HUMS Aloud HUMS Aloud #006a - BBC Play It Again event, Watford (Part 3/3) - Plain MP3

Introduction

Podcast

• I'm Nic Plum and this is ...6th HUMS Aloud podcast
• humsaloud.btpodshow.com
• associated with the Huntingdonshire Music School in what is now Cambridgeshire
• large independent school (400) aimed at musical fun & education for both children and adults
• www.humsa.org.uk

BBC Play It Again TV Series

• www.bbc.co.uk/playitagain
• TV series on BBC 1 where famous people learn an instrument in short order
• BBC running series of events around the UK where the public can sign up to play with a BBC orchestra and singers.
• This is an audio diary taken when myself and daughter took part in an event at Watford Colosseum - just outside London.
• Self - tuba (9 months), daughter (Jess) on flute

Format - last of 3 episodes

• first one dealt with the arrival and settling in
• second one looked at the orchestral rehearsal as a separate group
• in this episode - we talk to other participants during the break and rehearsal as a complete assembly.

Setting the background

• - some 200 + members of public taking part playing with BBC Concert Orchestra
• - varying amounts of experience from complete beginners, never having played to experienced
• - set the task of playing part of Bernsteins' West Side Story including an arrangement of "Tonight" appopriately titled "Not Tonight"
• - everyone has been split up into instrument or voice groups and rehearsed separately
• - each musical part split into 4 lines of increasing difficulty so that everyone can still take part

Orchestral Section - All Together

• - each has been rehearsed and the following is the orchestral section minus saxophones, percussion, singers, others
• - can hear each of the 4 lines being played.
• Quite a lot going on - not everyone is playing same line and therefore have to keep keen eye for the direction from Tim Steiner

Breaktime

• Everyone from the separate groups gathers together for refreshments and biscuits. Good opportunity to share experiencess.

Sharps?

• - break time
• - everyone from all the individual groups gets together for tea & biscuits
• - opportunity to chat to find out how it's going

Meeting People

• - provided opportunity to meet other people
• - hear how two previously strangers meet with a view to joining an ensemble

Duelling Banjos

• - hear how the 'Others' group got on
• - playing 'duelling banjos'?
• - how one person took up the banjo

All Together

Introduction in the Hall

• Everyone gathering in the main hall - all 200+ members of public +70-strong BBC Concert Orchestra + BBC singers. Getting ready for rehearsal as a complete ensemble.

Tim Steiners' Welcome

The 'Others'

• guitars- classical, electric, acoustic and at least 2 banjos. We get to here what they've been rehearsing.

Plus Singers

• singers show what they've done in combination with 'The Others'

Sounding Better - All Together

• everyone plays together

Mambo - Reprise

• practising shouting "Mambo" at the opportune time

Total Confusion - Hah!

• Each group has been practising their version of random note playing at the direction of Tim Steiner. Here we see what random really means. For the violas it appears that it's not so random at all...

Singers ...Singing 'Tonight'

• Singers sing the song 'Tonight' from Bernstein's West Side Story

Tonight - The Performance

• The final performance of 'Not Tonight' with all 200+ public plus the BBC Concert Orchestra & singers 

Outro

• Final episode in audio diary of Play It again event.
• If you are within striking range of Huntingdon - we can provide musical tuition & fun whether adult or child.

Feedback welcomed - particularly on this episode and if you've attended a BBC Play It Again event. Send e-mail/audio feedback to humsaloud@googlemail.com