Immersive Orchestra // Plymphony No.1 In Sea

Image credit (above and right) - Rod Gonzalez

In the final throes of the summer of 2018, as part of the Plymouth Art Weekender, The Imperfect Orchestra welcomed almost 100 guitarists (and other string players) to join them on Tinside Steps overlooking Plymouth Sound to provide the soundtrack to Shannon Leah Watson's performance art piece featuring local wild swimmers. 

We produced a free-form score, inspired by the minimalism of Terry Riley, the ambition of the late Glenn Branca (specifically his work Devil Choir at the Gates of Heaven), the passion of Sharon Gal, and the minimalist groove of The Velvet Underground. The score was composed of elements, "cells", that ranged in difficulty, from open string parts for absolute beginners to phrases that challenged seasoned players. However, it was in the mixing of these elements - the art of listening to each other as much as playing - and in simply enjoying the resonance and harmony as they grew organically that performers and audience gained the most from the experience. Guitarists were encouraged to move around, sit next to someone new, change their listening perspective, and audience members were welcome to watch from afar or sit amongst us. A percussionist ensured that all participants had a solid rhythm to follow, which was itself inspired live by the pace of the swimmers, bringing both worlds together.

This was a project we had long talked about, and getting those few hours of sun that day just as we counted down made it seem like it was all fate!

Performed at: 

The Hoe Foreshore amphitheatre, 2024

Players:

Mark Hughes, Rowan Tatam, Natalie Piper, Tom Grogan, Gemma Venmore, Matthew Collington, Duncan Wright, Karen Griffiths, Claire Calverley, Georgia Simone, Tony Richardson, Matt Pasternakiewicz, Rebecca Ellis, Arun Sood, Shayne House, David Sanderson, Helen Sanderson, Jack Fisher, Jodie Saunders, Roy Lowry,  Lewis Gerry, Anthony Vsiwtoo, Kyle Rutherford, Ruth Atkinson, Vernon Hutter, Lynsey Rice, Nick & Naomi Byrne, Ilse Marran, Gemma Hall, Jay Newton, Steve Conway, Kate McEvoy, Christine Watchman, Nick Byrne, Danny Wynter, Ian, Sian Lowry,  Penny Parsons, Bethany, Tim Cresswell, Fred Salter, Hannah Robinson, Ryan Curtis, Marcy Saude, Dan Baker, Ruth Hind, Andrew Sargeant, Martha Nash, Matt Ward, Phil James, Steve Connolly, Claire Bower, Laura Denning, Adam Boon, Lucy Leake, JG Smeaton, Winifred-Rose Ewart, Neil Ewart, Chris Muirhead, Lucy Dafwyn, Si Hackers, Scottnoskills, Anna Navas, Charly Richardson, Adam Milford, Rob Condon, Rich Braide, Chris Bailey, Tom Richardson.

Special thanks to: Shannon Leah Watson, the wild swimmers, Visual Arts Plymouth CIC, Devonport Soup