We have had a full week back at school and it has been a delight to see the pupils return with a vibrant buzz. It has particularly been lovely to dive in with so much music at FHS, which warrants the return of the ‘Musical Moment’, an opportunity for members of the FHS community to share some music with you. If the music is familiar, it will be a reminder to listen and enjoy – but if it is brand new, we hope that you listen with open ears and use it as part of a wide listening palette. There will be lots of different styles!

While we have all been away from FHS, the largest classical music festival in the world, BBC Proms, has been taking place on our doorstep. The closing night is tomorrow (Saturday 14th) night if you wish to tune in on your TVs and enjoy a wonderful spirited, diverse and cultured family occasion. There has been hundreds of fresh and familiar music played at the festival since July and you can listen to any of the concerts you like, for free, via BBC Sounds or BBC iPlayer.

Some of the best, most well-known pieces have been heard and, in fact, some of the Music Staff will be attending tonight’s concert of Beethoven’s Third (Eroica Symphony), alongside Louise Farrenc and W.A Mozart to boot. There has been a plethora of genres, styles and atmospheres throughout the season and one day to draw you towards, was the selection of concerts last Saturday. In the morning, Stanford, Parry and beautiful English gems woke everyone up and the concert of Handel’s Messiah made an electrifying evening.

However, I am recommending what was heard in the middle of the trio of concerts. Jason Max Ferdinand, American choir superstar, led his singers through a range of contemplative, beautiful, energetic, fun and weird choral music. The opening item of the concert, World O World, is a beautiful soundscape, recorded by Ferdinand and his exceptional choir, The Aeolians of Oakwood University, and written by musical polymath, Jacob Collier.

This is a song all about building energy and final farewells, with extreme expressive and interpretative contrasts. I would recommend that you listen to anything that takes your fancy from this fantastic BBC Proms season (Florence & The Machine? Doctor Who? Beethoven 9 from Memory?) but, if you are able to spare just over 7 minutes of your day to experience the piece below, I think it will move you…

Elliot Mercer, Head of Co-Curricular Music