A Cinematic Christmas
Sun, 7 Dec 2025
Conductor: Oliver Till
Leader: Tina Bowles
withTottenham Community Choir
Conductor: Nicki Williamson
Programme:
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Korngold - The Sea Hawk (Suite)
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Borodin - In the Steppes of Central Asia
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Rameau (arr. Noyon) - La Nuit
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Redondo (orch. Scott) - Scarbrorough Fair and The Skye Boat Song
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John Williams - Adventures on Earth (from E.T.)
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Coleridge-Taylor (arr. Baynes) - Christmas Overture
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Trad. (arr. Tony Royse) - Deck the Halls
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Jamie Masters - Christmas Symphony
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Trad. (arr. Tony Royse) - Silent Night
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Copland - Hoedown (from Rodeo)
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Mendelssohn (arr. D. Willcocks) - Hark the Herald
Programme Notes
Erich Wolfgang Korngold - The Sea Hawk
Erich Wofgang Korngold was born in 1897 in Brno, then in Austria-Hungary. He was hailed as a child prodigy in Vienna, and had success with his piano music, ballets and operas. In 1934, with the rise of Nazism in neighbouring Germany, and authoritarianism in Austria, Korngold took up the invitation of the film director Max Reinhardt to move to Hollywood and compose for the silver screen. He stayed in California and died there in 1957.Korngold composed scores for 16 films, and won Oscars for two of them: 'Anthony Adverse' and 'The Adventures of Robin Hood'.
'The Sea Hawk' came out in 1940, with swashbuckling action led by its main star Errol Flynn. The piece is a selection of the film's key themes.
Alexander Borodin - In the Steppes of Central Asia
Alexander Borodin was born in 1833, the illegitimate son of a Georgian nobleman. He qualified as a doctor and chemist but spent much of his spare time composing music.Along with Balakirev, Cui, Mussorgsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin is counted as one of 'The Five' Russian composers who introduced Russian themes into their music. In Borodin's case, this came with a strong sense of Russian orientalism: fantasies about the Russian conquest of central Asia. This is well reflected in his 'symphonic sketch' 'In the Steppes of Central Asia'. A Russian theme blends into an Asian theme, and a pizzicato passage represents the sound of horse and camel hooves on the plains.
John Williams - Adventures on Earth (from E.T.)
Steven Spielberg's film 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial' came out in 1982. For the score, Spielberg approached John Williams to compose the music - their sixth collaboration together after the success of Williams' scores for 'Jaws', 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' and 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'. In the course of composition, the section of the score for 'Adventures on Earth' proved to be extraordinarily difficult to match up to the action on the screen. Spielberg eventually let Williams complete his score, and then edited the film to fit with the score: a real artist recognising genius in another medium.Samuel Coleridge-Taylor - Christmas Overture
Samuel Colreidge-Taylor is best known for his cantata 'Hiawatha's Wedding Feat' drawing on Longfellow's 'The Song of Hiawatha'. Sadly. Coleridge-Taylor died in 1912 at the early age of 37. His 'Christmas Overture' appeared posthumously in 1925, arranged by Sydney Baynes. The three traditional carols are easy to spot in the piece.Jamie Masters - Symphony No 2. 'Christmas'
Jamie Masters is a professional composer based in London. He has written songs and music for theatre, dance, concert and television. About this symphony he writes:'I wrote my Christmas symphony in 2015, with the idea that I could make something small-scale, engaging and appealing, and as much fun for the orchestra to play as for the audience to hear. It's about Christmas in a secular sense, the Christmas that I still love: 'Chrstmassy feelings', hope, homecoming, magic, and the turning of the year.'
1st movement: Advent. Glitter and good cheer as the winter nights grow longer - the high street glows and brass bands play.
2nd movement: Wrapping on Christmas Eve. It's late: exhausted parents wrap presents and put them under the tree, then drift into a daze, before crawling off to bed.
3rd movement: Magic and dreams. Deep into the night, the house is asleep. A mischievous waltz and dreams of sleigh-rides across snowy landscapes.
4th movement: Christmas morning. Brightness, optimism, and a heady mix of anticipation and fulfillment.
Aaron Copland - 'Hoedown' from the ballet 'Rodeo'
Aaron Copland's ballet, 'Rodeo' was the second of his 'cowboy' ballets after 'Billy the Kid'. 'Rodeo' was written in 1942, and the 'Hoedown' was one of its four movements that Copland arranged in an orchestral suite. The 'Hoedown' became one of the most popular compoistions of the American composer.The Concert Charity
Whittington Health Charity is the dedicated charity for Whittington Health NHS Trust. The charity funds projects that go above and beyond what the NHS can provide.Although small, the charity has big ambitions to enhance the care and experiences of patients across the Trust.
One of the current projects funded by the Charity is the creation of a Sanctuary Garden in the heart of Whittington Hospital. It will be a calming space specially designed for patients living with dementia, learning difficulties, or those in intensive care. This tranquil garden will feature sensory plants, gentle music, covered seating, soft flooring, and therpeutic activities to support wellbeing and recovery.
Projects like this are only possible thanks to the generosity of donors.
To find out more visit the website: www.whittingtonhealthcharity.org or follow on Instagram or Facebook at Whittington Health Charity.
The Concert Players
Conductor: Oliver Till
First Violins
- Tina Bowles (Leader)
- Rachel Barbanel
- Jocelyn Berndt
- Leila Boushehei
- Mary Dentschuk
- Steve Dobson
- Ed Lowther
- Catherine Menon
- Lucinda Platt
- Steve Rowlinson
- Máire Sloman
- Nichola Blakey (Principal)
- Ursula Antolik
- Lucy Atherton
- Poppy Boyd-Taylor
- Mark Bullard
- Susan Grayeff
- Calum Henderson
- Aytaç Mevlit
- Gerry Shortall
- Jan Toporowski
- Michiko Ward
- Bronwen Whitaker
- Geoffrey Irwin (Principal)
- Tom Boswell
- Nigel Franklin
- Alys Howells
- Jamie Masters
- Josephone Tsakok
- Josh Salter (Principal)
- Hilary Evans
- Libby Fogg
- Hannah Franklin
- Shirley Franklin
- Janet Hermann
- Katherine Lowe
- Helen Mabelis
- Sopika Toumazi
- Simo Väisänen (Principal)
- Darren Edwards
- Francois Moreau
- Jen Morgan
- Clara Wells
- Graeme Scott
- Natalie Ryan
- Mit Lahiri
- Adrian Hall
- Lindsey Glen
- Ian Merryweather
- Rita Porzi
- Rosalind Hedley-Miller
- Louise Johnston
- Simon Ashdown
- Tom Brett
- Susie Hubbard
- Julie Rooke
- Glyn Jones
- Peter Rolinson
- Charlotte Webb
- Chris Dicken
- Rob Heath
- Josiah Stovell
- Dominic McGonigal
- Stuart Delve
- Sharon Moloney
- Jak Poore
- Tim Saxby
- Emma Phippen
- Daniel Chappell
