The film starring the BBC Philharmonic, which is the BBC’s flagship orchestra for the North, based in Salford, has launched for schools across cinema’s across the UK.
Commissioned and produced by BBC Learning and delivered in conjunction with the BBC Performing Groups, the project is designed to introduce a generation of children to classical music and has been extended to secondary schools with a new selection of music for students and teachers to explore.
Ten Pieces II is follow up to last year’s Ten Pieces I aimed at getting primary school children to connect and be inspired by classical music.
The film includes Poet, Broadcaster and University of Manchester Chancellor Lemn Sissay and Salford born actor Christopher Ecclestone among its stars.
It is conducted by Alpesh Chauhan, playing side-by-side with members of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and soloists Nicola Benedetti, Alison Balsom, and DJ Mr Switch, alongside the Hallé Choir. It showcases the Ten Pieces of music that are the basis of the project – representing a wide range of styles and eras relevant to the secondary music curriculum. Each piece is introduced by celebrity presenters, using an engaging mix of live action and animation. The film is designed to act as an exciting gateway to orchestral music, stimulating students and teachers to respond creatively to the repertoire.
It was shot at Manchester’s Victoria warehouse and includes music ranging from Wagner to Bernstein via Shostakovich and Bizet.
The ten pieces and their stars are:
TV presenter and journalist James May: J. S. Bach, orch. Stokowski – Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565 / Soloist: Wayne Marshall
Singer Pixie Lott: Bernstein – ‘Mambo’ from Symphonic Dances from ‘West Side Story’
Actor Bobby Lockwood and TV presenter and actor Naomi Wilkinson: Bizet – ‘Habanera’ and ‘Toreador Song’ from ‘Carmen Suite’
Comedian and rapper Doc Brown: Anna Clyne – Night Ferry
TV presenter and former footballer Dion Dublin: Haydn – Trumpet Concerto (3rd movement) / Soloist: Alison Balsom
Radio 1 presenter Clara Amfo and composer Gabriel Prokofiev: Gabriel Prokofiev -Concerto for Turntables and Orchestra (5th movement)
Soloist: DJ Mr Switch
Poet and Broadcaster Lemn Sissay: Shostakovich – Symphony No. 10 (2nd movement)
TV presenter Molly Rainford: Vaughan Williams – The Lark Ascending / Soloist: Nicola Benedetti
Comedian Vikki Stone: Verdi – ‘Dies Irae’ from ‘Requiem’
Actor Christopher Eccleston: Wagner – ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ from ‘Die Walküre’
Once students have seen the film, schools can access online resources to enable students to develop creative responses inspired by the music – either through dance, animation, performance poetry, composition or digital art. Schools will be able to attend live performances of the Ten Pieces across the country throughout the year.
Ten Pieces Ambassadors will continue to work with the project across the country, including Ten Pieces secondary soloists Nicola Benedetti and Alison Balsom, as well as jazz pianist Julian Joseph, baritone Roderick Williams, singer and BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Cerys Matthews, harpist Catrin Finch, and BBC Radio 3 presenter Suzy Klein.
New Ambassadors joining the project for secondary schools will include cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, 19 year old Co-Principal Trombonist of the London Symphony Orchestra and former BBC Young Musician Peter Moore, electronic band Clean Bandit, and musician, producer and composer Nitin Sawhney.
