Education ViVA
Dragon Scales
Wednesday 27th June 2007
Assembly Rooms, Derby
Wednesday 27 June 2007 saw Derby's Assembly Rooms filled with the voices of nearly 2000 primary school children from all over Derbyshire joining together to perform two Dragon Scales concerts. Dragon Scales was a partnership between sinfonia ViVA and Children's Music Workshop (CMW).
" The children had a fantastic experience working with professional musicians who as well as being excellent musicians were warm, caring and funny. A once in a lifetime experience." - Teacher
In the lead up to the performances choral animateur and conductor David Lawrence visited six primary schools in Derby and Derbyshire and worked with the students and their teachers to learn songs all themed around pentatonic music and dragons!
" I liked it when David came and we were singing to him. It was fun because he kept on making us laugh." - Participant
Between April and June 2007 the same schools also worked alongside sinfonia ViVA musicians with workshop leaders James Redwood and Jack Ross from CMW to create a new composition 'The Lost Dragon'.
" They loved these sessions particularly the creative sessions they were able to be really imaginative and creative whilst having fun. The practical nature of the sessions also kept their interest and concentration." - Teacher
This imaginative composition, created by the pupils themselves, told the story of the search for the 'The Lost Dragon'. The work was devised using the pentatonic or five note scale.
" Wow! The opportunity to work alongside professionals and to sing with a 'real' orchestra. The opportunity to perform at a venue that raised their self-esteem and in the words of one young lady 'made me feel like a real singer'." - Teacher
Building on the theme of pentatonic music, sinfonia ViVA accompanied the choir and audience in several songs composed using pentatonic scales. These included well-known spiritual songs, such as 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot' and 'I'm Gonna Sing' as well as excerpts from Bob Chilcott's 'Back Where I Was Born' and Malcolm Singer's 'Dragons!'
"I'm never going to forget the words to these beautiful songs we sang. " - Participant
"They sounded much nicer than just a CD player. " - Participant
To continue the pentatonic theme sinfonia ViVA were joined by three musicians from the ensemble Chinese Whispers. Ruijun Hu who played the Dizi or Chinese flute, Ling Peng on the Erhu, a traditional Chinese bowed string instrument and Ying Xiao who played the Guzheng, a traditional Chinese harp. Arranger Matt Beckingham orchestrated some traditional Chinese melodies for the Orchestra and musicians from the Chinese Whispers ensemble to perform together.
"They loved it! Not many had experienced anything like this. A fantastic opportunity. " - Teacher
Some of the other orchestral highlights included Minoru Miki's 'Marimba Spiritual' featuring Adrian Spillett on the marimba and Tan Dun's 'To the South' from the Crouching Tiger Concerto which featured a solo from ViVA's principal cellist Deirdre Bencsik.
" I was really inspired by the Chinese flute because the sound was slow and peaceful. I also enjoyed the xylophone because the man that was playing used two beaters and still hit the right note which was amazing." - Participant
Dragon Scales was made possible through the generous support of Rolls Royce plc, Derby City Council, Orchestras Live, Derbyshire Community Foundation, CMW and sinfonia ViVA.
Images from the project...
