Ian ANDERSON 2005

Having played on many a TULL record with the various members of the symphony orchestra since the 1968 recording of "A Christmas Song", when a double tracked string quartet adorned that simple mandolin and vocal piece, it was just a matter of time before I had to go along with one of the many invitations, over the years, to join with a bigger ensemble in live concert.

"I guested with ex-Tullie David Palmer on a couple of Orchestral concerts strumming along and puffing flute for a few songs some years ago and with classical flautist chum Andrea Griminelli on an Italian flute festival concert with orchestra on that fateful day, 11th September, 2001. But the first real complete performance with orchestra was with the fine, upstanding German players of the Bochum Symphoniker, conducted and directed by Steven Sloane, in 2002 when they commissioned and organised two outdoor concerts featuring both my solo and Tull material in an orchestral setting."

I have tried to approach these and subsequent orchestral concerts with the idea of meeting the instruments of the symphony orchestra as a fellow acoustic musician, rather than replicate the rather suspect "Rock group with orchestra" efforts of the past peers of loud and popular music. After all, the concert flute - just like the one I play - is one of the longstanding and leading solo instruments of Classical Music.

So, having been the un-plugged guy in a Rock band for the past 36 years, it's rather nice to get time off for good behaviour to play both gentle and powerful music without the sheer volume associated with much of my past. The power comes from the arrangements, the piaying, and the hearts of the musicians - not just the sensitive amplification still necessary to play this music to thousands of people in a concert theatre or outdoor arena.

The core band who play with me on these concerts are chosen for their skills in varied musical disciplines. They have to cover, not only the different styles and nuances of my and Jethro Tull's music over the many years, but also need to have a good understanding of the complex workings of the orchestral settings we employ.

The various orchestras with whom I have played over the last three years all have their separate personalities. Some have worked in the whacky world of "crossover" Classics with people like me before. Some have not and thus face a musical interrogation at rehearsal as we discover our mutual strengths and failings.

But, the whole point is to revel in the little tensions, to explore and exploit the skills and excellence of playing and try ultimately not to get too picky about phrasing and timing when the performance depends on heart, soul and mutual support.

Having had the odd show when the High School Band of Dumbsquat College, Upper Delaware-on-the-lake would have done better, I relax and rejoice when we get a good and dedicated orchestra who will work hard to find that special something which brings it all alive for musicians and audience alike. I hope we have that here.

Ian Anderson

2005

Ian ANDERSON

Plays The Orchestral Jethro Tull

(2 CD)

(2005)

Disc 1

Disc 2