'Bus Station Sonata' gets public playing Beethoven

22 October 2012, 10:57

Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata has been given a radical new treatment - it has been performed by passing members of the public in a Newcastle bus station.

Members of the public in a Newcastle bus station have contributed to a performance of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata with a difference. Funded by The Arts Council of England and led by pianist Andy Jackson, it shows members of the public in a Newcastle bus station playing the melody from the sonata alongside Jackson.

Most of the participants in the innovative video production had never played a keyboard before. The concept was to encourage music-making amongst the public, with each volunteer contributing a few notes to the melody, which is edited together for the full piece.

The director and provider of the concept, Anton Hecht, commented: "It was a great day, even though I was really worried how it would go. I was amazed how up for it people were. Thanks to everyone."

Technical challenges in staging the idea included getting a baby grand piano into the Haymarket bus station in Newcastle. Hecht confirmed on the YouTube page for the video that another similar project has been filmed in Cardiff.