THE LEVIATHAN - YOUR MUSIC
Please ensure you are registered with the City of London Festival as a participant. If you haven't done so already, email them on saxophone@colf.org, then return to this site to download material.
The music you will need is here. It's very straightforward, and gives you what you need to play in the ensemble sections, but also gives you the chance to let rip, and improvise!
The music is memorise-able, but if you want to print out your page and carry it with you during The Leviathan, or stick it to your saxophone, feel free to do that!
Depending on your starting point, geographically, go to the link to your page, and then pick a version of the music to download in PDF form, to print out.
DOWNLOADS - PDF MUSIC
MP3 audio file of John Harle playing the Leviathan music, and giving tips about how to make the most of your part are now below, There will soon also be maps of the route from the four starting points to London Bridge. There will be group leaders and stewards to conduct you and usher you in the right direction!
GROUP A - Aldgate Music for Tenor, Soprano or Bass Saxophone MP3 for Tenor, Soprano or Bass Saxophone |
GROUP B - Bishopsgate Music for Tenor, Soprano or Bass Saxophone MP3 for Tenor, Soprano or Bass Saxophone |
GROUP C - Ludgate Music for Tenor, Soprano or Bass Saxophone MP3 for Tenor, Soprano or Bass Saxophone |
GROUP D - Moorgate Music for Tenor, Soprano or Bass Saxophone MP3 for Tenor, Soprano or Bass Saxophone |
THE LEVIATHAN - INSTRUCTIONS
PLEASE NOTE THESE REVISED INSTRUCTIONS
ARRIVAL AND REHEARSAL
When you arrive at your starting point, you should look out for your group leaders, who will rehearse the music with you and give you all the help and support you need to understand what to do at every step of the way.
PERFORMANCE
THE WALK TO THE BRIDGE
On the signal to start, play the music of 'AT START POINT'. You can freely alternate between the written phrases and improvisation on the scale that's noted there. Repeat and repeat the whole line in your own time - don't worry about trying to co-ordinate your part with anyone else. The improvisation part can be simply the playing the the scale, or by emphasising one or more of the notes of the scale in a phrase of your own, or running passages based on the scale.
You can be as loud and as wild as you like - blow down the walls of the City! Try to stay exactly on the suggested notes for your improvisation, but other than that, feel free to go crazy!
The walk to London Bridge could be around 25 minutes, so remember to take some bars rest when you need a break!
As you get to the North end of the bridge, you'll become aware of the 4 groups playing in different keys and of a jarring dissonance - don't worry! Keep playing loudly in your own key, and improvise away!
ARRIVAL AT THE BRIDGE
As you pass Marker 1, at the North end of the bridge, start to play 'ON ARRIVAL AT MARKER 1'. Repeat and repeat this phrase, and walk towards the centre of the bridge. Keep playing, and wait for all 4 groups to arrive in front of the conductor.
(All 4 groups will be in the same key past MARKER 1 and the music will be harmonious - but you are are still rhythmically independent. The improvisation element stops past MARKER 1).
MUSIC ON THE BRIDGE
When you see the conductor signal with his left hand, get ready to play the music marked 'CONDUCTED'. On the conductors downbeat, play 'CONDUCTED'. Some of the pauses/held notes will be long. Feel free to breathe during the pauses and restart your note in your own time.THE WALK TO THE SOUTH SIDE
On starting the last note of your music ( ⑤ - a 'concert C'), sustain this note and turn to begin a slow walk over the remainder of the bridge, and as you get to Marker 2, on the South side of the bridge, stop and keep playing that note, until we are all congregated at the end point, where we will begin a gradual diminuendo, to silence - which the conductor will lead.
DRESS
The colour of The Leviathan is primarily white, with contrasting blue or black if you don't have white trousers or shoes.
A white shirt and white trousers would be ideal, but if you havn't got white trousers, blue or black trousers will be fine.
Shoes should ideally be white trainers, but black shoes are the alternative.
VIDEO AND AUDIO
We'll be recording The Leviathan for posterity. It'll appear on this website, www.sustainmusic.org, as a record of the event. We'll make the video download-able so you can have your own copy of The Leviathan.
If you don't want to be recorded, then The Leviathan isn't for you - but we hope you will want to be part of the biggest mass-saxophone event ever!
(There are no commercial applications for these recordings, so no income will be made whatsoever).
