- Jennifer Adams - percussion

- Steve Beresford - trumpet

- Michael Bond - voices

- Gavin Bryars - cello

- Nigel Coombes - violin

- Brian Eno - clarinet

- Clive Langer - flute

- John Mitchell - flute

- Michael Nyman - euphonium

- Richard Strange - violin

- Mark Hughes - violin

- Stephen Luscombe - violin

- Rachel Maloney - violin

- John Ryder - percussion

- Debi Smith - flute

- Kate St. John - oboe

- Michael Steele - violin

- Chris Turner - cornet

- Simon Fisher-Turner - clarinet

- Nigel Watson - viola

- Phil Woods - violin

- Brian Young - double bass

- Jill Adams - violin

- Linda Adams - viola

- Peter Beresford - violin

- Peter Clutterbuck - double bass

- Simon Dale - viola

- John Farley - conductor

- Angus Fraser - double bass

- Maurice Joyce - trombone

- Stefan Klima - violin

- John Lawrence - flute

- Imogen Morley - violin

- Robin Mortimore - violin

- Gary Rickard - cello

- Ann Shrosbree - flute

- Ian Southwood - double bass

- Tony Talbot - clarinet

- Brian Watterson - flute

- Maggie Wooton - percussion

- Suzette Worden - clarinet

- Patrick Allen - flute

- Michael Archer - french horn

- Sally Binding - piano

- Ted Brum - trumpet

- Paul Buckton - violin

- Gary Bunby - violin

- Martin Champman - violin

- Richard Ellin - violin

- Gerry Ellis - cornet

- Susan Featherstone - clarinet

- Michael Flower - clarinet

- James Gregg - oboe

- Denise Hanson - violin

- William Hodgson - clarinet

- Printz Holman - viola

- James Lampard - clarinet

- Dirk Larson - violin

- Beverley Legge - viola

- Janet Lowe - violin

- John McPherson - trumpet

- Nigel Morley - trombone

- Pip Morrison - trombone

- Caroline Osbourne - violin

- Michael Parson- conductor

- Michael Parsons - violin

- Tom Puckey - violin

- Clive Richardson - cello

- Sally Ridgway - violin

- Piers Rowlandson - trombone

- Christiane Sasportas - violin

- Noelle Sasportas - clarinet

- David Sauders - euphonium

- Savva Savva - clarinet

- Stuart Semark - trumpet

- Christine Shrosbree - violin

- Cherill Smith - violin

- Yvonne Spencer - trombone

- Alan Tomlinson - trombone

- Andrew Tomsett - clarinet

- Joyce Trenherz - viola

- Richard Wulliamy - cornet 

- Gavin Bryars (solo efforts)

- Brian Eno (solo efforts)

- Roxy Music (Brian Eno)

Genre: classical/bizarre

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  The Portsmouth Sinfonia Plays the Popular Classics

Company: Columbia

Catalog: PC-33049

Year: 1974

Country/State: UK

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: minor ring wear

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4271

Price: $90.00

Cost: $66.00

Call them daring musical innovators, or a group of musical comedians.  Whatever.  The Portsmouth Sinfonia are likely to bring back wonderful memories for folks who happened to attend college during the mid-70s.  

Most folks mistakenly think Roxy Music keyboardist/composer Brian Eno was the brains behind this outfit.  Wrong.  It was actually composer Gavin Bryars who started the ensemble in 1969 while attending the Portsmouth College of Art (hence the name).  (Eno was a member of the group during the 1970 - 74 period and helped produce the group's first two LPs.)

In creating The Portsmouth Sinfonia Bryars' notion was the ultimate in musical democracy - namely anyone could join the group; no matter what skill level or musical proficiency they might have.  The commitment was that you attended the rehearsals and made an effort to actually learn the material, which was initially limited to the most commonly known parts of well known classical pieces.  By 1973 the group had grown to roughly 80 members, spanning the range from accomplished performers to totally incompetent.

Signed by the small UK folk-oriented Traditional label, the group debuted with 1974's "The Portsmouth Sinfonia Plays the Popular Classics".  Amazingly this is a great album.  Sure, the thought of folks trying to butcher music may not have much appeal to the rank and file listener, but that's not the case here.  These folks were apparently really trying to make good music.  That's what makes this so much fun.  The clash of will, desire and talent makes for an intriguing blend of blown melodies, happenstance and hysterically funny ineptitude.  Imagine a room full of folks trying to guess where the melody is ... or just imagine attending your child's first school band performance.  Highlights include something resembling "Nutcracker Suite", "William Tell Overture", a root canal-painful "Also Sprach Zarathustra" and drunken stupor stab at "Blue Danube Waltz".  Probably as a result of Eno's participation (he produced the set), Columbia Records picked up American distribution.  Clearly unsure what to do with the group, Columbia tried to market the set as a comedy album ("Indisputably, the worst orchestra in the world.").  Needless to say, their efforts fell on deaf ears ...

Plays the Popular Classics" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) From Peer Gynt Suite No. 1  (Grieg) - 3:23

2.) From The Nutcracker Suite   (Tschikovsky) - 3:00

3.) 5th Sinfony in C Minor, Op. 67   (Beethoven)

4.) William Tell Overture   (Rossini)

(side 2)

1.) Also Sprach Zarathustra Op. 31 (Excerp)  (Richard Strauss)    

2.) Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 314   (Johann Strauss)    

3.) Air from Suite No. 3 in D Minor   (J. S. Bach)

4.) Farandole from L`Arlesienne Suite No. 2   (Bizet)

5.) Jupiter from The Planets, Op. 32 (Excerpt)   (Holst)

Genre: classical/bizarre

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Hallelujah Live At the Royal Albert Hall

Company: Traditional

Catalog: TRA 285

Year: 1976

Country/State: UK

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: UK pressing; embossed cover; original insert

Available: SOLD

GEMM catalog ID: 4272

Price: SOLD

Cost: $66.00

It wasn't until our first child started playing in his elementary school orchestra that I came to truly appreciate this LP (let alone school music teachers)!  In fact, anyone who's ever had to endure a school concert will probably find a certain degree of familiarity and comfort in this set.  Produced by Eno, "Hallelujah Live At The Royal Albert Hall" captures this aural train wreck during a May 28th 1974 performance at the Royal Albert Hall (though it wasn't released for a full two years).  Anyone who's heard the debut will be comfortable with this territory. Enthusiastic, if slightly fractured performances of classical faire won't be or everyone (you'll never hear anything like their take on Handel's "Messiah"), but it's occasionally engaging and often quite funny - particularly when the group manages to churn out something close to a recognizable melody.  There are plenty of places where you're left to wonder what they're trying to play (I remember thinking my turntable was having a mechanical meltdown the first time I heard the mid-section of "Overture 1812").  On the other hand, tracks such as "Nutcracker Suite" and "William Tell Overture" are worth hearing for the wild audience applause at completion (it may simply reflect gratitude that the group actually managed to fight their way through the individual selections).  And our kids love this LP ! 

"Hallelujah Live At The Royal Albert Hall" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Mr. Michael Bond`s Address - 1:05

2.) From The Nutcracker Suite Op. 71a - March   (Tchaikowsky) - 1:57       

3.) From The Karelia Suite, Op. 11 - Intermezzo   (Schubert) - 3:54

4.) March Militaire in D Major   (Schubert) - 5:33

5.) Piano Concert No 1 in B Minor, Op. 23   (Tchaikowsky) - 10:38

(side 2)

1.) Overture 1812   (Tchaikowsky) - 10:28

2.) William Tell Overture  (Rossini) - 2:21

3.) From The Messiah (Part 2) - Hallelujah Chorus with the Portsmouth Sinfonia Choir (Handel) - 6:02