Jess Gillam's Virtual Scratch Orchestra

Saxophonist Jess Gillam has parts for everyone in her online band. Photo: Robin Clewley
Join an orchestra today, without leaving home. The vivacious saxophonist Jess Gillam has invited every player in the land to contribute to a new recording, and all you need is your instrument and your computer.

With parts for string, wind, brass, keyboard players and more, the first performance will be launched on YouTube Wednesday 22 April at 5PM, giving you a week or so to brush up your technique before recordings end on Friday 10 April at 6pm. This is definitely one for the young musicians in you family too.

The number chosen for the orchestra's debut is David Bowie's Where Are We Now?, which Jess featured on her debut album RISE, which went straight to No 1 in the classical charts last April.

All you have to do is choose an instrumental part from Jess's website, and practise until you are ready to video yourself playing along to a click track, which Jess also provides. Then send the video to info@jessgillamsax.co.uk with a line saying ‘I give Universal Music Group permission to use this video.’ Jess will then perform the piece live with the combined pre-recorded videos on her Instagram (@jessgillamsax).

'For me, music is all about people,' says Jess. 'At a very difficult time, when it is not currently possible to be physically together to share and make music, hopefully this is a way in which we can create something together from afar.

'Where Are We Now?’ is one of my favourite songs by David Bowie. It’s hauntingly beautiful and seems very appropriate as we all reflect on the world and what is happening around us. This is the first song he released after a long period of silence in 2013.’

Jess Gillam's Virtual Scratch Orchestra looks set to break the silence for home players too. Now, everyone tune to this A...

Jess Gillam presents This Classical Life on BBC Radio 3 every Saturday at 12:30PM
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What Jess Gillam's Virtual Scratch Orchestra
Where Online | MAP
Price £0
Website http://www.jessgillamsax.co.uk/virtual-scratch-orchestra/




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