Dani Howard’s new work receives its world premiere at the BBC Proms on 10 August by National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, with whom Howard is Resident Artist. Entitled Three, Four AND…, the piece is commissioned by BBC Radio 3 in celebration of the 10th anniversary of ‘NYO Inspire’, the orchestra’s development scheme for young musicians from underrepresented backgrounds. Conducted by Tess Jackson, musicians from the scheme join NYO for the second half of the work. Alexandre Bloch also conducts NYO in a programme featuring the Overture to Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman, Missy Mazzoli’s Orpheus Undone and Mahler’s Symphony No.1.
Describing the collaborative process of composition, Howard comments:
“Stemming from a single melody, this small idea has travelled across the country and been played, adapted and morphed into many forms by thousands of young people. It is the anticipation of what is to come after a “Three, Four AND…” in music and dance, that gave the piece its title. This is the same feeling I’ve experienced while being on two of the NYO residencies during this year of being their Resident Artist, and seeing first hand that we have a lot to be excited about for our future.
These young people on and off stage are what have inspired this work. Their energy, drive and ambition are contagious. During our spring residency, the musicians came forward with ideas that they wanted me to include in the composition — all of which have been incorporated. Everything from flutter tonguing in the flutes, to prominent viola parts, it was a real privilege to form a new work specifically for this group of individuals.”
