Posts tagged Mayflower 400
Symphony 400: The Voyage — an unexpected twist in a musical journey which began in the classroom, and led all the way to the Mayflower stage
Symphony 400: The Voyage — an unexpected twist in a musical journey which began in the classroom, and led all the way to the Mayflower stage

In September 2019, composer James Redwood visited four Southampton Primary Schools: collecting musical ideas from 100 school children, inspired by the Mayflower 400 story.

Now, those ideas have become a brand new piece of music: “Symphony 400: The Voyage” — debuted by 60 talented secondary and sixth form musicians at the Mayflower Theatre on Friday 6 March 2020

Watch the video of the story of “Symphony 400: The Voyage”.

Where Now? An Unexpected Twist

When the Symphony 400 journey began back in September, no one could have predicted the circumstances that would be to follow in March 2020. With social distancing and isolation set to be a part of life for the weeks, and possibly months, to come, there is a twist in the next stage of our journey.

One Start — Many Different Journeys

Southampton Music Hub is making all the music available — to anyone — for free — including…

  • PDF scores

  • Sibelius Files

  • MIDI Files and more

You can use these to…

  • Remix

  • Reimagine

  • Rearrange

  • Transform

  • Play

  • Perform and more

This can be done…

  • At home

  • At school

  • On video chat with friends or relatives

  • Using apps on your smartphone or tablet

  • Using apps on your PC or Mac

  • With an instrument

  • With your voice

  • Any way you can imagine — the possibilities are endless

Why not try…

  • Printing out the score, and chopping it up — move the pieces around and then stick them down again

  • Adding the MIDI parts to GarageBand or Logic and changing the instruments — explore the world of digital sound

  • Create loops — either by playing or recording — layer them up and remix the parts

If you have recordings, photos or scores you’d like to share, send us links on Twitter or via the contact page, and we’ll try to share some with everybody.

Where next? It’s up to you!

Where our journey goes next is in your hands. Symphony 400: The Voyage launched its journey in the classroom, and led us all the way to the Mayflower stage. Now, let many more journeys begin.

Ensembles, Family Music, Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleySymphony 400, Mayflower 400
Southampton: A Musical Odyssey (in pictures)
Southampton: A Musical Odyssey (in pictures)

On Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March 2020, Mayflower Theatre hosted 1,000 young performers, brought together by Southampton Music Hub, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower. The Mayflower’s pioneering voyage 400 years ago created connections that changed the world. In response, these two show stopping performances saw young people at the heart of the start of a year of cultural programming for the city.

Thursday 5 March — Photo Gallery

Friday 6 March 2020 — Photo Gallery

Ensembles, Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleyMayflower 400, Symphony 400, Big Sing, Southampton Youth Orchestra (SYO), Southampton Youth Concert Sinfonia (SYCS), Southampton Wind Band (SWB), Pulse8, Southampton Youth Brass Band (SYBB), Brassroots, Fusion Brass
Mayflower Cruise Terminal hosts 1,000 performers ahead of two nights of music at Mayflower Theatre
Mayflower Cruise Terminal hosts 1,000 performers ahead of two nights of music at Mayflower Theatre

On Saturday 29 February 2020, Associated British Ports’ (ABP) Mayflower Cruise Terminal hosted a rehearsal for 1,000 performers ahead of two nights of music at Mayflower Theatre on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March 2020.

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The two events will commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower: a pioneering voyage 400 years ago created connections that changed the world. In response, Southampton Music Hub, will use these two momentous evenings to celebrate the incredible power of music to take people and communities on life-changing journeys. 

Kath Page, Manager at Southampton Music Hub, says:
“Everybody is so excited to be part of these incredible musical celebrations. These two nights will be an opportunity for the whole community to come together and enjoy the power of music to connect people, to inspire people, and to help make Southampton an exciting city to live in.”

Both evenings will include performers from all across the city: including 800 young singers from city schools; 200 talented young musicians from community bands and orchestras; 80 young theatre performers; 50 community musicians and many more. With so many performers, finding rehearsal space is a huge challenge. But thanks to the kindness of Associated British Ports (ABP), they were all able to come together in the Mayflower cruise terminal for an epic rehearsal on Saturday 29 February 2020.

Michael Ockwell, Mayflower Theatre Chief Executive says:“We are delighted to be able to host these two concerts and to premiere songs from our Mayflower 400 musical commissions which will be performed in August 2020 at the theatre. It will be amazing to see all the talented young singers and musicians on our stage and we hope that they will have an inspiring experience performing their songs.”

Morning Rehearsal Gallery:

Afternoon Rehearsal Gallery:

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Ensembles, Family Music, Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleyMayflower 400
Symphony 400: the primary school pupils who heard their musical ideas brought to life by an orchestra for the first time
Symphony 400: the primary school pupils who heard their musical ideas brought to life by an orchestra for the first time

On Thursday 27 February, 60 young musicians from across the city came together at Bitterne Park school for one big rehearsal ahead of an epic musical performance on Friday 6 March 2020 at Mayflower Theatre.

The rehearsal, organised as part of an inspirational music project from Southampton Music Hub and Mayflower Theatre, was the first — and only — time the performers will rehearse all together, the brand new piece of music which they will debut on the night.

“Symphony 400: The Journey”, from award-winning composer James Redwood, was inspired by the Mayflower’s pioneering voyage 400 years ago, which created connections that changed the world.

The piece of music started life as musical ideas from 100 primary school children, who joined the rehearsal to hear their ideas transformed and performed by the city’s most talented young musicians ahead of its debut on the Mayflower stage.

James Redwood, composer for the project, says:
“The primary school children were deeply engaged by the Mayflower 400 story, and the musical ideas they created are now taking an incredible journey of their own. I’m delighted to turn those ideas into a piece of music for some of the city’s most talented young musicians to perform, and even more thrilled to know that the composers of the original ideas will see their work performed on the city’s most famous stage.”

On the night, young musicians from Bitterne Park Secondary, Oasis Lordshill, Richard Taunton’s Sixth Form College and St Anne’s Catholic School will join a line up of 500 performers for a momentous evening to celebrate the incredible power of music to take people and communities on life-changing journeys.

Councillor Darren Paffey, Cabinet Member for Aspiration, Children and Lifelong Learning says:
“As we begin our commemorations of 400 years since the Mayflower set sail, I’m delighted that young musicians from across Southampton will have the opportunity to take part in A Musical Odyssey. I know from my own experience of learning and performing music when I was younger that it’s a brilliant way of opening up new experiences, ideas, and cultures, and really brings communities together. My congratulations to Southampton Music Hub for putting this event together and for putting the life-changing power of music into the hands of so many young people.”

Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleyMayflower 400, Symphony 400
Southampton: A Musical Odyssey — One Week To Go

On Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March, Southampton Music Hub and Mayflower Theatre present Southampton: A Musical Odyssey — connecting children, schools and communities with the Mayflower 400 Commemorations taking place this year.

Music in the Community, Music in Schools, Ensembles, Family MusicMatt BrombleyMayflower 400
Southampton Music Hub in the news: Mayflower 400 and Synthesis

The new year has started with two news pieces for Southampton Music Hub:

Daily Echo highlights the Mayflower 400 Journey

The Daily Echo have written about the hub’s Mayflower 400 journey, with 1,000 residents taking part in workshops and events leading up to two epic celebration events at Mayflower Theatre on 5 and 6 March 2020.

Synthesis Project at the Music Mark Conference

Solent University have written about the Synthesis project session at November’s Music Mark conference.

Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleyMayflower 400, Synthesis
End of year update: looking back on a decade of music-making for Southampton's young musicians
End of year update: looking back on a decade of music-making for Southampton's young musicians

This year, as we wrap up for a Christmas holiday that includes the ringing in of a new decade, Southampton Music Hub looks back on the past ten years of music-making, to see the impact the hub is having for children, young people, and their families across the city.

18,500+ First Access Musicians

Every year Southampton Music Hub gives children an inspirational start to learning a musical instrument in First Access. In the past ten years 18,500+ children have picked up an instrument for the first time in classrooms across the city.

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2,500+ Ensemble Members

Every year Southampton Music Hub gives young musicians the opportunity to perform and progress in a musical community of orchestras and bands. There are even a small handful of young musicians who, having started in 2009 or before, have been in an ensemble for over ten years!

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30,000+ Affordable Instruments, Saving £10m

Every year Southampton Music Hub provides free, or affordable, instrumental loans to young musicians, families and schools. In the past ten years, there have been over 30,000 instruments loaned out, saving schools and families, an estimated £10million. 

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Looking Ahead:

On Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March 2020, Southampton Music Hub presents two momentous evenings of musical odysseys. Hosted by Soweto Kinch, eache evening will feature musical performances from bands and orchestras of all different shapes and sizes from across the City of Southampton and celebrate the life-changing power of music, including the premiers of Mayflower 400 inspired projects Big Sing: The Journey and Symphony 400: The Voyage.

Tickets cost just £10.

Ensembles, Family Music, Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleyMayflower 400, Instrumental and Vocal Tuition, First Access
Tickets go on sale for 'Southampton: A Musical Odyssey'
Tickets go on sale for 'Southampton: A Musical Odyssey'

Tickets are now on sale for 'Southampton: A Musical Odyssey' — presented by Southampton Music Hub in partnership with Mayflower Theatre.

On Thursday 5 and Friday 6 March 2020, the whole family can set sail for an epic evening of entertainment as over 600 young musicians from across Southampton commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower Ship: a pioneering journey which created connections that changed the world.

Led by Southampton Music Hub, in collaboration with Mayflower Theatre, and hosted by Soweto Kinch, the evening will feature musical performances from bands and orchestras of all different shapes and sizes from across the City of Southampton and celebrate the life-changing power of music, including, the premiers of Mayflower 400 inspired projects Big Sing: The Journey and Symphony 400: The Voyage. 

Tickets cost just £10 and are available from the Mayflower Theatre Box Office.

Music in Schools, Music in the Community, Family Music, EnsemblesMatt BrombleyMayflower 400, The Voyage, Symphony 400, The Journey, Big Sing, Everybody Sing, Stadium Tour
Four Southampton primary schools launch the start of an exciting musical voyage
Four Southampton primary schools launch the start of an exciting musical voyage

Last week award-winning composer James Redwood visited four Southampton primary schools to launch the start of an exciting musical voyage: an exciting musical journey which commemorates the sailing of the Mayflower 400 years ago.

Working with over 100 school children from Kanes Hill Primary, Swaythling Junior, Fairisle Junior and Foundry Lane Primary schools, James collected musical ideas inspired by the Mayflower’s journey across the Atlantic Ocean 400 years ago. They came up with words, sentences, rhythms, melodies and sounds using their bodies, voices and instruments.

What happens next?

Over the next two month, James will turn the ideas created in the workshops in to a brand new piece of music — Symphony 400: The Voyage — which will be performed by older, talented young musicians from across the city at the Mayflower Theatre in March.

The musical ideas will also be used by other musicians and producers across the city to create other brand new pieces of music to debut at the Mayflower in March.

Keep up with The Voyage

Over the six month Southampton Music Hub will track the progress of this exciting musical voyage: from the classroom, across the city, and culminating with two momentous performances at the Mayflower Theatre on 5-6 March 2020 where the children who’s ideas started this epic journey will hear the final piece for the very first time.

Music in SchoolsMatt BrombleyMayflower 400, Symphony 400, The Voyage
Southampton Music Trust’s crowdfunding campaign to give hundreds of Southampton’s young musicians a life-changing experience!
Southampton Music Trust’s crowdfunding campaign to give hundreds of Southampton’s young musicians a life-changing experience!

As Southampton commemorates 400 years since the Mayflower’s world-changing journey, Southampton Music Trust will support Southampton Music Hub to take hundreds of children learning a musical instrument for the first time on a life-changing musical journey. 

In July, young musicians from across the city's primary schools will blast onto the Central Hall stage to create brand new music in The Big Mayflower Jam! The Jam will tell the stories of the composers’ own journeys, exploring the ideas of belonging to a community and building a new future together.

This amazing first experience of performing on stage will be made even more special as the young people will be playing alongside professional musicians from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO)! The BSO will lead hundreds of young musicians as they play, listen, improvise, compose, and perform together, inspire each other’s musicianship, and build new connections and friends across the city.

But to give the city’s young people this amazing experience, Southampton Music Trust need your help. They want to make sure we can give life-changing music to children across the city, without it requiring any one person to give a life-changing amount of money. So, in partnership with Arts Council England and Spacehive’s Our Music Crowd project, they have launched a special crowdfunding campaign to harness the power of our community and bring together lots of small gifts to reach our life-changing target. 

The Big Mayflower Jam will give hundreds of young musicians a hugely inspirational musical experience, showcase their music, and demonstrate its importance: both to them as young people and to the city. Group music making is at the core of the project – activity proven to boost social bonding by helping participants identify collective identities and experiences, and as a result feel accepted. The Big Mayflower Jam will affirm the value of young musicians’ creative ambitions, improve their social and emotional stability, and help bring our communities together.

Please help make your community a better place and give our young people this amazing experience by making your donation at www.spacehive.com/bigmayflowerjam. Sharing is caring – if you share that you have supported this project on your own social media pages, it can help generate an average of £5 more in donations!

Music in the Community, Music in Schools, EnsemblesMatt BrombleyMayflower 400, Southampton Music Trust, Hub Partners
Richard Taunton Sixth Form College Choir launch Southampton's Mayflower 400 Celebrations
Richard Taunton Sixth Form College Choir launch Southampton's Mayflower 400 Celebrations
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On Monday 21 January, the Mayflower 400 project was officially launched in Southampton, and as part of the prestigious and very well attended event in Central Library, Richard Taunton Sixth Form College (RTSFC) Choir was invited to perform by Southampton Music Hub. The choir performed two pieces: Blow the Wind Southerly and I am Sailing. 

The Mayflower 400 commemorations seek to unite the Southampton community and surrounding areas, inspire creativity, drive economic growth, enhance the visitor experience and promote understanding and education of this pivotal moment in history. Driving this is the need to engage with young people and help them to understand Southampton’s relationship with the sea. 

Kath Page, Hub Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:
“The Mayflower project is about a journey and what better start to our present Mayflower journey than to engage with the wider community through listening to young people singing about the sea. The choir performed beautifully and they should be extremely proud.”

Miriam Kenny, Head of Music and choir leader for RTSFC, says:
“We are delighted to have been asked to perform. I asked the pupils to research songs about the sea and these were two of the songs that they found through their research. One of our singers, Rosie Mellett, wrote and taught the arrangement of We Are Sailing. When asked why she had chosen this particular piece, Rosie said she loved the lyrics, and felt it represented how the Mayflower story is ongoing in Southampton and how culture will keep on going. It was fun to teach and everyone helped out.”

Music in Schools, Music in the CommunityMatt BrombleyEverybody Sing, Mayflower 400