We have loved playing Charlotte’s piece during our concerts this summer, from the premiere at the Barbican all the way to our BBC Proms debut at Bristol Beacon. The audience loved its energy and we had everyone taking part. Now we’re inviting you to have fun with it too!
Co-commissioned in partnership with the BBC, this bold reimagining of Benjamin Britten’s iconic Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra introduces a new section – electronics, showing what a more inclusive orchestra with a wider range of musicians and instruments could look and sound like.
An abridged version of the 15-minute piece is now part of BBC Ten Pieces. Visit the page to watch our BBC Proms performance and find great musical resources to explore. We hope they will make you want to chant #ThisIsOurOrchestra and join in the fun.
Photo credit: Jessie Myers, Soul Media
There are full scores as well as patterns for the Clarion, an accessible digital instrument some NOYO musicians play. The Clarion can be played with eye, head or hand movement. Soloist Alessandro Vazzana, a former NOYO musician, made his BBC Proms debut on it at Bristol Beacon this summer.
The Orchestra: A Young Person’s Guide is, like Britten’s piece, split across five movements with wonderful narration that speaks of how the orchestra and the music come together.
Composer Charlotte Harding says: “We start with ‘Particles’ which explores raw sonic energy, and all of the possibility that holds. We then look at the ‘Individuals’ that make up an orchestra: individual people, instruments and musical materials. When we bring these individuals together, the ‘Sections’ of the orchestra are then formed – winds, brass, percussion, electronics, strings and keyboards. Combinations of these sections can then create ‘Palettes’ of orchestral colours which can be used to tell stories, paint sonic pictures, or express our emotions. Finally, when we bring all of this ‘Tutti’, together, our 21st-century orchestra comes to life!”
To sum it up, here are three things you can do now:
- Download the Clarion for free from the App Store or Microsoft Store. It runs on iPads and Windows devices. To learn how to play, check out ABRSM Clarion Sparks! and the Clarion YouTube channel.
- Explore The Orchestra: A Young Person’s Guide resources and all the fantastic pieces and Clarion patterns on the BBC Ten Pieces website.
- Subscribe to our NOYO YouTube channel as we’ll soon be uploading more moments from our 2026 #ThisIsOurOrchestra tour.