Anothew Jacob Collier video - improvisation with an orchestra

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rob aylestone

rob aylestone

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No matter what kind of music you like - this video is a real 'must'. Apart from the excellent recording quality, what he does is stand in front of a full size, professional orchestra, with an audience. He gives them no sheet music, but just gets them to play the notes he either hums, sings or yells out the letter names. They were not briefed on what was going to happen, but soon became really engaged. He kept building chords - how many clarinets? Three lifted their instruments - great, you play A, you A flat, and you G - that is normally a mess, dissonant and nasty, but no - he has cellos and bassed playing one rhythm, and he invents an arm movement to signify the strings all randomly going out of tune. He gets a marima doing things, a snar drum and soon everyone has a part. he does it again, then just brings them in and out and created a proper, but spooky arrangement even with the audience singing three words on cue. You can see some of the player looking confused, then they hear it and suddenly get it. The man is a genius - he can hear an entire orchestra in his head, then sing and play piano!
 
rob aylestone said:
No matter what kind of music you like - this video is a real 'must'. Apart from the excellent recording quality, what he does is stand in front of a full size, professional orchestra, with an audience. He gives them no sheet music, but just gets them to play the notes he either hums, sings or yells out the letter names. They were not briefed on what was going to happen, but soon became really engaged. He kept building chords - how many clarinets? Three lifted their instruments - great, you play A, you A flat, and you G - that is normally a mess, dissonant and nasty, but no - he has cellos and bassed playing one rhythm, and he invents an arm movement to signify the strings all randomly going out of tune. He gets a marima doing things, a snar drum and soon everyone has a part. he does it again, then just brings them in and out and created a proper, but spooky arrangement even with the audience singing three words on cue. You can see some of the player looking confused, then they hear it and suddenly get it. The man is a genius - he can hear an entire orchestra in his head, then sing and play piano!
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I've had that video open in a browser tab since it came out (I watch everything that he puts online) but have not gotten to listen yet.

Crazy how he still has that youthful energy / approach to artistry now that he's 30 -- ok that's not "old" but I don't know anyone else who aged quite like that.
 
I also noted that not one got the notes wrong, so when he asked the clarinets, oboes, brass and others to play a note, they all had to instantly transpose it in their heads. I bet they had more fun with this than any other music they've played for ages.
 
I've watched it several times. There are very few people who qualify as "genius" in my mind when I think about what that term really means. This guy is definitely one of them.
 
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