joy of man's desiring and another Bach chorale I've never known the name of. I used to go home and try and play them on my recorder. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Might it have been Sheep May Safely Graze? I'm trying to think of very well-known chorales/chorale-type pieces.

No, I know that one rather well. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

This one starts something like: BABCDCBAGF#GABCDB EDEFEDCBAG'F#EDCBA BABCDBCD GF#GABGAB EF#GCB A G. (All notes running quavers or semiquavers unless there is a space between.)

[clavicembalo]

Oh yes! In the infants it was Soldier's March by Schumann. In the juniors we had the Bach (attrib.) Minuet in G (can't have marched to that!) and several other Bach pieces: I remember Jesu, joy of man's desiring and another Bach chorale I've never known the name of. I used to go home and try and play them on my recorder. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Might it have been Sheep May Safely Graze? I'm trying to think of very well-known chorales/chorale-type pieces.

No, I know that one rather well. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

This one starts something like: BABCDCBAGF#GABCDB EDEFEDCBAG'F#EDCBA BABCDBCD GF#GABGAB EF#GCB A G. (All notes running quavers or semiquavers unless there is a space between.)

That's 'In Thy Love Let Us Perish' or 'Ertodt uns durch dein' Gute'. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I was actually going to suggest that one, but thought that the title might have made them think twice!

[andante_in_c]

Oh yes! In the infants it was Soldier's March by Schumann. In the juniors we had the Bach (attrib.) Minuet in G (can't have marched to that!) and several other Bach pieces: I remember Jesu, joy of man's desiring and another Bach chorale I've never known the name of. I used to go home and try and play them on my recorder. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Might it have been Sheep May Safely Graze? I'm trying to think of very well-known chorales/chorale-type pieces.

No, I know that one rather well. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

This one starts something like: BABCDCBAGF#GABCDB EDEFEDCBAG'F#EDCBA BABCDBCD GF#GABGAB EF#GCB A G. (All notes running quavers or semiquavers unless there is a space between.)

That's 'In Thy Love Let Us Perish' or 'Ertodt uns durch dein' Gute'. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I was actually going to suggest that one, but thought that the title might have made them think twice!

Thanks. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[fsharpminor]

At primary school Miss Riley often bashed out Sousa marches, particularly 'Liberty Bell', but rarely 'Colonel Bogey'

[Aquarelle]

At my grammar school I don't remember "coming in" music. I think we were expected to sit in silence. But there was "going out" music and this was supplied on a rota basis by those of us having piano lessons. When the music tteacher herself played we had lots of different classical pieces unless she had arrived without her music. Then we always got Mozart's Alla Turca. I think it was the only piece she could play from memory.
But she was a terrific teacher!

We also had to take it in turns to play the hymn. It once fell to me to play "Jerusalem". I have not forgotten the embarassment when the thumping great first chord came out as a tiny ping. I had my foot on the wrong pedal!!

[Crotchetymum]

It was the music going into assembly that speeded up the end of my piano-playing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Once we reached a certain level we were expected to play in the hall as everyone filed in. Some of the girls were amazing musicians - I know I wasn't as good as they were and the thought of playing in front of 600 girls scared me witless.

[dorfmouse]

At grammar school it was usually someone who had piano lessons playing as we assembled. I'd had a year or so of lessons at about 9 years old then had to give up for family financial circumstances. But I remember being captivated by someone playing a haunting melody, and I asked and asked until I found out it was ... you've guessed ... dear old much maligned Für Elise! Heaven knows how well or badly it was played, but at the time I don't think I'd imagined anything so beautiful and it made me determined that I too was going to play that someday. So thank you that unknown schoolgirl pianist!

[Bass Clef]

Our headteacher had a bit of a penchant for 'Albatross' so sometimes he used to indulge himself and play it while we came in; he stood at the front getting very excited and saying things like, 'Imagine this huge bird gliding through the air....amazing!' I thought it was pretty funny at the time, but now I can understand that music does strange things to people!

[Little Elf]

we always used to have music playing on a record player for going into and coming out of assembly. The only one I can remember though is "morning" from peer gynt.

[clavicembalo]

we always used to have music playing on a record player for going into and coming out of assembly. The only one I can remember though is "morning" from peer gynt.

Just noticed the PhD in your signature. Wow, congratulations! I only have a B.Sc., in Applied Mathematics. What was the area of your study?

[barry-clari]

Secondary school, nothing.

Primary school, usually something along the lines of Richard Clayderman...

This record came up quite a lot...

[clavicembalo]

Secondary school, nothing.

Primary school, usually something along the lines of Richard Clayderman...

This record came up quite a lot...

Phew! I'm so glad we had Tchaikovsky! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)