Education ViVA

Music of the Spheres
Lincoln Drill Hall
6 December 2011

"Thank you for letting us have a wonderful experience. I loved it! I didn’t want it to end." - (Participant, Nettleham Junior School)

On Tuesday 6 December students from Monks Abbey Primary School, Nettleham Junior School and Lincoln College gave a one off performance of Music of the Spheres alongside sinfonia ViVA at Lincoln Drill Hall. This performance was the culmination of a creative music project that started in October 2011.

"I enjoyed all of it. I loved it. It was magical." - (Participant, Nettleham Junior School)

On 17 September all the participants visited the Drill Hall and The Collection to explore Metro-Boulot-Dodo's Four Seasons installation. This was part of their inspiration day and they also took part in an art workshop led by staff from The Collection and a music session with workshop leader James Redwood and sinfonia ViVA musicians Janina Kopinska (viola) and David Ayre (double bass) during which they learnt the song Music of the Spheres (which had new words created by the staff and ViVA musicians at their planning session).

"I liked how you were involved with the art, as in normal galleries you’re not allowed to touch things but in this you can." - (Participant, Nettleham Junior School)

During November James, Janina and David visited each of the groups for a series of creative music workshops. The participants created new music and songs that were inspired by a variety of sources linked to the ancient Greek idea that the speed at which the planets were spinning created a kind of magical music up in the heavens. The participants used ideas from their visit to the Drill Hall and The Collection as well as inspiration and musical material from the repertoire - Belá Bartók's Divertimento and Astor Piazzolla's Four Seasons of Buenos Aires. Each of the three groups created two pieces - a song and an instrumental piece for each primary school and two instrumental pieces at the college. All the groups also worked on another two pieces which they would perform altogether at the culmination concert.

"The opportunity to work alongside such quality musicians is a real highlight of our year. Their skill, professionalism and creativity are infectious." - (Teacher, Nettleham Junior School)

On Monday 5 December all of the participants gathered at the Drill Hall for a joint rehearsal. This was the first time the schools and college had worked together since the inspiration day and they were joined by conductor, Nicholas Collon, who helped to polish and perfect the music they had created.

"I liked working with other schools because it was interesting to see how the others thought." - (Participant, Nettleham Junior School)

The following day the young performers were joined by 18 string players from sinfonia ViVA. The music devised in workshops by the participants had been orchestrated by James and the massed ensemble spent the afternoon rehearsing. That evening the participants and sinfonia ViVA performed to an audience of friends, family and the general public. Music of the Spheres included the new music created by the participants interspersed with the Bartók and Piazzolla.

"It felt amazing to perform with an orchestra." - (Participant, Nettleham Junior School)

During the first half of the concert the seasons of Lincoln composed by the participants were played alongside The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires by Piazzolla and both these pieces were accompanied by pictures of the two cities in summer, autumn, winter and spring. The second half of the concert featured Bartók's Divertimento interspersed with music created by the participants and finished with the finale Music of the Spheres involving everyone on stage. The whole ensemble gave a superb performance that was thoroughly enjoyed by all those in attendance. It was a magnificent evening of music making.

"I felt amazing and I felt part of something big. I enjoyed the whole experience." - (Participant, Nettleham Junior School)

Music of the Spheres was generously supported by: Rolls-Royce plc, Bergne Coupland Trust, Orchestras Live, Lincolnshire County Council, Lincoln Drill Hall, sinfonia ViVA and Arts Council England.

Images from the project...