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Proms in the dark: meditative music at the Royal Albert Hall Proms in the dark: meditative music at the Royal Albert Hall
(about 16 hours later)
Organisers of the BBC Proms are considering staging a concert in the dark where people can get away from the world by immersing themselves in meditative, mindful music.Organisers of the BBC Proms are considering staging a concert in the dark where people can get away from the world by immersing themselves in meditative, mindful music.
Plans for the first Meditative Prom were revealed in the programme announcement of the summer festival, which is 90% classical but will this year have east-coast hip-hop and the Clangers as alternative options.Plans for the first Meditative Prom were revealed in the programme announcement of the summer festival, which is 90% classical but will this year have east-coast hip-hop and the Clangers as alternative options.
The late-night Meditative Prom at the Royal Albert Hall will have short pieces of music “to calm the mind and nourish the soul,” said the schedulers.The late-night Meditative Prom at the Royal Albert Hall will have short pieces of music “to calm the mind and nourish the soul,” said the schedulers.
The tuneful tramp: the forgotten musical genius of Charlie ChaplinThe tuneful tramp: the forgotten musical genius of Charlie Chaplin
“I still don’t know whether we can achieve this, but I have the thought it would be lovely to do the whole concert in the dark,” said David Pickard, the BBC Proms director.“I still don’t know whether we can achieve this, but I have the thought it would be lovely to do the whole concert in the dark,” said David Pickard, the BBC Proms director.
“We did think about calling it the Mindfulness Prom, but we thought maybe that was a statement too far. I cannot make any claims at all that you will come out of it feeling a new person and that your life will be changed forever, but there’s an element, I hope, that it will have an effect on wellbeing … I hope that’s not too pretentious or pompous to say.”“We did think about calling it the Mindfulness Prom, but we thought maybe that was a statement too far. I cannot make any claims at all that you will come out of it feeling a new person and that your life will be changed forever, but there’s an element, I hope, that it will have an effect on wellbeing … I hope that’s not too pretentious or pompous to say.”
The Prom is a collaboration with the Radio 3 team who produce the popular In Tune Mixtape programmes, with music chosen to fit in with themes or moods.The Prom is a collaboration with the Radio 3 team who produce the popular In Tune Mixtape programmes, with music chosen to fit in with themes or moods.
Pickard said the music could be Schubert or Arvo Pärt, but he hoped there would be a way of not telling the audience what they would be listening to in advance.Pickard said the music could be Schubert or Arvo Pärt, but he hoped there would be a way of not telling the audience what they would be listening to in advance.
“Our concert programming can get a little formulaic sometimes. This is an opportunity to put it together in a different way, which is by mood rather than composer.”“Our concert programming can get a little formulaic sometimes. This is an opportunity to put it together in a different way, which is by mood rather than composer.”
For many years the festival has staged Proms that are a long way from its classical foundations. There was an urban music Prom in 2013 and a Pete Tong-hosted dance Prom in 2015. This year, Prom 64 will be hip-hop. Led by Jules Buckley and the Heritage Orchestra, it will include breakdancing, graffiti art, MCing and DJing.For many years the festival has staged Proms that are a long way from its classical foundations. There was an urban music Prom in 2013 and a Pete Tong-hosted dance Prom in 2015. This year, Prom 64 will be hip-hop. Led by Jules Buckley and the Heritage Orchestra, it will include breakdancing, graffiti art, MCing and DJing.
Jonny Greenwood, the Radiohead guitarist and film score composer, will be a highlight of new music, premiering a violin concerto called Horror Vacui, in which a solo violin will be accompanied by 68 strings “to simulate electronic music while being entirely acoustic,” said Pickard.Jonny Greenwood, the Radiohead guitarist and film score composer, will be a highlight of new music, premiering a violin concerto called Horror Vacui, in which a solo violin will be accompanied by 68 strings “to simulate electronic music while being entirely acoustic,” said Pickard.
After previous trips out of London to Hull and Lincoln, the furthest the Proms will travel this year will be south of the Thames, to Battersea Arts Centre; and to the Holy Sepulchre church in the City.After previous trips out of London to Hull and Lincoln, the furthest the Proms will travel this year will be south of the Thames, to Battersea Arts Centre; and to the Holy Sepulchre church in the City.
The church was where the conductor and composer Henry Wood, the founder of the Proms, learned to play the organ as a teenager, and the planned Prom there will be one of a number of events celebrating the 150th anniversary of his birth.The church was where the conductor and composer Henry Wood, the founder of the Proms, learned to play the organ as a teenager, and the planned Prom there will be one of a number of events celebrating the 150th anniversary of his birth.
Other anniversaries being marked include 50 years since Apollo 11 landed on the moon. There will be a sci-fi film music Prom and a CBeebies Prom offering families “the chance to travel through time and space” and encounter the Clangers.Other anniversaries being marked include 50 years since Apollo 11 landed on the moon. There will be a sci-fi film music Prom and a CBeebies Prom offering families “the chance to travel through time and space” and encounter the Clangers.
The 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth will be marked at a Prom where Stephen Hough will play Victoria’s actual piano, the first time it will be played outside Buckingham Palace.The 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth will be marked at a Prom where Stephen Hough will play Victoria’s actual piano, the first time it will be played outside Buckingham Palace.
There will also be songs written by Prince Albert. “They are actually lovely, I kid you not,” said Pickard. “They are really beautifully crafted, very much in the flavour of Schubert and Schumann. They are great … and the public will decide for themselves.”There will also be songs written by Prince Albert. “They are actually lovely, I kid you not,” said Pickard. “They are really beautifully crafted, very much in the flavour of Schubert and Schumann. They are great … and the public will decide for themselves.”
Proms Proms 2019
Classical musicClassical music
BBCBBC
Radio 3Radio 3
Hip-hopHip-hop
RadioheadRadiohead
Queen Victoria Proms
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