And now for something completely.. umm.. different: Classical Muddley, The Portsmouth Symphonia

[Fumesucker]

You've no doubt heard of "cloud computing" by now, this is the musical equivalent... or something.

An actual Top 40 hit in the UK..

The early repertoire of the Sinfonia was drawn from standard classical repertoire (“The Blue Danube” waltz, “Also sprach Zarathustra”, etc), so that most orchestra members had a rough idea of what the piece, or at least famous parts of it, should sound like; even if they could not play their chosen instrument accurately, they would at least have an idea that they should be going higher at one part then lower at another, and so on. The end result was the musical ensemble producing not only the correct note but several notes nearby, ‘clouds of sound’ that gave an average impression of the piece.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgKDKyl-EKE

[Manifestor_of_Light]

it's not funny to me anymore.

I spent years playing pieces CORRECTLY in school and community orchestras.

[Fumesucker]

2. It's not something I would listen to regularly..

But sometimes things are so bad that they are good.

I bet you don't like the Three Stooges either.. :)

Edited to add: As a consolation prize I'll put up something I really do think is good, Gillian Welch doing "White Rabbit".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u95BTvcc4_8

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Hey, Brian Eno produced the Sinfonia

U2, Devo, Talking Heads, ... and The Portsmouth Sinfonia. I think they also played a short bit in Eno's "Put a Straw Under Baby".

Good stuff.

[Fumesucker]

3. I did not know that..

/Johnny Carson..

Seriously, Brian Eno?

Damn..

[MannyGoldstein]

4. Yeah, I Just double checked in Wikipedia

Apparently he was also a member!