An opportunity to become part of a world-wide singing project coordinated by Aldeburgh Music . All materials available as free downloads from www.fridayafternoonsmusic.co.uk
Culminates on Friday 28 November
Initiated as a singing project to encourage singing in Suffolk schools through the extraordinary legacy of Benjamin Britten’s work, in 2013 Friday Afternoons captured the imagination of choirs and arts organisations internationally, with events stretching from Auckland, New Zealand to Santa Monica, USA.
67,000 young people took part, with nine of the UK projects live streamed at http://wwwww.fridayafternoonsmusic.co.uk and www.theguardian.com. The project won the ‘Action for Children’s Arts Members’ Award’, was nominated for the RPS 2014 Learning and Participation Award, and the Friday Afternoons website won ‘Best Digital Resource 2014’ at the Music Teacher Awards for Excellence.
Such was the response that the project is being continued in 2014, with a newly-commissioned Friday Afternoons songbook available for download. Taking Britten’s arrangements of folk songs as a starting point and including The Ash Grove and Oliver Cromwell composed by Britten, nine composers – Sally Beamish, Jon Boden, Gwyneth Herbert, Nico Muhly, Rachel Portman, Talvin Singh, The Unthanks, John Woolrich and Jason Yarde – whose influences range from classical and folk to jazz and traditional Indian music, have chosen a traditional folk song on which to base a new song. Making up the set of 12 songs is a piece by the winner of last year’s songwriting competition, 14-year-old Zoe Dixon, whose Orford Lighthouse commemorates a Suffolk landmark.
2014’s Friday Afternoons culminates on Friday 28 November and once again a selection of events will be live streamed on the Friday Afternoons and Guardian websites. With the autumn term underway, Aldeburgh Music invites teachers, choir leaders and people of all ages to sign up.
To take part, simply register at http://www.fridayafternoonsmusic.co.uk to access free online materials for the new Friday Afternoons songs. Participants can choose to sing a single song, a selection or the full collection.
For further information: Philipp Carl 0207 251 9448
philipp@macbethmediarelations.co.uk