Before I go into the Really Terrible Orchestra, (!!!), I'd like to get into how I actually came across this wonderfully imaginative idea and thereby became a fan.
Alexander McCall Smith was accidentally discovered. I walked into the library one day to look for a mindless, easy-read, chick lit read, and randomly picked "Love over Scotland". Titles can be more deceptive than appearances. It was anything BUT mindless. And was part of the 44 Scotland Street series. But what a good mistake it was because I went back and picked up the series. And I was hooked.
Although McCall Smith's style of writing, content and the tales he weaves so beautifully make for another post altogether, The Really Terrible Orchestra makes an appearance in "The Sunday Philosophy Club" series. Which I then promptly Googled. And realised it actually exists and McCall Smith was a founder.
In their own words :
"The Really Terrible Orchestra exists to encourage those who have been prevented from playing music, either through lack of talent or some other factor, to play music in the company of similarly afflicted players. The policy of the orchestra is to make no distinction between the various grades of ability and the various forms of music, or time signature. The RTO looks forward to a further lowering of standards, in order to underline its commitment to accessibility and relevance."
How WONDERFUL.
To not care if you're tone deaf, sing, play music for the love of it! And nothing more! I was beginning to think "for the love of doing it" was a dead thing. How often do we see a bunch of people, who get together in this incredible manner, to simply revel in the joy of doing what they love. Each of these not-so-talented individuals have jet setting careers that they take time off from to be in RTO, and to entertain wholeheartedly.
To sum it up:
"The name was carefully chosen: what it said was what you would get."
And if you think the audiences they pull are terrible in number, they absolutely aren't. Their performances are so incredibly sought out that they play to a full house each time!
Here's a sample!
And this the RTO seems to have inspired amateur musicians all over the world! this one is the Really Terrible Orchestra Of Triangle, TOOT for short, and they're a hoot! And not half terrible.
If this is terrible, then it's good fun to be terrible.
