the worst orchestra in the world

I take back all the jokes I’ve made about my former school’s Junior Orchestra and also violas in general.

The Portsmouth Sinfonia rightly deserve their title, take a listen to www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b013fj17/In_Living_Memory_Series_14_Episode_4/ for the history of it.

They had an impressive repertoire that they recorded multiple records with and even performed in the Royal Albert Hall. Their numbers ranged from pop hits such as “Satisfaction” …

To the Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy and other popular classics.

They even made a pointed rebuttal of the trend for “Classical Medleys” complete with Disco Clap sound effects, such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s “Hooked On” series.

‘We’d been claiming to be the worst orchestra for decades, and suddenly the RPO was beating us, we had to do something’

Hence the Portsmouth Sinfonia created their “Classical Mudley”

But on second thoughts, I don’t take back all my viola jokes.

This morning I noticed a bee had become entangled in a spiders web outside my window. With significant courage (for me) I freed it, fed it and got it out of the rain so it could dry and take off. I booked my theory test for the 20th of September (first available date, things must be busy.) Everyone talks about how easy the theory test is, but I’m really not very good at it. I don’t really care if that makes me an idiot because it’s not really an intellectual pursuit for me. But still, it would be nice to not have to do practice tests for the next three weeks.