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music DAVID LYON
GAME is a musical football match in which the audience of children is divided into two teams (Rovers and United). The orchestra excitingly illustrate the fast-moving play and if the teams recognise their own "team chant" (written in a series of variations) and join in, they score a goal. The whole is refereed, with scrupulous bias, by the conductor.
David Lyon was commissioned to write Game by the Milton Keynes Festival, where it was first performed in February 1979, followed by further performances in successive years, also in Newcastle by the Northern Sinfonia with Johnny Morris and by the Bedford Symphony Orchestra.
In concert, the conductor begins by identifying the
various instruments of the Orchestra and their players, playing a series
of short and entertaining musical extracts taken from the orchestral repertoire.
There is time for the joint performance by children and orchestra of some
favourite football songs and a bracing rehearsal of Game's chants before
the complete performance of the Match itself.
This is a favourite piece, because by the relation of its theme to a popular
game, it helps to break down the children's resistance to the comparatively
unfamiliar and complex sounds of an orchestra. The transformation of the
chants through variation technique can give the more perceptive children
an insight into musical processes and structure. The musical language
is direct and approachable, with the orchestral writing reflecting vigorous
physical activity.
Children are invited in the preceding term to write and compose their own football song and composition workshops are run by the Classical Road Show's musicians. The winning song is then scored for orchestra and included in the concert programme.
Team colours will be worn.
ORCHESTRATION;-
Strings 6:6:4:4:2 Wind 1:1:1:1 Brass 2:1:1:0
3 Percussion players, 1 pianist.
