September 30, 2009
No Tiptoeing Through the Tulips
By SARAH LYALL
The New York Times EXCERPT:
LONDON If the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain exists partly to subvert expectations, then the first expectation it subverts is that it is going to be very, very bad.
Relief is one of the major emotions of our audience, declared Dave Suich, an orchestra member.
But the happy surprise of encountering something completely different from the Tiny Tim-style hamming or banjo-plucking embarrassment of your imagination doesnt wholly explain the deep love the orchestra inspires, not just in Britain, but also in Europe and as far away as New Zealand and Japan. Previously the private passion of a large but sub rosa group of devotees, the orchestra hit mainstream popularity last month when it performed to a sold-out crowd at the BBC Proms music festival at the Royal Albert Hall here.
They have grown into a much-loved institution, The Observer of London wrote. In The Financial Times Laura Battle praised the orchestra members consummate skill and said that the sophisticated sound they make both percussive and melodic is at once hilarious and heartfelt. The Evening Standard said, The country would plainly be a happier place if more of us played the ukulele.
Part of the appeal is that the group eight of them, all singing and playing the ukulele extracts more than seems humanly possible from so small and so modest an instrument, with its four little strings. Part of it is the members deadpan sense of humor, in which they laugh at themselves as much as at the music.
There is also the unexpected delight of their repertory, a genre-bending array stretching from The Ride of the Valkyries to the Sex Pistols Anarchy in the U.K, which they perform as a friendly folk song, infusing even lines like I am an Antichrist with a cozy bonhomie. They do a cover of Nirvanas Smells Like Teen Spirit, which affords Mr. Suich an opportunity to release his long ponytail and fling his hair around, à la Cobain.
Ukuleles are mildly humorous and kind of cute, particularly when deployed by adults dressed in black tie. The minute that eight people walk onstage with ukes, youre winning already, said Will Grove-White, an orchestra member.
END EXCERPT
In all their glory, playing the theme from Shaft
Awesome, just awesome
Yes, I did put the news icon on it, the New York Times wrote the story!
No Tiptoeing Through the Tulips
By SARAH LYALL
The New York Times EXCERPT:
LONDON If the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain exists partly to subvert expectations, then the first expectation it subverts is that it is going to be very, very bad.
Relief is one of the major emotions of our audience, declared Dave Suich, an orchestra member.
But the happy surprise of encountering something completely different from the Tiny Tim-style hamming or banjo-plucking embarrassment of your imagination doesnt wholly explain the deep love the orchestra inspires, not just in Britain, but also in Europe and as far away as New Zealand and Japan. Previously the private passion of a large but sub rosa group of devotees, the orchestra hit mainstream popularity last month when it performed to a sold-out crowd at the BBC Proms music festival at the Royal Albert Hall here.
They have grown into a much-loved institution, The Observer of London wrote. In The Financial Times Laura Battle praised the orchestra members consummate skill and said that the sophisticated sound they make both percussive and melodic is at once hilarious and heartfelt. The Evening Standard said, The country would plainly be a happier place if more of us played the ukulele.
Part of the appeal is that the group eight of them, all singing and playing the ukulele extracts more than seems humanly possible from so small and so modest an instrument, with its four little strings. Part of it is the members deadpan sense of humor, in which they laugh at themselves as much as at the music.
There is also the unexpected delight of their repertory, a genre-bending array stretching from The Ride of the Valkyries to the Sex Pistols Anarchy in the U.K, which they perform as a friendly folk song, infusing even lines like I am an Antichrist with a cozy bonhomie. They do a cover of Nirvanas Smells Like Teen Spirit, which affords Mr. Suich an opportunity to release his long ponytail and fling his hair around, à la Cobain.
Ukuleles are mildly humorous and kind of cute, particularly when deployed by adults dressed in black tie. The minute that eight people walk onstage with ukes, youre winning already, said Will Grove-White, an orchestra member.
END EXCERPT
In all their glory, playing the theme from Shaft
Awesome, just awesome
Yes, I did put the news icon on it, the New York Times wrote the story!
