In 1965 we moved to Marandellas (as it
was-now Marondera) and stayed at Peterhouse. The number attending this Camp
rose to 74 and the main works performed by the Orchestra and Choir were the
Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel and Elgar's The Marksman.
"The
week I have just spent at Marandellas has been the most wonderful time I have
ever had." This was how one of the campers summed up the second Musicamp,
and despite the fact that one could not reach the fruit on the huge avocado
tree outside one of the dormitories, Peterhouse seemed the ideal place for
most of the campers.
74
people, including the staff, and ranging in age from 3 to 70, attended this
Camp, sleeping in the school dormitories. Daily routine was similar to that
established at the first Musicamp, with orchestral, group and choral rehearsals,
lectured by John Hodgson and David Goldsmith, and practices for the twelve-strong
dance band. Final concerts were performed at Peterhouse and the University.
At these concerts the Camp Orchestra, Choir and most other groups (including
a recorder group playing a piece composed by David Goldsmith at the beginning
of the week) performed the works which they had been rehearsing.
This
Camp produced several TV "stars" who were interviewed for a feature
on Musicamp-Wilf Budd, Hugh Fenn, Susan Mills, Carol Pinto and Murray Somerville-with
the last two also playing a piano duet.
A
Composition Competition attracted three entries: Bobby Russell's Wind Quartet
won the prize, the other two pieces coming from Susan Oldham and James Martin.
Her Excellency Lady Gibbs paid the Camp a pleasant, informal visit-with the
inevitable photographers in attendance most of the time!
Despite
the odd casualties, with one person falling down a stone terrace, having expected
a flight of stairs, and one or two others succumbing to 'flu, the second Musicamp
was, perhaps, even more marked success than the first had been; on the strength
of this there was a suggestion that future Camps should last for ten days
rather than only a week!
With
the purchase of music, two pianos, drums, African instruments, a double bass
and a tuba it was becoming increasingly necessary to find a permanent home
for Musicamp. A central venue seemed desirable, and this was found at the
Marist Brothers' College near Que Que (Kwekwe) for eleven years-from 1966
to 1976-we travelled along that never-to-be-forgotten, corrugated gravel road,
and found a kind, warm welcome and every possible co-operation from the (long-suffering)
Marist Brothers.
These
were important years in the story of Musicamp: numbers grew, more ambitious
works were played, the net for visiting conductors was thrown more widely,
ideas both practical and unrealistic were discussed-and the cost per camper
was ten shillings (i.e. $1) per day!
Leo
Birsen was elected to the Committee in 1966 and attended most of the Musicamps
held at Marist Brothers College. The String players learnt much from his experience
and direction, as those of us who recall performances of Holst's St Paul's
Suite, Grieg's Holberg Suite and Peter Warlock's Capriol Suite will testify.
Robert
Sibson, who wrote the words and music of A Song of Musicamp in 1967-and this
has been sung at each successive Musicamp-was also a Committee member, Librarian,
conducted the Wind Band, supervised the wind players, wrote out parts-but
above all, his enthusiasm for Musicamp was unbounded and his knowledge of
music as vast.
During
these eleven years the Guest Conductors and the number of Campers were as
follows:
1966 Hugh Fenn 56
1967 Hugh Fenn 100
1968 Hugh Fenn 85
1969 Hugh Fenn 72
1970 Walter Swanson 120
1971 David Goldsmith 65
1972 Walter Swanson 86
1973 Walter Mony 100
1974 Avril Dankworth 65
1975 Derek Hudson 112
1976 Derek Hudson 83
I well remember having to transpose the
music for horn in F to an alto saxophone and wondering whether the notes had
to go up or down and by how much. Robert gave me the answer immediately!
I
also remember acting as his assistant when mending the cistern in Derek Hudson's
flat; Robert was whistling Beethoven's 5th and would break off to ask me for
a spanner or pair of pliers. How he repaired the cistern was a mystery, but
needless to say it worked!
Things
totally unassociated with music occur to me when thinking back to those memorable
years at Marist Brothers': the complete lack of plugs for wash-basins; the
temperamental hot water system; the endless table-tennis tournaments; the
"Bull Paddock" (our name for the men's quarters). But also Bastien
and Bastienne performed under the stars, The Cooper and The Telephone.
