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The New London Singers |
Setterfield of American dreams
PREVIEW: IN THE BEGINNING
All Hallows Church
IVOR Setterfield, the conductor of the New London Singers (NLS) and founder of the New London Soloists Orchestra (NLSO), is bringing his own brand of chamber music to All Hallow’s Church in South End Green.
The evening of music, called In The Beginning, will take the audience on a trip through 20th and 21st-century chamber music in a programme that follows a loosely American-based theme and features works by little-known, contemporary composers.
Mr Setterfield, who lives in Kentish Town, has a refreshing and impressive approach to classical music.
Far from seeing it as something that’s exclusive, he views it as something that can help facilitate social inclusion.
In 2006, he took part in a Channel 5 reality TV show in which he worked with 40 residents from a council estate, none of whom had any musical training or experience, and in just 12 weeks prepared them for a concert in the Royal Albert Hall.
“The best thing about the show – the most rewarding thing – was the bonds it helped forge within the community,” he explained.
“Within a very short space of time, the old guy down the street was no longer just someone you’d never spoken to, someone whose name you didn’t even know. He was now Eric, the neighbour you had to meet at 3pm and drive to rehearsals.”
Mr Setterfield was also impressed at how quickly both the young and old started enjoying a genre of music that before they might have thought beyond them.
He believes that there is no reason for classical music to exist in an ivory tower of its own making.
“With the advent of internet downloads and the ability to carry thousands of mp3s around in your pocket, there’s no reason why you can’t have Bach sitting alongside the Beatles on your iPod,” he said.
“Technology and the accessibility of music for modern listeners gives everyone the chance to sample, embrace and enjoy music they might not have encountered before.”
Mr Setterfield has a point. Every time you tune into BBC1’s The Apprentice you’re treated to an extract from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, for example, and if the theme tune takes your fancy it’s now just a click away on the internet.
“I’d just like people to come along to the concert and see if they enjoy it,” added Mr Setterfield. “If you hate it and leave after a few minutes, well, at least you’ve tried.”
THIS CONCERT IS SPONSORED BY THE CAMDEN NEW JOURNAL |
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