Goldie's Band - the Executive Producer's view
Post categories: BBC Classical Music TV, behind the scenes
|11:01 UK Time, Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Goldie's Band performing at Buckingham Palace
Goldie's Band: By Royal Appointment has been greeted with acclaim by audiences and critics, who have been quick to identify and praise the 'real', raw talent on display from the band members; for many of the musicians – from the worlds of Western and Eastern classical to jazz, rap, and beatbox – the music they create has been inspired by difficulties they have had to overcome in their personal lives. The series is made by the BBC's Classical Music Television department. Here, executive producer Celina Parker sums up her thoughts as Goldie's Band reaches its final episode.
Returning to Christ’s Hospital for final rehearsals was a huge moment for Goldie's Band mentors, musicians and production team alike. Our first residential had been so rich – musically and personally – that expectations were high. And with just three days to go until the Buckingham Palace concert in the presence of HRH Prince Harry, so was the nervousness …
After the first residential – the subject of last Saturday's episode – Goldie had asked each band member to write one piece while they were back at home during the down time before the second and final residential. The mentors gathered to hear the results and it was immediately clear there was a degree of frustration and disappointment. It was a difficult morning session with the band that day – but by lunchtime everyone was firmly focused on the task ahead: to deliver a polished, 45-minute set of original music in 72 hours. Now I’m well aware that TV loves its jeopardy – in this instance, I could have lived without it.
From a filming perspective there was a lot to cover: Cerys Matthews did some remarkable work with Kwabena Adjepong on his song ‘Lost Child’. Goldie had asked Kwabs to really let rip with his performance, and with Cerys’s help that’s exactly what he did; his once modest 12-bar blues evolving into the most extraordinary, raw performance
Other mentors worked on the material generated over the break. Some, like fellow singer Shahid Khan’s inspirational anthem Nothing’s Impossible just required arranging and orchestration. Others, like the drum 'n' bass track Make Change, weren’t in such good shape. Goldie got focused and over two intense sessions, the band pulled it back from the brink.With one day to go I needed to know the final set list. Understandably, it took the mentors some time to agree which pieces made the cut (and there could be a documentary in that process alone!). We had 45 minutes performance time, tops.I think it’s fair to say that Buckingham Palace run a tight operation and like any professional gig – things had to work to time. So as our small but perfectly formed crew left rehearsals to set up at the Palace, the mentors got down to shortening some pieces, combining others and drilling the band in their changes from one track to the next.
After this … it was over to them.
The truth is that, in narrative terms,we had too much strong footage for this final 60-minute episode. It soon became clear that the Buckingham Palace concert itself was so powerful, that we had to let it run in its entirety – which of course gave little time to unpack the story of those final rehearsals. But, in the end, the music spoke more eloquently than any other footage could.
I know this series has taken every one of the band members on a journey. They weren’t alone. No member of the production team was untouched by what they experienced. For me, making this series has been a privilege – a consuming one perhaps, with its bumpy bits – but a privilege I would not have missed.
Comment number 1.
At 20:23 9th Apr 2011, JohnN wrote:very impressive considering the amount of time that was available
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Comment number 2.
At 21:08 9th Apr 2011, emma wrote:I've just watched the last episode, how amazing! Each and every one of the songs moved me, some to tears! Very many congratulations to all the artists involved and I hope the future is bright xxxx
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Comment number 3.
At 21:58 9th Apr 2011, KimberleyClarke wrote:Congratulations to the BBC, Goldie and his fellow professional musicians but most of all to Goldie's Band - a truly inspiring and talented group of young people. As a fellow sufferer of mental health problems I can only admire and take inspiration from the courage they have show. A brilliant programme - we need more like this. Take note Simon Cowell - this is real talent.
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Comment number 4.
At 22:50 9th Apr 2011, Tim wrote:Hi Celina, I want to say congratulations for a great show, and particularly thank you for going with the decision to show the whole concert in full - I can well imagine there was a lot more story from the final residential, but your decision to show the concert in full was surely right.
I also thought I'd mention that I wrote a blog about the show last week that has been picking up a bit of traffic tonight - if you get a chance you might want to read the comments; there's a lot of love for this show!
link to my blog
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Comment number 5.
At 14:23 10th Apr 2011, macthestr1fe wrote:To echo what I have said on another blog, I can only hope that after these fantastic musicians have been lifted to such heights, they are not abandoned to their individual fates. The music business is well known for eating up and spitting out.
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Comment number 6.
At 19:36 10th Apr 2011, Fanboy2001 wrote:Please ! Please ! show more !!! Maybe a extended version of the last show with more on the process of each songs!!!
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Comment number 7.
At 21:05 10th Apr 2011, jonbissongsy wrote:Hi,
Great series, very moved by all the people involved. Will there be an album available containing this music? It would be great. Maybe the proceeds could go towards helping the band take the next step.
thanks
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Comment number 8.
At 22:47 10th Apr 2011, Neil Leacy wrote:Dear Celina,
It's so good to hear stories from the people behind the scenes. You have all to be congratulated for producing such an inspiring show. Please consider editing and showing an extended version so that we coudl see and learn more about all that went in to such an emotional concert.
Cheers, Neil
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Comment number 9.
At 13:13 11th Apr 2011, goreckidawn wrote:Dear Celina, What an amazing show and I found it incredibly inspiring!
I feel frustration that it was such a short series and in particular the final episode could not be longer, I would have really liked to see a whole hour on the run up and then a whole hour on the concert and their thoughts moving forward, I wanted to know how they felt after. I would too support an extended version being available, or even further filming to see how each member is getting on with their journey in music, I welcome this kind of programme showing people doing what they were born to do, and I would like to thank you for making it a reality.
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Comment number 10.
At 21:58 11th Apr 2011, tony wrote:Inspiration stuff, very moving. Please, please, please can you show the full concert and release an album?
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Comment number 11.
At 05:11 13th Apr 2011, Jaxon wrote:good stuff... inspirational! love ya'lls vocals especially Celines! Would love to work with ya! Motivation for the Nation!!!
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Comment number 12.
At 00:04 16th Apr 2011, radiomart wrote:Fantastic idea and brilliant, real music! Let's have more! ... Open the olympics Goldie?!
One little request - when the performances start (Concert, final episode), PLEASE relocate the voiceovers and play the pieces 'clean'. Crashing the music like that is just NOT RIGHT! ...& could be fixed for the iPlayer. Apart from that, great.
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