The Making Music Overture is a new work
that we hope will become as famous as Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture through performances by Making Music member groups in the run-up to the 2012 Olympic Games. The work is supported with funds from the PRS for Music Foundation and the RVW Trust.
Orlando Gough, composer
Orlando Gough has written the Making Music Overture with his friend the Guyanese/British poet John Agard. Here is a short extract from his introduction to the piece which he has called 'Traditional Values':
'Our piece looks at three very traditional, rather John Majorish aspects of Britishness – tea, the weather and cricket – and reconsiders them. The tone is affectionate, ironic and celebratory, and the music is suffused with influences of pop music, gospel, reggae, calypso, bhangra and qawwali. What is really being celebrated here, I think, is not so much tea, the weather and cricket themselves but stoicism, tolerance, adaptability, irony and, by the myriad influences on the music, diversity – some of our great national characteristics.'
Listen to the Making Music Overture 'Traditional Values' by Orlando Gough
'Traditional Values' (stereo mix)
The BBC Singers perform the Making Music Overture 'Traditional Values'
Conductor Adrian Peacock, Recording Engineer Adele Conlin, recorded at BBC Maida Vale Studios
Why get involved?
The project has been planned so that Making Music members groups of all abilities and genres can be involved. This is your opportunity to take part in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic celebrations, wherever you are in the UK. An opportunity to form new partnerships, reach new audiences, benefit from publicity and PR, and to offer local audiences an opportunity to celebrate with you. Making Music will support members to publicise their events. Set a date to perform the Making Music Overture 'Traditional Values' now!
