Orchestra: A Personal Guide With Sir Simon Rattle on CD has all the information you need to be an orchestra buff and really impress your more musical friends.
On this Focus Multimedia CD, Sir Simon shares his personal experiences as a conductor and his observations on music, composers, performances and a wide array of instruments.
You are led on a virtual tour of the orchestra pit and each aspect is examined.
The layout of an orchestra can be explored interactively in a game that tests the ears as well as the eyes.
This is made all the more interesting by Sir Simon's explanation of how orchestras have developed since Purcell's time.
In addition to the technical, strictly musical stuff, there is an excellent photographic diary feature with hundreds of specially-commissioned photographs of the orchestra in rehearsal and during performance and filmed interviews with individual members of the orchestra, which provide a fascinating peek backstage.
The CD provides information on everything from the basics to the finer points of conducting.
Price: £9.99.
Contact: 01889 583571.
Feel good factor: 7 out of 10.
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