Play IT Again - Events

Events

Play It Again is also trying to get people interested in playing music. The BBC have organised several free events, between 21 April and 15 July 2007 around the UK. These events, directed by British composer Tim Steiner are open to any one and offer participants the chance to perform with one of the BBC orchestras and BBC Singers.

Members of the public can sign-up to play an instrument or, if not playing, to sing or to play a percussion instrument.

Each event lasts for a morning or afternoon and is based on an arrangement of Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story, specifically the number "Tonight" which is appropriately titled 'Not Tonight'. The musical score for 'Not Tonight' is split into 4 lines for each instrument part. These range in difficulty from 1 - easiest to 4 - hardest. The arrangement is deliberately aimed at being inclusive to accommodate a wide range of musical expertise from complete beginner so all of the public can take part. Each of the musical parts has a least one BBC Friend from the orchestra to help and guide their guests from the public.

In the first part of the event the public performers are treated to a mini-concert performance by the BBC Orchestra and Tim Steiner then uses the orchestra to illustrate the musical themes and the roles played by sections of the orchestra. At the end of the first section the public are split into their specific groups based on instrument, these being instrumental; saxophone; singer; percussion; others (generally guitar-like including electric, acoustic, classical but also anything of a similar family such as banjo, mandela etc.)

In the second part of the event the individual sections are rehearsed separately. Those classified as 'instrumental' rehearse with the BBC Orchestra. Lines 1 to 4 are rehearsed together with some improvisation at times. All of it is done with much humour on the part of Tim Steiner and everyone involved.

There is then a break for refreshments at which everyone gets the chance to compare notes with other members of the public and to find out about the instruments being brought in and the varying musical experience of others.

In the final part all the individually rehearsed sections of the super orchestra (which might be almost 300-strong with the 70-strong BBC orchestra) are brought together and rehearsed as a group. This culminates in a short public performance of the Not Tonight number.

The format of the individual parts of an event can be heard in the HUMS Aloud podcast under External Links