Queensland Orchestra_Pink Floyd

Articles:Events&Productions

The Queensland Orchestra’s Managing Director Michael P. Smith promises “this special event [will] deliver the works of Pink Floyd against a backdrop of pure orchestral harmonies.”

Another Brick in the Wall, Wish You Were Here and Dark Side of the Moon are just some of Pink Floyd’s repertoire to be revitalised by The Queensland Orchestra, supported by a seven piece rock band, on
Friday 18 July, 2008. There has always been something eerie, surreal and grand about the music of Pink Floyd. Before there were digital audio workstations sampling sounds, looping, and producing cut and paste electronics, bands like Pink Floyd were at the forefront of developing new sonic landscapes.

Pink Floyd emerged in England during an intense era of music that embraced experimentation and the psychedelic: the continued merging of the visual arts to form what is now collectively known as performing arts and multimedia arts^{^[1]}. This experimentation developed new performance styles for musicians on stage. Although Pink Floyd’s style evolved more overtly into Seventies Rock, the band still retained its surreal essence in later albums. Dark Side of the Moon has sold 34 million copies worldwide and was listed in the Billboard Top 200 for over 11 years.

Brisbane audiences will be treated to an inspiring interpretation of Pink Floyd by the evanescent Queensland Orchestra and accompanying rock band consisting of “seven leading rock entertainers.” Classic Pink Floyd songs will be given “the ultimate symphonic treatment.” The Queensland Orchestra has a vision to “touch the hearts and minds of all Queenslanders through music,” creating a diverse program encompassing collaborative performances with musicians of international and national caliber, such as K.D. Lang, Harry Connick Jnr, George, and Dionne Warwick. The Musical Director of the Pink Floyd concert is Rob Pippan. He has worked in the Australian Music Industry for over 25 years producing, managing, recording and playing with some of Australia’s legendary musicians including Joe Camelleri, James Morrison, Doc Neeson (Angels) and Russell Morris. I spoke to cellist, Andre Duthoit and violinist Brenda Sullivan, both members of The Queensland Orchestra about the Pink Floyd concert: Andre said that while the music of Pink Floyd is “beautiful and warm... there is also menace and irony”. The orchestra “adds another dimension to [the music]. It brings out more sound through the richness of the orchestra. Plus, there is lots more [happening] for the sound guys.” What does this does this experience bring to the orchestra? For Brenda, the experience of being a part of the performance is liberating as the music takes centre stage. Andre said he “gets a feel for a different audience... they think [about the music and performance] differently.” Brenda views these performances as a tool to “link the popular world” with the orchestra. It helps to change one’s perception of an orchestra, providing “insight into the music” and how an orchestra operates. Andre agrees, “it is a spectacle”. He also hopes [through the collaboration with the orchestra] the audience becomes interested in the ensemble and revels in their interpretation of Pink Floyd. In a time where music is increasingly based on samples and deceptive perfections of studio control and live overdubs, this performance is an opportunity for audiences to hear instruments building sonic worlds without imposing technical alterations.
		Andre Duthoit - Cellist

		Brenda Sullivan - Violinist

The concert will be staged at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday evening, 18th July 2008.

Click on Press Release for more information.

Website: www.thequeenslandorchestra.com.au

Article by Pauline Sheldrake for AusNotebook Music & Creative 17/07/08
Photos courtesy of Queensland Orchestra.

^{^[1]} Multimedia can be traced back to the theatre of Piscator and Brecht in the 1920s when these innovators combined film and photographic and sound
components with performance on stage.

UPDATE

Friday night, 18th July 2008 the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre successfully mixed something old with something new - The Queensland Orchestra plays Pink Floyd.

Blending the traditional and contemporary, a beautifully orchestrated combination of incredible guitar work, wonderful acoustics, tight strings and percussion, The Queensland Orchestra adeptly demonstrated Pink Floyd's journey from the early instrumentality of 'dark side of the moon' through to the pop rebellious era of the evening's superb encore 'brick in the wall'. The show was an enlivening presentation to the audience of various age groups.

Chrissy Layton, AusNotebook Music & Creative 19/7/08

Click TOP to get to top of page