Beethoven's Big Birthday Bash
On the eve of New Zealand’s Covid-19 lockdown(!), a few hundred musicians gathered in the Auckland Town Hall for what was a whopper Auckland Philharmonia massed event. To celebrate Beethoven’s 250th birthday, I arranged his 5th Symphony (first movement) and 9th Symphony (fourth movement) to be rehearsed under musical director Giordano Bellincampi with musicians ranging in technical ability from beginner through to professional, plus a choir.
It’s a project that eventuated over many months in close collaboration with the APO, with section cuts coming from Giordano, and bowings and proofing of junior parts by the players. It was created as part of my position as their Kaitito Pāpori Communities Composer. It’s one of those events that’s just so great to be apart of as we had some of the countries highest caliber professional musicians, alongside amateur musicians, alongside students, alongside people in the community who’s instruments have been in the cupboard for too long. Here’s some pictures and a video of the final performances:
Photos by Adrian Malloch. Video by JX Live.
I’ve done a few of these types of arrangements now, refining the process each time. I set them up by having an intermediate and beginner part each sitting under each professional (original) part. This means each section can still function as one, and the younger musicians, while having less notes to play, can have the full experience. See the first page of the 9th score below:
I’m delighted that these arrangements are now working their way around the country. The first stop being in Wellington this Sunday with Orchestra Wellington. They say:
Image by Orchestra Wellington.
2020 is the 250th birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven and we will be celebrating in style. ‘Beethoven’s Big Birthday Bash’ is a mass play-in / sing-in event which will bring together hundreds, if not thousands, of singers and players from across the Wellington region, in a glorious afternoon of music-making. Led by Orchestra Wellington Music Director Marc Taddei, all together we will rehearse and then perform the first movement of Beethoven’s dramatic Fifth Symphony and the last movement of his glorious Ninth Symphony, Ode to Joy. Special arrangements of the two Beethoven works are available for less advanced musicians.
When: Sunday 19 July, 2-5pm. Where: Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua
