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Jun 9, 2023
Amy Harman, Principal bassoonist of the Aurora Orchestra, shares her thrilling experiences of performing orchestral works from memory, highlighting the adrenaline and deeper musical understanding it brings. Award-winning composer Gavin Higgins discusses his playful percussion concerto inspired by Beano characters and traces musical influences from classical arpeggios to Radiohead. They also delve into the fascinating connections between Dolly Parton's Mule Skinner Blues and Greek vocal ornamentation while exploring Maria Callas's expressive mastery in Casta Diva.
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Performing From Memory Feels Like Skydiving
- Amy Harman describes memorising the Rite of Spring as feeling like skydiving without a safety net.
- She says memorisation forces you to learn everyone's parts and changes how you inhabit the music.
Odd Phrasing Makes Dolly's Intro Hooking
- Gavin Higgins highlights the irregular phrasing and unexpected harmonic shifts in Dolly Parton's Mule Skinner Blues.
- He notes the opening starts on the sixth, creating an immediate melodic surprise.
Melisma Connects Global Singing Traditions
- Jeffrey Boakye identifies melisma as the vocal technique extending single syllables across many notes.
- He links melisma across traditions from Greek nesotika to opera and modern pop.