Page 38 - Guildhall Coverage Book 2020-21

to be as close to real life as possible,” explains Julian Hepple. “On a Zoom call the latency can be as
long as 1/2 a second. We can move very high-quality audio and video from any point in the
buildings to another in 6/1000's of a second – allowing our musicians to perform together despite
the physical distance.”

Sir Simon Rattle conducting the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra CREDIT: Julian
Simmonds

First implemented for the school’s premier music prize, the Gold Medal, and its corresponding
concert, the low latency system allows for the orchestra to be split between four different
performance spaces, and still play together as one. “There was something totally mind blowing
about hearing the low latency system for the first time,” says Vice Principal & Director of Music
Jonathan Vaughan. “The idea that the conductor in another room can actually hear the timpani
sooner than they would in a live hall (due to the distance) just leaves me slack jawed in wonder.”
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), too, has orchestrated innovative ways of
playing together whilst adhering to the restrictions.

“We did a special concert from a warehouse in Birmingham on 5 September, 100 years to the day
since the orchestra’s very first concert,” says Stephen Maddock, Chief Executive of the CBSO. “All
players had their temperatures checked every day, wore face coverings at all times when moving
around the building, and sat at [a] two metre distance from each other.” This two metre distancing
system was – needless to say – not an ideal means of making music together, and the process was
difficult for the performers. “With the largest orchestra assembled in the UK since March – around
75 players – this was very challenging in terms of hearing each other and coordination. But we did
it.” This performance was filmed, and is available for free until 30 September on YouTube and
Vimeo.

Another orchestra that has managed to play together – with precautions similar to that of the
CBSO – is the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. “As we first started playing the Grainger
orchestration of ‘Danny Boy’ at the ASMF sessions I had to work hard to hold back tears,” says
Principal Horn Stephen Stirling, in reference to a video recording session at Blackheath Halls. “It was
the first work I left the house for after lockdown and I doubt I’ll ever forget it.”