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A search for the orchestra that best captures the spirit of great British amateur music-making. The five orchestras must master that pinnacle of orchestral playing - the symphony.

Four-part series looking for the orchestra that best captures the spirit of great British amateur music-making in the UK.

Presented by Proms host and former Strictly Come Dancing finalist Katie Derham, it attempts to get under the skin of the real musical and personal challenges that face five amateur orchestras as they try to truly come together and rise to new musical heights. Can the players master their sheet music while also getting on with their varied day jobs as farmers, supermarket workers, carers and undertakers? Who will rise to the challenge? And who will find themselves dismissed from the contest?

The series begins with five amateur orchestras from across the UK - The Slaithwaite Philharmonic from Yorkshire, The North Devon Symphonia, The London Gay Symphony Orchestra, The Stirling Orchestra and The People's Orchestra from Birmingham.

Each orchestra receives a masterclass from the series judge, world-renowned conductor Paul Daniel, while double-bass maestro Chi-chi Nwanoku mentors each orchestra as they strive to reach their full potential.

This week's challenge is to master that pinnacle of orchestral playing, the symphony. Each of the five orchestras tackle an allotted extract from the likes of Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov which they then perform at the BBC's legendary Maida Vale Studios - after which one orchestra will be eliminated from the contest by Daniel.

1 hour

Last on

Thu 1 Sep 201623:15
BBC Two

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:00

    Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 7 (In a Presto) 

  • 00:02

    The Proclaimers

    I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)

  • 00:04

    Antonín Dvořák

    Symphony No 9 'the New World Symphony' 

    Orchestra: Stirling Orchestra .
  • 00:05

    John Hardie , Gavin Warwick & Davy Cattanach

    The Hills of Glenorchy 

  • 00:06

    Bedrich Smetana

    The Moldau from Ma Vlast 

    Orchestra: Stirling Orchestra .
  • 00:07

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Overture From the Marriage of Figaro 

  • 00:08

    Black Sabbath

    War Pigs 

  • 00:09

    Hector Berlioz

    Symphonie Fantastique 

    Orchestra: The People's Orchestra .
  • 00:12

    Muse

    Feeling Good

  • 00:15

    Tinie Tempah

    Pass Out

  • 00:15

    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Symphony 6 

    Orchestra: London Gay Symphony Orchestra .
  • 00:18

    Johann Sebastian Bach

    Cello Suite No 1 in G 

    Performer: Yo‐Yo Ma.
  • 00:19

    The National

    Run Away

  • 00:20

    Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony 5 

    Orchestra: North Devon Sinfonia .
  • 00:22

    Antonio Vivaldi

    2nd Movement Concerto G Major

    Performer: Sol Gabetta.
  • 00:24

    The Specials

    A Message To You, Rudy (feat. Rico Rodriguez)

  • 00:25

    Xhosa Cole 

    I Want to Live in the West Midlands

  • 00:26

    Hector Berlioz

    Symphonie Fantastique 

    Performer: The People's Orchestra .
  • 00:27

    Philips White 

    Hunting For the Secret 

  • 00:27

    Antonio Vivaldi

    Flute Concerto in G Major 

  • 00:29

    Sergey Rachmaninov

    Symphony No. 2 

    Orchestra: Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra .
  • 00:31

    Kallins Teller 

    By Chance Negative 

  • 00:31

    Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony 5 

    Orchestra: North Devon Sinfonia .
  • 00:33

    Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No 8 in F Major 

  • 00:33

    Sergey Rachmaninov

    Symphony No. 2 

    Orchestra: Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra .
  • 00:36

    Rondo Allegro 

    Piano Concerto No 3 in C Minor 

  • 00:38

    Antonín Dvořák

    Symphony No 9 'the New World Symphony' 

    Orchestra: Stirling Orchestra .
  • 00:39

    Philips White 

    Hunting For the Secret 

  • 00:40

    Rondo Allegro 

    Piano Concerto No 3 in C Minor 

  • 00:41

    Sergey Rachmaninov

    Symphony No. 2 

    Orchestra: Slaithwaite Philamonic Orchestra .
  • 00:43

    Dexys Midnight Runners

    Geno 

  • 00:44

    Hector Berlioz

    Symphonie Fantastique 

    Orchestra: The People's Orchestra .
  • 00:47

    Beethoven 

    Symphony Number 5 

    Performer: Chi-Chi Nwanoku.
  • 00:49

    Years & Years

    Desire

  • 00:50

    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Symphony 6 

    Orchestra: London Gay Symphony Orchestra .
  • 00:52

    London Philharmonic Strings 

    Palladio I Allegretto 

  • 00:56

    Florence + the Machine

    Cosmic Love

  • 00:58

    Beethoven 

    Symphony No 7 - in a Presto 

Credits

PresenterKatie Derham
Series ProducerChi Ukairo
Executive ProducerClaire Whalley
ProducerBen Whalley
DirectorBen Whalley

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