The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
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The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain is an entire orchestra featuring only ukuleles in various registers from treble to bass.
Founded in 1985, the orchestra has since performed in many worldwide venues, including the Royal Festival Hall and the Glastonbury Festival. The orchestra has toured Japan, US, Canada, and Europe. Albums include The Secret of Life, Top Notch and a large back catalogue of recordings including a 2005 DVD, Anarchy in the Ukulele, recorded at the Barbican in London.
Their version of Dy-Na-Mi-Tee reached #81 in the UK singles charts in 2005. Also featured on the CD single were covers of the instrumental Wonderful Land and Natural Woman, with (male) lead vocals provided by musical director George Hinchliffe.
The orchestra has had varying line-ups over the past two decades, but is currently performing as an octet, with seven ukulele players and one bassist. The members wear traditional orchestra dress for performances, with the men in tuxedos and the women in smart evening wear. A typical Ukulele Orchestra gig comprises songs and instrumentals from all kinds of musical backgrounds: regulars include Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights reworked as a swinging jazz number, Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Anarchy in the UK performed in the style of Simon and Garfunkel, and the theme tune from Shaft. The orchestra also compose and perform their own pieces, as well as arranging medleys - for example, David Bowie's Life on Mars? is melded with My Way, For Once In My Life, Substitute, and more.
[edit] Current members
- David Suich
- Peter Brooke-Turner
- Hester Goodman
- Richie Williams
- George Hinchliffe
- Kitty Lux
- Will Grove-White
- Jonty Bankes (bass ukulele)
[edit] External links
- The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
- Performance of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana
- Ukulele Orchestra Webcast, recorded 1st July 2006
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