It takes all sorts to make an orchestra.
I had a bit of luck, running into the Queensland Symphony Orchestra out on Brisbane’s Southbank, staging a Flash Mob.
I love spontaneous arts happenings, and there are some great YouTube clips of Flash Mob groups popping up in public places and dancing or bursting into song. It only works when the standard of performance is unexpectedly high.
No problems there with this orchestra, who were celebrating their move this week into a new building by flash-mobbing with Ravel’s Bolero for the passing tourists, cyclists, joggers and dog walkers.
The Flash Mob was far from spontaneous from the performers’ point of view. It’s hard to hide a double bass or a timpani and suddenly pull it out of your pocket and start busking. So we knew something was up and gathered expectantly around the musicians as they set up.
The accompanying ABC camera crew was getting them to do several takes and begging the mob, self included, to hang around for some ‘cut away to the delighted audience’ shots.
‘It’s too warm for our good instruments out here,’ a viola player told me between takes. ‘We recorded the music a couple of days ago, so a lot of us are using our teaching instruments for the filming.’
The music sounded fine to me, and I was happy to stay to try to catch some decent photos.
I’ll be looking out for the Flash Mob on YouTube. And I’ll be disappointed if I’m not there myself as an enthusiastic member of the mob.
Everyone can stop and enjoy it.
“Did you always want to play double bass, or were you just rubbish on the recorder?”
Thanks for the entertainment, QSO, and enjoy your new home.
Here’s the event on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn7CYzPMf2o
Richard Tulloch's LIFE ON THE ROAD 
I love flash mobs. I was part of one myself a couple of years ago, a special needs flash mob at Federation Square. It was magical.
This was my first, Caroline. Maybe not the last.
I’m looking forward to seeing/hearing it. Let us know when it has been posted on YouTube.
I will, John. Hope to find it there soon.
I looove this. I so hope I run into a dancing or music-playing flash mob sometime! It’s a totally wild idea. Sooo glad you were in the right place at the right time.
My favourite is still the opera in Cafe Iruna, Pamplona. (Google/YouTube it.) Wish I’d been there for that, though the music was just as good in this one.
Oh, yes, I remember watching that too – brilliant!
Here is the link to the one I was involved with http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OqKdh95gX8 I am in there, but it took me ages to find myself, so I doubt you will.
I love flash mobs too but I’m a bit disillusioned about the music being pre-recorded and their being lots of takes and reaction shots. It should be about spontaneity, shouldn’t it? My favourite to date is the one shot it the market in Valencia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3sLHPjkpNE I hope the principal singers weren’t pre-recorded.but maybe they were.
Yes I like that Valencia market one too. We’ll see how spontaneous theQSO one looks onYouTube. Fake it well and you’ve got it made!
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