No matter what genre of music you’re into, orchestral music has had its influence on them, and continues to do so. From Miles Davis to Led Zeppelin and every pop song with a chorus (so, like, all of them), you’ll hear classical instruments or composition in their DNA. Or, if you’re Metallica, you just go right ahead and join forces with an entire symphony orchestra to bring us S&M (Symphony & Metallica) – see what they did there? More recently, Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA has turned his skills to the composition of a ballet.
Here at SNACK, we want to introduce you to as many musical stylings as possible to get you through these tough student years of ramen dinners and all-night cram sessions, so where better to begin than with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra?
I recently had the pleasure of being introduced to the BBC SSO and one of their musicians, Scotland’s very own Morag Robertson. Morag plays the viola which – fun fact – is one of the very oldest string instruments.
With the theme for this year’s SNACK student guide being ‘Belonging’, naturally I wanted to start out by asking what life is like being part of the orchestra.
Morag Robertson: I think one of my favourite things about being in the BBC SSO is that there is no such thing as a typical day! We often have a quick turnaround of new repertoire from week to week and with that comes new soloists and conductors, so it keeps what we do fresh.
As a poet, I have only ever performed my work on stage solo, so I wanted some insight into getting up there with 80 other people! Visceral, I imagine.
Morag: I think there’s a feeling of ‘whatever happens on stage only exists in that moment’. Sharing that with 80 or so colleagues who are as in tune and alert to the slightest musical inflections is very powerful to be part of. And if you manage to capture the audience’s focus to the same degree, you can have hundreds and sometimes thousands of people all experiencing this at the same time. That is pretty cool!
Of course, this means that unexpected things happen and the debriefing in the dressing room after a concert can be quite entertaining as well.
Surely it was a bit scary going from student to professional?
Morag: I’ve always found it a little daunting going into new work environments and I guess the first time with the BBC SSO was the same, but the thing that puts me at ease is knowing I’ve prepared the music the best I can. Then as soon as we start rehearsing it gives me a feeling of control. I have to say though, in all honesty, that I felt very welcomed into the BBC SSO from the beginning and a lot of people say the same about our orchestra.
In Scotland we have historically had some of the best arts education programmes in the whole damn multiverse – though with major cuts happening across Creative Scotland, access to participation in the arts is under threat. What are your thoughts on the importance of arts education?
Morag: I believe arts education to be immensely important.
It’s not just about nurturing the next generation of people to work in the sector, which is very important – it’s about giving all young people the skills that come with it. I firmly believe that giving everyone access to the arts creates better people and a better world for us to live in.
Couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
Back to student life. What can you get for six quid in this financial climate? A pint of obnoxious beer and a bag of ready salted? BBC SSO are offering students tickets to weekly events across Aberdeen (Music Hall), Edinburgh (Usher Hall) and Glasgow (City Halls) for, yep, you guessed it, £6. So instead of being glued to the screen or doing the same old same old every week, why not break your patterns? Experience something new, create memories with your pals, and make new friends while you’re at it.
Find out about the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra’s autumn/winter programme on their website bbc.co.uk/bbcsso
Main Photo Credit: Morag Robertson at BBC Proms CREDIT BBC AND MARK ALLAN
