Search for
Search for
Search forHull Phili's speedy bow action captured by speed camera
07:00 - 05-May-2008
Both of these pieces contain two of the fastest movements in classical music.
During the hectic finales of the works, it is reckoned each of the violinists will play two thousand notes in the space of 12 minutes.
Ian Wilson, the orchestra's chairman, said: “By our calculations, the arm has to accelerate from zero to 4.6 feet per second and back to zero for every note. While we cannot claim to be going faster than a Ferrari accelerating from nought to 60 it is still extremely fast.”
And both pieces have a long, and acclaimed past.
Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, which will feature prize winning Czech soloist Jana Novakova, is widely regarded as one of the greatest violin concertos ever written and the Tchaikovsky symphony is one of the most frequently performed symphonies of the late 19th century.
The orchestra's leader, Patricia Mitchell, said: “We are preparing ourselves for a thrilling ride, but it is also an exercise in control as we must keep together and support our international soloist as sensitively as possible.”
Also on the programme for this, the last concert in the orchestra's 2007-8 season, is Dvorak's Scherzo Capriccioso and Sibelius's Festivo No3 from Six Scenes Historiques.
David Lloyd-Jones, who last year was honoured by the Royal Philharmonic Society for outstanding services to music, will be the guest conductor for the event – and keeping the tempo for these exuberant Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky works in check.
Andrew Penny, Hull Philharmonic musical director, said: “To perform these pieces requires a lot of skill. Perhaps it won't be long before the ubiquitous speed camera finds a new role, in ensuring that performers aren't subjected to excessive metronome marks.”
Hull Philharmonic Orchestra play Hull City Hall, Queen Victoria Square, Hull, on Saturday, May 10, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5-£17. Call (01482) 226655.
Free Delivery on orders over £45 Free Delivery on orders over £45.
Plan for your future with a pension from Standard Life.
Specialist car insurance in Herts Get a free quote.
PC Peter Cole measures the speed of Hull Philharmonic Orchestra's violinists' bows with his camera
Email this story to a friend
Print this story
Comment on this story
It would have outsold the whole of last week’s top 40 singles four times over
