" Fantastic school visit - exactly pitched at the right level - lots of interaction" Norwich Schools

CHROMA - EDUCATION

Dirty Beasts - Norwich - February 2007

Building on the work of the previous six years, CHROMA returned to Norwich in February 2007 with a wind and brass-based project inspired by Roald Dahl/Martin Butler's "Dirty Beasts " to six schools. The details below are taken from Stuart King's notes.

Music played in the concert:
Jim Parker 'Les Animaux' from Mississippi Five
Sergei Prokofiev 'Peter and the Wolf'
Luciano Berio 'Opus No Zoo'
Antonio Vivaldi 'Flute Concerto Op.10 no.3 - 'Il Gardellino' - the Goldfinch'
Saint-Saëns 'Carnival of the Animals' (arr by S King)
Henri Mancini 'Pink Panther'
Benjamin Britten 'Wasp' from 'Insect Pieces' for oboe & piano
Jean Françaix 'L'heure du berger'
Martin Butler 'Dirty Beasts'

Animals encountered:
Horse, Cow, Cockerel, Donkey, Bird, Cat, Duck, Wolf, Fox, Chicken, Mouse, Tom-cats, Lion, Tortoise, Elephant, Fossils, Panther, Wasp, Pig, Tummy-Beast, Crocodile

CHROMA players - all sessions:
Stuart King - clarinet
Julian Sperry - flute
Richard Bayliss - horn
Helen Simons - bassoon
Emma Feilding - oboe

joining for concert:
Martin Cousin - piano
Roger Rowe - narrator

The brief for this project was to visit 6 schools and deliver a 40-45 minute introductory inter-active concert, which would introduce the children to orchestral instruments and the players.

Introductions:
We outline the theme of the project and the music performed, then the children learn all about each individual instrument, its history, the materials it is made out of, any special equipment required to make it work etc. The participants are encouraged to share the knowledge they already have, whilst at the same time, being presented with new vocabulary and information.

The children are encouraged to conduct the players and perform with them where appropriate using classroom percussion.

Session Two
takes place away from the school and the brief here is to introduce the children into a more formal concert environment. The experience is still designed to be informative, inclusive and fun so there is a strong emphasis on participation and shared knowledge; both recapping facts learnt in Session One and introducing new elements related to the new instruments being presented and in line with the project theme of animals.

Participating Schools:

Cringleford  V.A. First & Middle School
Little Melton First School
Bignold First School
Avenue First School
Heigham Park First
West Earlham First  School

with thanks to: Roger Rowe, for organising and offering such kind hospitality, as always.