Playing by ear doesn't have to be a hindrance when it comes to reimagining great classical works.
Classical musicians who don't read music are part of an elite group that boasts some big-name stars like Paul McCartney, Hans Zimmer and Eric Clapton. These artists have proven that musical literacy is not the only skill necessary to excel in their field.
Delia Stevens, my collaborator on our folk-classical duo Stevens & Pound, shares this view. We're on a mission to rethink major classical works by playing them in new and unexpected ways. Our goal is not just to play cover versions or compensate for Delia's lack of reading skills but to bring a fresh, dynamic sound to the music.
We started with Holst's Planets, a monumental work that posed its biggest challenge yet for our system. Delia had never read the score, and neither have I. So how did we do it?
Delia recorded her parts by ear, which I then learned from, developing new techniques and learning different scales and chord progressions to match. This approach may seem unconventional, but it's allowed us to tap into our unique sound worlds and bring a new voice to the music.
This process has forced me to think laterally about music and its notation. While reading scores is often seen as a fundamental skill for classical musicians, I believe that playing by ear can be just as powerful – if not more so – in the right context.
Our project with the Britten Sinfonia will showcase this approach. We'll be performing Holst's Planets, but also other works by Percy Grainger and Benjamin Britten. The connections between these composers and folk music are fascinating and underappreciated.
It's time to challenge the idea that classical players can't play folk or folk musicians can't play classical. Our tour dates aren't just concerts; they're a celebration of the overlap between genres.
In this, we find inspiration in two composers who recognized the connections between their work and the English Folk Dance and Song Society: Percy Grainger and Benjamin Britten. Their mutual admiration for each other's music is a testament to the power of cross-genre collaboration.
Classical musicians who don't read music are part of an elite group that boasts some big-name stars like Paul McCartney, Hans Zimmer and Eric Clapton. These artists have proven that musical literacy is not the only skill necessary to excel in their field.
Delia Stevens, my collaborator on our folk-classical duo Stevens & Pound, shares this view. We're on a mission to rethink major classical works by playing them in new and unexpected ways. Our goal is not just to play cover versions or compensate for Delia's lack of reading skills but to bring a fresh, dynamic sound to the music.
We started with Holst's Planets, a monumental work that posed its biggest challenge yet for our system. Delia had never read the score, and neither have I. So how did we do it?
Delia recorded her parts by ear, which I then learned from, developing new techniques and learning different scales and chord progressions to match. This approach may seem unconventional, but it's allowed us to tap into our unique sound worlds and bring a new voice to the music.
This process has forced me to think laterally about music and its notation. While reading scores is often seen as a fundamental skill for classical musicians, I believe that playing by ear can be just as powerful – if not more so – in the right context.
Our project with the Britten Sinfonia will showcase this approach. We'll be performing Holst's Planets, but also other works by Percy Grainger and Benjamin Britten. The connections between these composers and folk music are fascinating and underappreciated.
It's time to challenge the idea that classical players can't play folk or folk musicians can't play classical. Our tour dates aren't just concerts; they're a celebration of the overlap between genres.
In this, we find inspiration in two composers who recognized the connections between their work and the English Folk Dance and Song Society: Percy Grainger and Benjamin Britten. Their mutual admiration for each other's music is a testament to the power of cross-genre collaboration.
The notion that playing by ear is an insurmountable barrier to musical excellence is, in my opinion, a misguided assumption 
. The fact that renowned artists like Paul McCartney and Hans Zimmer have successfully navigated their careers without formal music training speaks volumes about the value of alternative approaches 
. By embracing improvisation and intuitive learning, musicians can tap into new sonic territories and create innovative works 
. Stevens & Pound's approach to reimagining classical masterpieces by playing them by ear is a great example of this, and I'm excited to see how their collaboration with the Britten Sinfonia will push the boundaries of genre-bending music 
My dad used to be able to play that classical piano stuff by ear back in the day, it was mind-blowing. The whole idea of Stevens & Pound taking on those big classical works with a folk twist is genius... kinda like how my fave artist from back in the 90s, Alanis Morissette, would take songs and just make them her own, you know? This project's all about breaking down those boundaries between genres. It's gonna be lit!
. And that's what our project is all about - breaking free from traditional ways of thinking about classical music and folk genres 
. It's time to celebrate the overlap between them! We can have multiple perspectives and skills coming together to create something truly innovative 