Asda premieres supermarket symphony
Harpurhey hosts the BBC Philharmonic
April 10 2003
A Manchester branch of Asda will today see the first ever performance of a new piece of music in which 70 school children, supermarket workers and local residents will play alongside the BBC Philharmonic.
Especially composed for the occasion, the piece will be performed in a the fruit and veg aisle in the middle of a normal shopping day at the Harpurhey branch of Asda in North Manchester.
The symphony will also be relayed on Asda’s in-store radio station ASDA FM to all of its 259 UK stores. The symphony was developed in a series of community workshops led by composer Barry Russell. Working with sounds and ideas created by the local groups, Rusell compose a piece with a carnival/samba feel.
Along with 20 members of the orchestra, children from Harpur Mount primary school will play a variety of percussion instruments, home-made from typical supermarket products such as
tin cans and boxes of cereal. Members of the Harpurhey Neighbourhood project get to play the larger household items like bin lids and broom handles. The orchestra is also accompanied by a team of ASDA ladies armed with carrier bags, which they swipe through the air when the music demands.
Regular shoppers choosing their dinner in the freezer and chiller cabinets may find themselves serenaded by members of the wind and brass Sections. They then form part of a giant procession round the store along with the rest of the orchestra, their community accompanists and anyone else who wants to join in.
Russell said: “The rehearsals so far have been fantastic with a real sense of fun and participation. I also like the fact that I’m not the only one writing the music, the children have taken a really active role, so there will be 22 little composers as well.”
ASDA colleague Norma Crowther said: “I was very sceptical. I’m tone deaf but it’s turned out brilliant. It’s been such fun and great for team building.”
This event forms part of the Pop-Up project which is funded y North City Arts, a public service initiative housed within Manchester City Council’s Regeneration project in North Manchester.
