For participants at Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain concerts, who are intending to join in with "Relentlessly In C", this video gives a clue of how the music might sound. This recording was dashed off in the dressing room of the Royal Hall, Harrogate in September 2012 ten minutes before showtime, in response to requests for guidance on how the notation might be interpreted. The NOTATION and TABS are available free online, see below. Don't be put off if you think it seems tricky, it's very simple really. Just read the instructions. Participation concert dates include the tours of New Zealand and USA, 2012 / 2013. The SCORE, including CHORDS and TABS, and an explanatory text and participants notes for The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain's "Relentlessly in C" participation piece can be found at: USA TOURS 2012 / 2013 AUDIO EXAMPLES and EXPLANATION: http://www.theukes.org/docs/Relentlessly/ SCORE: http://performingarts.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/UKULELES-Relentlessly-in-C-1.pdf NOTES: http://performingarts.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Relentlessly-in-C-Notes.pdf NEW ZEALAND TOUR 2013 AUDIO EXAMPLES and EXPLANATION: http://www.theukes.org/docs/Relentlessly/ SCORE: http://www.ukuleleorchestra.co.nz/UKULELES_Relentlessly_in_C-1.pdf NOTES: http://www.ukuleleorchestra.co.nz/Relentlessly_in_C_Notes.pdf The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain have invited ukulele players to join in at some performances. For example with an excerpt of Beethoven's Ode to Joy, and now with "Relentlessly In C", a piece which the orchestra performed not long after starting in 1985. This was recorded by the BBC in 1989 and has been broadcast several times since then. It is a "response" or "homage" some might even say a "spoof" of some aspects of what has been called American Minimalism. It aims to be even more minimalist than usual. Terry Riley's classic piece is called "In C". The Ukulele Orchestra's piece is called "Relentlessly In C". They're not the same. Only a few months before the Ukulele Orchestra's first performance at Carnegie Hall, (which was in 2010), Terry Riley gave a 40th anniversary performance of his classic work: "In C", (commissioned by Morton Subotnik), at the same venue. Deemed by many the first major work of American minimalism, with its trance-inducing repetitive beats, looping sections and "teeming volatility" it is arguably the birth of techno, house, and electronic dance music, and a key work of 20th century modern music. It also features an improvisatory approach to the written notation, though whether ukuleles were involved is in doubt. Riley's In C, though minimalist, is actually quite complicated and rather than remaining in the key of C, roams through other tonal centres in performances which can take up to two hours. The Ukulele Orchestra's response to this genre is more of an English minimalist affair, and takes into account what might be thought of as the limitations of the ukulele; Relentlessly in C stays resolutely in one key all the way through and is doggedly minimalist. This piece, like Riley's, uses a sequence of repeated bars, and is perhaps a sort of affectionate caricature of, minimalism. New combinations of the repeated "cells" emerge as different players arrive at that particular loop. It's never the same twice and achieves a caricature of complexity via startlingly simple elements. It might introduce those who usually think in terms of pop, rock or punk songs with chordal accompaniment to a different way of thinking about music. Perhaps it can turn some listeners on to what for them is new music, from the Ukulele Orchestra to Terry Riley and beyond. Relentlessly in C is unthreatening, yet can be absorbing to play and to listen to. Perhaps it is more in keeping with the tradition of repetitive beats and hypnotic changes than most ukulele repertoire. Fitting, given that the orchestra's work has been remixed by a group of Ibiza DJs, and included on a Ministry of Sound compilation album. Articles about The Ukulele Orchestra's concert at The Royal Albert Hall Sept 21 2012, and "Relentlessly In C", the Ukulele Orchestra's "homage" to Riley's "In C": http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/sep/21/ukelele-orchestra-great-britain-george-hinchliffe http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/oh-me-oh-my-this-was-a-concert-with-a-difference-8167788.html?origin=internalSearch http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/music/livereviews/article3543173.ece http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/ukulele-masterclass-four-strings-and-a-jolly-good-time-8142178.html Ukulele Orchestra World Tour dates: http://www.ukuleleorchestra.com/main/ShowPage.aspx?PageID=9&SessionKey; More info at http://www.ukuleleorchestra.com The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain urges you to listen to, and play, new music, if you don't know Terry Riley, find out about him here: Terry Riley's website http://terryriley.net/ Wiki page on Terry Riley's in C http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_C

• published: 28 Sep 2012
• views: 33456