PORTSMOUTH SINFONIA Plays Popular Classics LP BRIAN ENO GAVIN BRYARS NWW AVANT
£
25
$
33
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Description
PORTSMOUTH SINFONIA "Plays The Popular Classics" LP.
Produced by Brian Eno, who also plays clarinet on this album.
Original UK pressing on the Transatlantic label (TRA 275) from 1973. The laminated sleeve is in EX- condition (lamination pulling - see picture) and the record is in NEAR MINT condition.
Most folks mistakenly think Roxy Music keyboardist/composer Brian Eno was the brains behind this outfit. Wrong. It was actually composer Gavin Bryars who started the ensemble in 1969 while attending the Portsmouth College of Art (hence the name). (Eno was a member of the group during the 1970 - 74 period and helped produce the group's first two LPs.)
In creating The Portsmouth Sinfonia Bryars' notion was the ultimate in musical democracy - namely anyone could join the group; no matter what skill level or musical proficiency they might have. The commitment was that you attended the rehearsals and made an effort to actually learn the material, which was initially limited to the most commonly known parts of well known classical pieces. By 1973 the group had grown to roughly 80 members, spanning the range from accomplished performers to totally incompetent.
Signed by the small UK folk-oriented Traditional label, the group debuted with 1974's "The Portsmouth Sinfonia Plays the Popular Classics". Amazingly this is a great album. Sure, the thought of folks trying to butcher music may not have much appeal to the rank and file listener, but that's not the case here. These folks were apparently really trying to make good music. That's what makes this so much fun. The clash of will, desire and talent makes for an intriguing blend of blown melodies, happenstance and hysterically funny ineptitude. Imagine a room full of folks trying to guess where the melody is ... or just imagine attending your child's first school band performance. Highlights include something resembling "Nutcracker Suite", "William Tell Overture", a root canal-painful "Also Sprach Zarathustra" and drunken stupor stab at "Blue Danube Waltz". Probably as a result of Eno's participation (he produced the set), Columbia Records picked up American distribution. Clearly unsure what to do with the group, Columbia tried to market the set as a comedy album ("Indisputably, the worst orchestra in the world."). Needless to say, their efforts fell on deaf ears …(Scott Blackerby)
Plays the Popular Classics" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) From Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 (Grieg)
2.) From The Nutcracker Suite (Tschikovsky)
3.) 5th Sinfony in C Minor, Op. 67 (Beethoven)
4.) William Tell Overture (Rossini)
(side 2)
1.) Also Sprach Zarathustra Op. 31 (Excerp) (Richard Strauss)
2.) Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 314 (Johann Strauss)
3.) Air from Suite No. 3 in D Minor (J. S. Bach)
4.) Farandole from L`Arlesienne Suite No. 2 (Bizet)
5.) Jupiter from The Planets, Op. 32 (Excerpt) (Holst)
NOTE! Postage indicated in the auction is not the actual postage as ebay doesn't allow a higher postage then 4 GBP in this category. Postage for this item is 8 GBP to most countries within Europe and 16 GBP for the rest of the world. This is up to 2kg, so you can add up to 6 more LP's for the same postage. Postage for 7 LP´s is the same as for 1 LP, so buy more to save on postage!
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POSTAGE COSTS FOR THE BUYER:
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