The prog-rock band’s intricate and textured songs have been arranged for the Dunedin Youth Orchestra (DYO) by University of Otago-based composers Dr Maddy Parkins-Craig and Prof Anthony Ritchie.
Twenty-two DYO musicians will share the stage with Ivy at Errick’s for a Dunedin Arts Festival show entitled Beautiful is the Listening Ear. It is an unconventional setting for the DYO, who are accustomed to a seated audience.
The idea for the collaboration was sparked back in 2001 when Bea Ward, president of the DYO, saw Ivy play at Bark. She thought they were the perfect band to put an orchestral accompaniment to.
"They’re something special," she enthuses, obviously a big fan. "They already have a really big sound — a Radiohead-esque, prog-rock bigness, which means it can just get bigger and bigger and become more interesting with the orchestra added."
The goal of the concert is to get more young people aware of classical music and joining the DYO, she says.
"It’s hard to reach them, but if we bring it to them in this way, we ‘get them’."
Ward says the collaboration will also have far-reaching benefits for the orchestra members.
"It’s really important for them to have a broader understanding of music, not just classical, and to see how versatile their instruments can be."
James Axton, lead guitarist for Ivy, says playing with an orchestra has long been a dream of the band’s, ever since they were in high school and watched Pink Floyd play with an orchestra on YouTube.
"We are insanely excited. It’s the highlight of our musical career," he says.
When composer Parkins-Craig first played Ivy her compositions, Axton says it was surreal.
"We couldn’t believe what we were hearing."
He says the young band — all aged between 19 and 21 — are in disbelief that so many talented people have come together to work on their songs. Over the course of the rehearsals, the compositions have been melding together beautifully, the orchestra adding many layers of complexity, he says.
"They’ve taken our ideas and motifs and enhanced them in ways we couldn’t possibly have done by ourselves."
Although Axton says he can’t even imagine what it will be like on the night, he thinks it will be "eye-opening" for everyone.
When Parkins-Craig — who lectures at the university — was approached by the DYO to compose the arrangements, she was already a fan of Ivy’s music.
"They have that ’90s alternative vibe which I really like."
She says her aim was to both complement the existing songs and "get the most" out of the orchestra. Although the orchestra is in a supporting role, Parkins-Craig has ensured her compositions are exciting and engaging for the musicians to play. Her favourite piece is a song called St. John, over 8 minutes long, with lots of peaks and troughs.
"It has a massive build, lots of textures and rhythms."
The project brings together what Parkins-Craig describes as "two musical sides of the aisle". However, she also notes that classical and popular music are becoming less sharply divided.
"In Dunedin, we’ve started to see more orchestral instruments in bands," she says.
Parkin-Craig hopes that, regardless of which group the audience shows up to support, they will appreciate and become fans of the other genre as well.
DYO trumpet player Mei Admiraal (19) is looking forward to the show’s non-traditional atmosphere.
"Usually, everyone’s quiet and at the end you get a polite clap. With a band, the audience will be way more involved. Hopefully they know the songs and sing along," she says.
Admiraal says she feels pleased that the collaboration showcases what young people can achieve.
"It’s super cool that it’s a young band playing with a young orchestra."
Although she doesn’t listen to a lot of popular music, Admiraal makes an exception for Ivy, and likes their unconventional time signatures and the singer’s strong voice.
She says she’s particularly looking forward to performing the song Heartless.
"At the end, in the final chorus, there’s a big tutti bit where everyone has the same rhythm. It’s just so cool, big and loud — hopefully it makes an impact."
The out-of-the-box project has reinforced her love for music.
"It’s made me feel like the possibilities are endless."
Ward encourages people to get in touch if they’re interested in becoming involved in the DYO or classical music in general. There are options available for all abilities, she says.
"Getting to be near music is good for your soul. It’s what we need right now, for heaven’s sake!"
- The gig: Ivy and the Dunedin Youth Orchestra perform Beautiful is the Listening Ear on March 28 at Errick’s, Dunedin as part of the Dunedin Arts Festival.
