The Beginning
In 1931 the conductors Sir Thomas Beecham and Malcolm Sargent decided to make a new orchestra. The original idea was to set up a permanent orchestra that would have a guaranteed salary by Beecham's patrons. This did not go over well with the players in the orchestra as this would involve weeding out less skilled players. The orchestra at this point had been self governing. So, the two conductors decided to build a new orchestra. The only challenge was that most of the skilled musicians were already employed with other orchestras. Luck was on their side though, the economy wasn't doing too well so there was a surplus of freelance musicians. They ended up employing a large number of these musicians. In the following year, their orchestra had grown to 106 players. After their first performance it was clear that they are a cut above the rest, and the publications of the time had nothing but rave reviews to give.
Today
The London Philharmonic Orchestra has become the gold standard in when it comes to classical performances. In 1993 they became the resident orchestra of the Royal Festival Hall on the south bank of the Thames. They routinely perform at prestigious events around the world. They are also credited with performing for various film soundtracks like the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
Performance 1: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: I. Morning Mood
In this musical piece the wood instruments take center stage. Specifically the flute and the oboe. This is a Norwegian song that was composed by Edvard Grieg in 1875. This piece was written to accompany a play that takes place in the Moroccan Desert, but most people think of the composers home country, Norway when they hear this song. The instruments alternate between the flute and the oboe. The use of the pentatonic scale in this song gives it a folk-like quality.
Performance 2:London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Gymnopédie
In this classical piece the piano is the sole instrument. It was composed by Eric Satie, a Frenchman in 1888. The mood for this song was inspired by the painter, Pierre Puvis de Chavannes. This song is much slower than most of the pieces they play. The fact that its a singular instrument gives a sense of being alone or in an introspective space. There is an economy of notes in this song. It is also a relatively simple song compared to other classical piano solos.
Role of the London Philharmonic Orchestra
The players in this orchestra dedicate their lives to reproducing the great classical pieces. This orchestra gives people the opportunity to experience this music live. They also bring inspiration into the various venues they play at such as schools and workshops. This inspires many prospective musicians.
Personal Opinion
I have been introduced to a wide variety of classical music thanks to this orchestra. They play a curated selection of some of the greatest classical works which makes the process of enjoying classical music that much easier. Their passion for reproducing the music at such a high standard is something I appreciate.
Sources
Wildridge, D. J. (2018, November 21). Gymnopédie no. 1 by Erik Satie. CMUSE. https://www.cmuse.org/gymnopedie-no-1-erik-satie/
Homepage. LPO. (2024, March 27). https://lpo.org.uk/
Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, March 10). London Philharmonic Orchestra. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Philharmonic_Orchestra
Rose, T. (2023, June 14). The many musical moods of Edvard Grieg. The Imaginative Conservative. https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2023/06/many-musical-moods-edvard-grieg-terez-rose.html
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