Classical Muddley - The Portsmouth Sinfonia

[jdenicol]

RUN TONTO! RUN !!!!

[Sunshinne417]

Is it broken?

[KuDastardly]

LOL, never have so many renown composers just rolled over in their graves all at once!

[worldstopturning2011]

lmfaooo. for some reason i was cracking up when i heard this song. :D

[FerrariF590]

Abbott! You crazy shit father! How dare you! Its awful!

[madcapoperator]

@FerrariF590 EROTIC DANCE!

[DaltonMan321]

SEXUAL SWEARWORDS GO BADLY WRONG! DISCO BASE TO EXPLODE EVERYWHERE!

[claire30061]

Love this sooooooo much - its brill!!!! still laugh every time- even after 30 years!!!!!

[Stainbreak]

this thing is fucking awesome!!

[SuperSpanishChicken]

Avant garde?

[lobo53695]

My damn ears started bleeding

[gdg747]

I knew this as Classical Massacre, the only difference is in the massacre the clap track starts earlier. Still, LOL.  I loved it. Thanks for putting it up.

[mtdnspirit]

'Guess this is something the CIA developed to make music-lovers talk :D

[Strap1205]

DAMN!! WHERE CAN I GET THIS RECORD?!?! Is it somewhere available - in the best case on CD???

[Jaszko1978]

Did you know Brian Eno played the clarinet in that orchestra? Really.

[Dyynamo]

@Jaszko1978

Seriously? I am impressed. I have friend who is a big Brian Eno fan. She'll be mortified to find I've posted this then lmao.

[Jaszko1978]

@Dyynamo

Yeah, I know it from Steve Beresford, a great pianist and improviser who played the trumpet (!) in P.S. That was the idea of the band gave by Gavin Bryars (great bassist, cello in PS): to involve only people who are eiher non-musicians or musicians but on the instruments they are not familiar with.

[novemberainstorm]

The next step up from the school orchestra

[Dyynamo]

@novemberainstorm

More like the next step down lol

[0ldb1ll]

@Dyynamo No - this is ART. It is therefore a step sideways (and then they fell off.)

[fullervisiondotnet]

Cacophonic chaos put to the mismatched beat of a disco machine. This is the stuff nightmares are made of.

I suspect this is the sound you hear when you enter the gates of Hell.

[GBWagner1]

Like a bunch of wildhogs while being raped by some gigageese.

Excellent!!!:))))

Thank for the tears of laughing!!!:))))))))))))

[TheHeir23]

fucking hell ... that made my ears bleed. it's not the wrong pitch, also we hear some total amateurs on the instruments

[LieutenantKing]

Best interpretation of the Karelia suite anywhere.

[aw5omeFRAZA]

i love the tempo of the beat going up and down to the tempo of the song

it makes it sound so much more fantastically bad!!!!!!!!

[lurxtlifeson]

I think I'm going to thumbs up this video just because it's so entertaining (and makes my old high school orchestra seem like the vienna philharmonic)

[thatguyoverthere45]

Were they drunk when they decided to publish this record?!

[jessburtonxo]

better than most of the music nowadays

[2degucitas]

Speaker esplodes....

[NotWinter]

I thought it was sort of entertaining. Its just modernising the classic songs..

[2degucitas]

@NotWinter Dude, did you not notice....THE BADNESS??????

[russradicans]

A herd of Elephants on Acid...

[Igonkia]

OMG Ms. Willis was right!!! This Orchestra Sucks!!! Now i feel better about playing in orchestra, Thanks Ms. Willis!!!!! XD

[lincsposter]

Many years ago I played this in a school assembly under the theme People Doing Their Best. The staff sad totally straight faced until the Sugar Plum Fairy music started they then danced around their chairs and sat down again with totally serious faces. What a knockout! Kids didnt know whether to laugh or cry!

[xelcris]

lol..

[EdMcF1]

It takes real skill to be this bad and hang it all together. The idea of the Portsmouth Sinfonia was to do your terrible best, by playing an instrument that you didn't know.

[asloem]

i haven't laughed this much in a long time! thanks for posting this!

[potshot62]

Beautiful..............brought a tear to my eye. The power of music>

[Sharko201]

1.2.3 VIVA L*ALGERIE

[Grandhoohah]

How come Leonard Bernstein couldn't conduct an orchestra like this? This is obviously a master at work!

[DudeItsAnAsian]

HAHA I PISSED MY PANTS

[amlethjp]

Chaos, this is the Symbol of this Chaos world ! Great ! I hate it.

[ttfozgreen]

i first heard this years ago, it was great then, totally side splitting to this day, bloopermusic !!!!!!!!!! LONG LIVE THE PORTSMOUTH SINFONIA

[ChineapplePunk]

crap... but sooo enjoyable!

[czochraniec]

Well, let's not be so hard on the poor guys. The drums actually sount quite good!

[talfacprez]

They do it on purpose. Like the Jethros.

[Philijam]

the Sinfonia had an unusual entrance requirement. Players had to be either non-musicians, or if a musician, play an instrument that was entirely new to them.

[Tobeleh]

Your explanation of the Sinfonia demystifies this marvelous ensemble. My daughter and I (both cellists) sat around laughing, trying to figure out which instrument would cause us the most plague-like symptoms. Hers: Saxophone. Mine: Trombone. Trombone, because when I was in Junior High School, the Trombones sat in back of the cello section and used to empty their @#X%#@!! spit valves on our shoes. Here's to your terrific mum.

[lincsposter]

Totally Brilliant. I too have added this to the list of pieces of music at my funeral!

The reverse side of the single is equally as "good"! Just say Hallelujah Chorus!

[feenism]

Thank you for putting this on, it's been far too long since I last heard it. (I remember it in the charts).

And it's still as funny. Just need to find a way to download it as my mum wants it played at her funeral! Yes really.

[rareads]

Its takes real talent to play music as badly as this. Brilliant!

[IndieWalrus]

if you like this you should listen to The Shaggs, they're awful musicians but their songs are amazing

[nocandy4u2]

@rareads yeah, did you know the entry requirement for this orchestra is that you had to be a non-musician, or if you played music, to play a instrument you had little to no experience with.

[Mayokitty7]

I can't stop watching this, it's too hilarious.

[littlebritain64]

At 2:44 the scene is: in a lousy circus in a little town the MC shouts for the final show: "Let tigers in!!!! ". Of course, a broken circus has no good cages, and the tigers are probably very hungry. The result can be heard very clearly!!!!

[larrydart13]

Is it true two of the musicians were sacked because they were caught going to practice?

[freddietash]

I remember watching a performance of this on That's Life, way back in the 80's. I nearly peed myself!!

[embobbette]

i did pee myself!! haha!

[littlebritain64]

A vision!! On" Mountain King" excerpt, at 2:33, I saw a line of bearded men, dressed in french can-can garments, holding by arms looking each other to keep the tempo, shaking their right legs, puffing an panting...Maybe I am crazy....Hahahaha....

[greasygloves]

I remember Simon Bates playing this on his morning radio show. He said he couldn't let us hear the whole record as it was too awful. I was outraged when he faded it out after about 40 seconds. Grrrrr.

[X0Xd0rkal3rtX0X]

bethoven's got nothin on them!

[45rpmSINGLES]

Their first 2 albums were produced by Brian Eno who was also a member & played the clarinet

[Lisztianpiano]

this recording is played WAY too fast. I am guessing that it is actually supposed to be played at 33 rpm and it's being played at 45. It's completely the wrong pitch

[Dyynamo]

Your right that the pitch isn't right all the time, plus the tempo is obviously wrong a few times, but those changes were done in the studio to make the tunes fit in with the disco beat. The record is definately a 45rpm played at 45rpm

[bobbelibob]

But I've always wondered how they could play it (almost) on time when they had never had the instruments in their hands before.

[ObligatoryBob]

to bobbelibob: About the timing: They probably rehearsed the timing . . . and not all of the members were non-musicians -- some of them were musicians playing the WRONG INSTRUMENTS. Of course, their timing is still fairly awkward even with the musicians and rehearsals . . . but it actually makes it sound better, in my opinion.

But then, I like the craziest things. And my right ear is starting to pain again, but that's probably something acting up inside there.

[krakenwave]

Playingin time by following the conductor - its what the bloke's for

[bobbelibob]

Yep. But it's not as easy as it sounds if you're not playing your usual instrument - if any at all. Right?

[daratcliffe]

@Dyynamo Wrong!!!! This is how it is supposed to be played. It was a response to classical pieces with drum tracks and Jive Bunny /s Stars-on-45 by Starsound type compilations of the time. Portsmouth Sinfonia was a real orchestra founded by a group of students at Portsmouth School of Art. The Sinfonia had an unusual entrance requirement. Players had to be either non-musicians, or if a musician, play an instrument that was entirely new to them. It reached number 38 in the UK.

[TheRedPenn]

@daratcliffe

Is the Portsmouth Sinfonia anything related to the

Worl'ds Worst Orchestra in which author Alexander McCall-Smith plays?

[Owdfolkie]

@Lisztianpiano - aren't you familiar with the 'work' of Portsmouth Sinfonia?!

[Scorpionbrnu]

@Lisztianpiano also most record players play at different speeds. most times just a little bit fast or slow.

[egoodnoe]

@Lisztianpiano wow, you're a genius. Did you even bother reading the title, the description or looking at the related videos?

[Lisztianpiano]

@egoodnoe Yes, and I heard the *original* recordings too. 

[ObligatoryBob]

Note to everyone: DON'T LISTEN TO THIS WITH HEADPHONES (especially high-quality Bose headsets) . . . Up until 0:41 there was a sharp pain in my right ear . . . and it came back at around the 1-minute mark . . . and continued to the end of the song, a shade dumbed down . . . oh, gods . . . I'm probably going to do this again sometime . . . X_X or XD, take your pick . . . I like it, though.

[chitoryu12]

I particularly like 2:48, where it sounds like a hole opened up under the orchestra and you can hear the sound of all the players crashing at the bottom.

[mikemckv]

A deeply moving rendition in the baroque style.

[45rpmSINGLES]

To be a member of Portsmouth Sinfonia you either had to be a non-musician or if you were a musician you had a play an instrument you werent familiar with.

[chuckmobile]

Top quality crap made in Britain...

[beemermac]

bloody brilliant

[supersporkspank]

This brings back memories of high school marching band.

[axlvangok]

fucking GOLD

instant tonic

[dreamalie]

Absolutely fantastic!!! I listen to this, whenever I feel a bit down and it always brings a smile to my face!! I recommend it for depression!!!

[emilygclarinet]

I think it can also cause depression. :P

[noouch]

played back too fast i think...

[ugmenotb]

Hypnotiserande

[RWPCreations]

This sounds too good to be coming from a record the quality is way too good.

[Fuzzy192006]

Proves how much you know about records.

[skl31]

haven't heard this for years , is it true that they sacked a member of this orchestra for the crime of practicing his instrument?

[annie482000]

Oh my gawd.............:D

[wheelie59]

What a privilege it is to be able to enjoy such mastery of the art of classical demolition,love it to bits!LOL

[TheAllegedLegend]

Unique... Great for novelty and comedic value. Love that lurching brass. It's like listening to a drunken orchestra.

[frankparadise]

i liked it. my boss made me watch it

[Tomlan2007]

I'd forgotten just how good they were. (Out of tune? No, never!)

Wonderful! :-))

[bobbyzorg]

enorme!! Brian Eno participait à ce chef d'oeuvre dans les années 70'S.

Just perfect...

[frankiesmisstress666]

its borin :( my mum made me watch it

[me254065]

how is this achieved?

[CaseyFinnigan]

They just get a bunch of guys to play instruments they don't know how to play.

[me254065]

what, they an play other instruments but not the ones they are being recorded on? Or these guys just cant play at all?

[CaseyFinnigan]

A little of column A and a little of column B.

[koinuchan70]

Your mom busted in and said, "What's that noise?"

Aw, mom you're just jealous it's the... Portsmouth Sinfonia!

Um.

I just love the way the trumpets lurch at 0:14.

[greasygloves]

Thanks very much for that.

[greasygloves]

Please do that would be great!

[greasygloves]

The way the handclaps speed up and slow down in time to the music is a nice touch. Very funny! What was the B side?

[Dyynamo]

I think the B side was the Hallelujah Chorus which is a bit amusing but not as funny as the A side. I can post it here if you want though.

[BaroqueDance]

yes please!

[Dyynamo]

Its up. Check out my homepage for all my uploads and you'll find it.

[grolum]

this must be the Jostie Band.

[idatethefatkid]

I can honestly say that I prefer this to every orchestra I have ever heard in my life...and I've listened to some top-notch stuff before. This kicks ass. Wow.

[RustiSwordz]

FFS! hahahahahaha!

[KevKavanagh]

I'm inspired to resurrect my ancient vinyl copy and play it again right now...er, perhaps not...thanks for the smile, tho'.

[ADAKEN66]

最高!!!!

[jeanniedee]

Like Me ,you can be a crap act and be successful ,He,He !!!

[lysurgicbell]

Deservedly a smash no.38 hit in the UK, 1981.

[phantom62]

LMFAO

[JoeChrisMorris]

Appalling

[jonnouk]

I see Its back on ebay

[snotfacej4j]

fabulouse....er oh no...just wet my knickers, not laughed like this for ages

[microdot]

I have a battle scarred copy of the LP Hallalulah, the live concert. I have been lookiing for a link to downloadable music.

This is truly inspriational...wildly loony and trasnscendental at the same time. The Orchestra through their earnest ineptitude took the classics and created something "else".

[shepguthree]

THANK YOU! Been searching for this for years!!

[blackdress69]

We used to fall about laughing at this back in 1974, still sounds i m p r e s s i v e!

"Sugar Plumb Fairy" sounds the best.

I can't play as well as this, I can't play...

[schuiny100]

Absolutely hilarious. I can't wait for this to be made into a CD.

[jeroendef]

:s

ok......

[leicaman]

I remember the Portsmouth Sinfonia from my colllege days. They are real musicians who play instruments they've never played before. What a hoot! I remember laughing so hard I cried. Being a classical violinist made it all the funnier for me.

[RandomentalTV]

ROFLMAO

[Beatboxbob]

Darn it, does anyone want to get together and form a copycat orchestra? I've always wanted to play 1st violin.

[yogastager]

My dad and I nearly killed ourselves laughing! I'm so sending this to my parent's friend who is a conductor

[mucker61]

Thank you thank you thank you! A pure delight.

Surely someone out there has a bit of footage of them in action live?

[Candice1461]

Many thanks for posting this as it's a favourite of mine. I'd love to hear this at last night of the Proms!

[pauldobie]

Magnificent! A Triumph!