Portsmouth Sinfonia - Plays the Popular Classics UK 1973 LP Transatlantic Recs
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Description
Portsmouth Sinfonia - Plays the Popular Classics UK 1973 LP Transatlantic Records Catalogue Number TRA 257
Produced by Brian Eno
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The Portsmouth Sinfonia began in 1970 as the creation of composer Gavin Bryars. Members were either not musicians, or were expected to play an instrument with which they were unfamiliar. In that way, it was similar to Cornelius Cardew's Scratch Orchestra, which had begun the previous year. The Scratch Orchestra focused on improvisation, based on Cardew's unique graphical notation system, while the Sinfonia performed standard classical compositions. Sinfonia players, regardless of skill level, were expected to attend rehearsals and attempt to learn the material. Another predecessor, intentional or not, was Florence Foster Jenkins, who gave recitals starting in 1912, in which she sang - badly - famous operatic arias. The effect, as with the Sinfonia, is generally amusing.
The selections on this LP exhibit haphazard dynamics, arbitrary phrasing, poor coordination between players, and only the barest approximation of the correct notes, although several of the performers are much better than the others. The genius of the originals is rarely apparent, proving that the performer may be more important than the composer. Certainly many fine pieces have been ruined by poor performance, in this case, intentionally. While Jenkins appears to have considered herself a virtuoso, and Cardew was motivated by his political beliefs, Bryars' intentions with the Sinfonia are unclear. Was he trying to make the orchestra more democratic, in that talent was irrelevant? Was he simply making fun of classical music's typical stuffiness? Or did he have some other goal?
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Tracklisting
Side 1
1. From Peer Gynt Suite No. 1: "Morning" (Greig)
2. From Peer Gynt Suite No. 1: "In The Hall Of The Mountain King" (Greig)
3. From The Nutcracker Suite: "Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy" (Tchaikovsky)
4. From The Nutcracker Suite: "Waltz Of The Flowers" (Tchaikovsky)
5. Fifth Symphony In C Minor, Op. 67 (Beethoven)
6. William Tell Overture (Rossini)
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Side 2
1. Also Sprach Zarathustra Op. 31 (R. Strauss)
2. Blue Danube Waltz Op. 314 (J. Strauss)
3. "Air" From Suite No. 3 In D Major (J.S. Bach)
4. "Farandole" From L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2 (Bizet)
5. "Jupiter" From The Planets, Op. 32 (Excerpt) (Holst)
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Sleeve VG+. Record EX-
P&P UK £4.40 Overseas at cost
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