Discovering Music - Mozart Linz Symphony, "Disco Linz"

"Disco Linz"

Mozart's 'Linz' Symphony is the first of the composer's last few grand symphonies, which, for the 18th century, are completely modern and contemporary in their sound world; so, just as Mozart did, we created our piece in the modern sound world...everyone in the group brought their own diverse influences to the music they created, and that music became the 3 movement mini-symphony....

The project culminated in a professional recording on the stage at City Halls, Glasgow (home of the BBC SSO) for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3 alongside the BBC SSO's own performance of Mozart's piece in Radio 3's programme 'Discovering Music'.

Fraser Trainer was the creative director of the project. Here he talks to Tom Service:

So who took part?

A wonderful and inspiring melting-pot of 12 creative musicians was assembled from three different musical institutions: 5 musicians from Glasgow Schools, 3 musicians from the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland (NYOS), and 3 musicians from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. One of Scotland's leading young composers Stuart MacRae also joined the team on piano, and the creative process was led, and conducted by Fraser Trainer.

Participants: Glasgow School pupils Beth, Maria, James, Thomas and Jamie. NYOS players Peter Longworth, Caroline Sharp and Matt Bain. BBC SSO players Peter Jones, Iain Crawford, Hedley Benson and composer Stuart MacRae.

Those who took part in the project were both the composers, and the performers. Through creative improvisation and playing...

Here are some of the Creative Musicians:

Beth - Clarinet - Glasgow School Student talking to Tom Service:

Peter Longworth - Trumpet - National Youth Orchestra of Scotland talking to Tom Service:

Iain Crawford - Double Bass - BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra talking to Tom Service:

So How does it relate to Mozart's 'Linz' Symphony.. I hear you ask....

Well, Disco Linz is a 3 movement mini-symphony using the following techniques found in Mozart's Symphony to inspire and give structure to the composition:

Fraser Trainer: explains the structure of the piece:

1. Slow 9 beat introduction - with increasing intervals

2. Number Patterns - 1,2,3,4,5

3. Interruptions

4. Siciliana Rhythm

5. Deconstruction

6. Slow introduction recapulation

7. Mini-Minuet (ABCDAB)

So in summary.. here's Fraser Trainer again....

What a great project this was.. and I think we all feel not only a little bit closer to Mozart, but to ourselves too.. we all have music within us to create, compose, perform and be confident in our own voices... Hope you enjoy it as much as we have...