Challenging the orchestral norm: Charles Hazlewood's Paraorchestra

TL;DR

Charles Hazlewood’s Paraorchestra challenges the orchestral norm by uniting musicians with and without disabilities, embracing assistive technology, and expanding the repertoire beyond classical music. Forty of its musicians identify as disabled, while The Love Unlimited Synth Orchestra replaces a traditional string section with analog synthesizers to reinterpret Barry White’s music. Read on to discover how accessibility and technology open new possibilities for the modern orchestra.

Transcript

my name is Charles hayeswood I'm artistic director of para Orchestra and I'm here at Festival Hall tonight part of Grace changes meltdown with a beautiful little new creation of ours which is called the Love Unlimited synth Orchestra the initial idea for paral Christian came because I've got a child with cerebral palsy and she started making me won... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Promotes inclusivity by including musicians with disabilities in orchestras.
• 👂 Utilizes analog synthesizers to create a unique sound for the Love Unlimited Synth Orchestra.
• 👻 Technology allows for a broader spectrum of musical possibilities within orchestras.
• 🎼 Challenges traditional orchestra norms by embracing modern music and diversity.
• ❓ Highlights the importance of evolving orchestras to reflect modern society.
• 🧠 Shows that there is an instrument for everyone, regardless of body shape or brain function.
• 🧑‍🎨 Features a diverse array of artists in the Love Unlimited Synth Orchestra.

Questions & Answers

Q: What inspired Charles Hazlewood to create Paraorchestra?

Hazlewood’s child, who has cerebral palsy, prompted him to question why so few musicians with disabilities appeared in the orchestras he conducted. After more than 30 years of conducting around the world, he could count those musicians on the fingers of one hand, convincing him that orchestras were excluding talent.

Q: What is Charles Hazlewood’s Paraorchestra?

Paraorchestra is an evolving ensemble of musicians with and without disabilities led by artistic director Charles Hazlewood. Forty of its musicians identify as disabled, demonstrating Hazlewood’s belief that excellence and disability belong in the same sentence.

Q: How does Paraorchestra challenge the traditional orchestral model?

It combines disabled and non-disabled musicians, uses assistive technology, and embraces music beyond the conventional orchestral repertoire. Hazlewood argues that orchestras can perform Barry White, Kraftwerk, and Scott Walker alongside composers such as Mozart, Brahms, and Schnittke.

Q: What is The Love Unlimited Synth Orchestra?

The Love Unlimited Synth Orchestra is a Paraorchestra creation presented at Royal Festival Hall as part of Grace Jones’ Meltdown. Rather than imitate The Love Unlimited Orchestra, it gives Barry White’s material a new treatment built around synthesizers.

Q: How does The Love Unlimited Synth Orchestra differ from a traditional orchestra?

It replaces the vast string section with a bank of analog synthesizers. Hazlewood says this substitution adds a thrilling and different quality to the music.

Q: How does assistive technology help Paraorchestra’s musicians?

Some musicians who cannot play instruments such as an oboe or cello physically can play them through a digital portal. Paraorchestra also includes instruments such as Headspace and other technologies, widening both access to music-making and the orchestra’s spectrum of sound.

Q: Which artists perform with The Love Unlimited Synth Orchestra?

The featured artists include Kele from Bloc Party, Shingai from Noisettes, Betty Boo, and Eno from Ibibio Sound Machine. Hazlewood describes them as coming from a broad range of the musical spectrum and bringing new interpretations to Barry White’s tracks.

Q: What is Charles Hazlewood’s vision for the modern orchestra?

He wants the orchestra to reflect modern society in all its shapes and forms while remaining a central musical resource. That means including diverse musicians, embracing technology, and treating classical and modern music as parts of the same palette.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Para Orchestra was founded to include musicians with disabilities in orchestras.

• The Love Unlimited Synth Orchestra utilizes analog synthesizers in place of traditional strings.

• Technology allows musicians with disabilities to expand the orchestra's sound possibilities.