*LET MUSIC LIVE! op.426 (July 1991)

Published by: Highbridge Music Ltd
Commissioned by: Music For Youth
Instrumentation: 3333 4331 timp 2pc organ harp strings (but all the parts enormously multiplied for this performance (80 cellos, 71 trumpets etc)
[Key to Abbreviations]
Note on Lyrics: Text by Howard Blake
Duration: 2:30
First Performance: National Festival of Music for Youth, with an orchestra of 2,000 players, and 500 chorus. Conducted by Simon Rattle, Howard Blake (organ) Royal Festival Hall, 6th July,1991.
Full score for hire
Orchestral parts for hire

Notes

At the time this work was created (in 1991) the existing UK government were proposing to cut back funding to music in schools. Howard was asked by Larry Westland, director of 'Music for Youth', if he could write a lyric and compose a short piece that could be played by a truly enormous orchestra which would be assembled in the Royal Festival Hall especially for the occasion, to make the public aware of the situation and to make an impressive protest to the government! The entire hall was filled with young musicians and there was no room left for music stands. Since the music only filled one page Howard suggested that they all pin or sellotape their music to the back of the player in front of them, and this worked very well. Howard in fact played the Festival Hall organ for the performance and Sir Simon stood on top of the organ console to conduct, since there was no room left on the stage. The event  reached full front pages in colour on seven national newspapers and caused quite a stir!

Lyrics

LET MUSIC LIVE,
THE LANGUAGE OF THE SOUL,
THE SCIENCE OF EMOTION,
THE ART THAT MAKE US WHOLE.
LET SOUND THE WOODWINDS!
LET SING THE STRINGS!
LET PLAYERS PLAY!
LET LIVE ALL MUSIC!
MUSIC!!

Reviews

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They gave an enormous ovation after the first performance that brought the house down...the piece had two encores, with much deafening applause; former ISM President Sir Charles Groves said it was 'the most important event that has happened since youth music started'

ISM Journal, 9/1991

Related Works

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