Portsmouth Sinfonia
| Company type | Orchestra |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Founder | Gavin Bryars |
| Defunct | 1979 |
| Headquarters | Portsmouth , England |
| Products | Concerts, albums, film, singles |
The Portsmouth Sinfonia was an English orchestra established in 1970 by students from the Portsmouth School of Art.[1] This ensemble was unique in that it accepted participants regardless of their musical background or experience with their chosen instruments. Among its founding members was the English composer Gavin Bryars. Originally conceived as a one-time performance art project, the group gradually transformed into a cultural sensation throughout the 1970s, producing concerts, albums, a film, and even a charting single before their final public appearance in 1979.[2]
History
Gavin Bryars emphasized the experimental nature of music over adherence to conventional orchestral precision. He welcomed all individuals willing to participate, with no prerequisite skills beyond commitment and attendance. Their inaugural recording was a flexi disc featuring Rossini's William Tell Overture, which served as an invitation to their degree exhibition.[2]
The Sinfonia's early selections included classical favorites such as "The Blue Danube" and Also sprach Zarathustra, pieces that members could approximate despite limited technical ability. As their repertoire grew, they incorporated popular genres including rock music. Notably, Brian Eno contributed on clarinet and produced their first two albums.
Following an invitation from composer Michael Parsons, they performed at London's prestigious Royal Festival Hall. Their debut album, Portsmouth Sinfonia Plays the Popular Classics, was released in 1974. On 28 May 1974, they attracted thousands of attendees for a concert conducted by John Farley at the Royal Albert Hall. In 1981, their single "Classical Muddly", produced by manager Martin Lewis and issued through Springtime!/Island Records, remixed earlier recordings with a disco rhythm. This track, inspired by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's "Hooked on Classics," achieved a position within the UK top 40 charts.[3]
As time passed, members enhanced their musical abilities, which diminished the group's original novelty. Although never officially dissolved, the Sinfonia stopped performing publicly after 1979.
A rendition of Also sprach Zarathustra by the Sinfonia became an internet meme known as "orchestra fail," gaining popularity through endorsements by musician Devin Townsend and being featured by Swedish band Peter Bjorn and John during their 2011 US tour.
In 2011, BBC Radio 4 broadcasted a documentary about the Portsmouth Sinfonia presented by Jolyon Jenkins. Gavin Bryars refuted assertions that membership was restricted to beginners, describing this as a "scurrilous rumour."[4]
Inspired by similar ideas, Michael Nyman later formed Foster's Social Orchestra, which appeared on the soundtrack of the 1999 film Ravenous.
Albums
- 1973: Plays The Popular Classics (Transatlantic Records TRA 275)
- 1974: Hallelujah (Transatlantic Records TRA 285)
- 1979: 20 Classic Rock Classics (Philips 9109 231)
Singles
- 1973: William Tell Overture / Blue Danube Waltz (Transatlantic Records BIG 515) – Featured on the album "Plays The Popular Classics"
- 1974: An Der Schönen Blauen Donau / Also Sprach Zarathustra (Transatlantic Records M 25.609) – Taken from the album "Plays The Popular Classics"
- 1981: Classical Muddly / Hallelujah Chorus (Springtime Records WIP 6736) – Achieved position No. 38 on the UK Singles Chart
Compilation
- 1993: Dead Parrot Society: The Best of British Comedy (Rhino Records R2 71049) – A compilation featuring four tracks by Portsmouth Sinfonia, including the previously unreleased live recording Overture/Pinball Wizard (Live!).
Collaborations
With Eno
- 1974: Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) (Island ILPS 9309) – Portsmouth Sinfonia provided string performances on the track Put a Straw Under Baby.
See also
External links
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedDu-Noyer - ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedSunday Times - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedBritish Hit Singles & Albums - ↑ "BBC Radio 4 - In Living Memory, Series 14, Episode 4". BBC. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
- 1970 establishments in England
- 1979 disestablishments in England
- British instrumental musical groups
- British comedy musical groups
- English orchestras
- Disbanded orchestras
- British outsider musicians
- Musicians from Portsmouth
- Musical groups established in 1970
- Musical groups disestablished in 1979
- Organisations based in Portsmouth