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Heritage Orchestra
The Heritage Orchestra will perform at The Big Chill festival 2008 A-Z line up | Ticket infoThe Heritage Orchestra - Biography
The Heritage Orchestra is developing into one of the most exciting and radical young orchestras in the UK that is fully committed to expanding the breadth and context of orchestral music by industrious means. Their unique approach has inspired an ever-increasing library of self-styled repertoire and a string of exploratory collaborations that, by integrating the rules of jazz, electronica, DJ culture and contemporary-classical, have hit a nerve of relevance with a wide-ranging audience.
During the summer of 2004 in the heart of London’s East End, the Heritage Orchestra introduced itself to an unsuspecting crowd of revellers drawn in by the unlikely prospect of a 45-piece orchestra playing in a club . Since then, the ensemble has been blurring the lines between genres in order to break down the exclusive notions of ‘heritage’ and put the orchestral format in a new light. In fact the name ‘heritage’ is a bit of a red-herring, because actually its philosophy is against the “exclusive, canonical and ‘heritage’ approach to cultural activity” that we've all grown tired of. This freer attitude toward the orchestra has benefited the group greatly, especially when embracing unusual collaborations.
In its short history the ensemble has worked with a wide variety of musicians ranging from Airto Moreira, The Cinematic Orchestra and DJ Yoda, to Plaid, Amon Tobin and The Bays. Major festivals such as the Big Chill, London Jazz Festival and V Festivals, along with venues like the Sage Gateshead, Royal Albert Hall or Casa da Musica, have prompted new ways of composing and performing that has veered the group away from orchestral comfort zones and into situations that refresh and excite.
The orchestra continues to thrive not only because of an appreciation of all kinds of music but also the quality and type of musician from which it is built. Some of the best young players in London from the orchestral, session, and gig circuits make up the group and provide it with the energy and enthusiasm to keep on pushing.
Whilst the orchestra has explored new territory by incorporating contemporary beats with electronic experimentation and western classical tradition, bridges have also been crossed by the ensemble's willingness to perform in a noisy standing-room venue as much as a large concert hall. Reaching out to new audiences has also been helped with high profile appearances in major festivals and venues across Europe as well as great support from the BBC. Notably, DJ Gilles Peterson of (BBC Radio One) gave the orchestra the kick start it needed with radio sessions, concert dates and later a record deal (Brownswood), and more press, radio and television features (BBC Newsnight) came as a result of the word getting out.
The compositional skill of Jules Buckley has underpinned the majority of the group’s own repertoire, through original material and orchestrations. The latter has provided further opportunities for other composers to join in and hone their orchestration skills when asked to work on large collaborations. It is an aim to encourage more new writing whether from within the orchestra or by looking outwards to broaden the scope of what the orchestra can do. New music is at the heart of the Heritage Orchestra and so it actively seeks people to come on board and use this amazing palette of sound.
The partnership of Artistic Director Chris Wheeler & Musical Director Jules Buckley underpinned by the support and enthusiasm of the Heritage musicians will drive the machine along. Influences of all kinds will shape the future of the orchestra be it wayward composers and producers or technologies such as turntables and LCD screens - always seeking relevance through innovation. It is also hoped that by creating partnerships with forward thinking promoters, adventurous authorities, cutting-edge record labels, and open-minded organisations, that the Heritage Orchestra will play an increasingly significant role in representing alternative orchestral activity to a widespread audience.
www.myspace.com/theheritageorchestra
www.theheritageorchestra.com
The Heritage Orchestra will perform at The Big Chill festival 2008 A-Z line up | Ticket info
Written: 23rd May, 08
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