After the enormous success of its project for primary schools, BBC Music is launching its Ten Pieces Secondary scheme, aimed at students from Key Stage 3 and upwards (age 11 and over). Ten works have been chosen to showcase and champion classical music, and will feature in a film shown in cinemas across the UK in October.
The hour-long film is a mixture of live action and animation, and will be include presenters such as actor Bobby Lockwood, singer Pixie Lott and Radio 1 presenter Clara Amfo. As well as being broadcast in cinemas, the film will be available to schools as part of an information pack filled with activities and tasks based on the pieces. Both this pack and the cinema screenings are being offered for free.
The performers are the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Alpesh Chauhan. The Hallé Choir feature in Verdi’s Requiem, and soloists include Alison Balsom and DJ Mr Switch.
The pieces will be explored in depth on BBC Radio 3, including a series of features available to download and a live broadcast performance from a secondary school. Across the country, the Ten Pieces Ambassadors will continue to work with the project. Cellist Julian Lloyd Webber will join violinist Nicola Benedetti and electronic band Clean Bandit among others in encouraging young musicians to respond to the pieces they hear. The original Ten Pieces programme engaged over 10,000 primary schools, and the Secondary scheme will continue to work with over 250 music hubs across the country to inspire a generation to get involved in classical music.
The Ten Pieces are:
J. S. Bach, orch. Stokowski - Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
Bernstein - 'Mambo' from Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
Bizet - 'Habanera' and 'Toreador Song' from Carmen
Anna Clyne - Night Ferry
Haydn - Trumpet Concerto (3rd movement)
Soloist: Alison Balsom
Gabriel Prokofiev - Concerto for Turntables and Orchestra (5th movement)
Soloist: DJ Mr Switch
Shostakovich - Symphony No. 10 (2nd movement)
Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending
Soloist: Nicola Benedetti
Verdi - 'Dies Irae' and ‘Tuba Mirum’ from Requiem
Wagner - 'Ride of the Valkyries' from Die Walküre
Find out more about the Ten Pieces on the BBC's website.