Tum-ti-tum-ti-tum-ti-tum - the DIY version ...
Post categories: BBC Radio 3, Light Fantastic
|13:02 UK Time, Monday, 16 May 2011
Conductor Gavin Sutherland with cameraman Chris Price
Three weeks ago the BBC Concert Orchestra assembled at Henry Wood Hall in South London for an unusual assignment - recording Arthur Wood's Barwick Green (aka the theme tune to Radio 4's The Archers) in front of cameras from Radio 3 Interactive, under my direction.
The idea of online performances isn't new - we've had the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, recruited from video audiitions, and composer Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir, formed from singers recording the parts of Whitacre pieces and uploading them. Our idea is even more ambitious because Barwick Green has 23 parts!
Back at Henry Wood Hall, some 14 takes later, the orchestra were showing no signs of flagging; but we had our video shots in the bag, and an all-important sound recording which would be crucial for the next stage in the process: our conductor Gavin Sutherland had to record a video of himself conducting the piece to playback, staring straight into the camera. This was the all-important 'guide' video which will set the tempo for the online performers' own recordings.
Gavin performed the task with distinction, investing this essentially artificial exercise with charm and animation. He brought similar qualities to his piece-to-camera in which he explains how to join the online orchestra and take part.
Using one of the most widely known and recognised pieces of light music in the world, I see this project as offering a fun way to connect people with the gloriously rich genre of light music and involve them the Light Fantastic festival. So if you or any of your friends and relations play a string, woodwind, or brass instrument, harp, timpani or percussion, do have a look at the web page and have a go ... we can't wait to hear the results!
Graeme Kay is an interactive producer for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Classical Music TV.
Comment number 1.
At 21:02 7th Jul 2011, ChrisB wrote:Thanks R3 for LIGHT FANTASTIC, more please but, next time, spread it over a greater period of time as it was far too much to find time for. Highlights were the live sessions with Sutherland and French; disappointments were the absence of tracks from the ASV Festival of Light Music CD which is quite the best LM compilation in the past decade. Next time round could we please have a concert featuring non-British music and including the BBC Big Band with BBC Concert orchestra strings, as often happened in Germany in the '60s and '70s. Again though, many thanks for what was presented. The interviews were almost as valuable as the music. Chris B
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