Global perspectives on
the 'orchestra'
Project overview | Project narrative | Workshops | Outputs
Three project workshops have been held with a variety of speakers in an attempt to share insights from both practitioner and researcher perspectives.
The first workshop (April 2010) sought to explore different approaches and methods in studying symphony orchestras and was planned in light of thoughts emerging from bibliographic research and reflections on previous orchestral participation. Questions posed included: What should we be asking about practice in the world of orchestras today? What are the social, economic and aesthetic factors that shaped the rise of the symphony orchestra? What are the new technologies and performance environments that practitioners turn to in ensuring orchestral sustainability?
The second workshop (November 2010) focused on Indian film orchestras and Indonesian gamelan, and speakers were circulated with points to consider and questions for discussion including 1) the practicalities and experiences of fieldwork in India and Indonesia; 2) Indian cinema and Indonesian gamelan in European contexts; 3) the micro-dynamics of ensemble practice and theorising the internal relationships of orchestral performance; 4) perspectives on the orchestra from the vantage points of the player, the leader, the composer, the dancer, the researcher etc; 5) the histories of Indian film orchestras and of gamelans; 6) the interconnected histories of orchestras.
The third workshop (September 2011) focused on the histories of orchestras, the organisational practices of orchestras, the administration of orchestras, and the range and distribution of activities which shape orchestral performances.
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Shaping
music in 
performance