RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra makes new music with Blow the Dust Off Your Trumpet Orchestra

The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra is in compositional mode. Today (Tuesday 31 January) while the orchestra looked to the final concert in its Horizons Contemporary Music Series, Inspired by Shostakovich, the orchestra's latest musical discovery and compositional project was getting underway with 45 members of the Blow the Dust Off Your Trumpet Orchestra for older musicians of the National Concert Hall. Inspired by Shostakovich takes place as part of FORTE!, the RTÉ NSO's Musical Discovery Programme for audiences of all ages.

Led by the RTÉ NSO's Creative Advisor, Paul Rissmann, an award-winning music educationalist, animateur, presenter and composer described as 'the Jamie Oliver of music animateurs', and a small group of RTÉ NSO musicians, the Blow the Dust orchestra members will, over the course of four days, create a new work inspired by Shostakovich's 'Leningrad' symphony (Symphony No. 7), one of the works being performed as part of the RTÉ NSO's season concert on Friday 3 February. The new work will include all of the instruments available within the participating group: they include banjo, mandolin, alto saxophone and accordion as well as voice and the usual orchestral instruments. Inspired by Shostakovich will culminate with a public performance of the new work on the main stage in the National Concert Hall at 7pm on Friday 3 February in advance of the RTE NSO's 8pm season concert.

Speaking about the compositional project in advance Paul Rissmann said: Inspired by Shostakovich aims to take the RTE NSO's repertoire off the concert platform and to use it to inspire creative music-making with all members of society. Shostakovich's music is endlessly fascinating, both musically and historically, and we will examine both of these concepts in our workshops. The participants will not only have the challenge of learning actual material from the score of the 'Leningrad' Symphony but also of reshaping it to an entirely new form. We are essentially re-mixing one of the great masterworks of the orchestra's repertoire. Ultimately we have no idea where will end up - but we have one of the most incredible places to start!'

Paul Rissmann: As a music educationalist, Paul has devised and led projects for organisations including the BBC Proms, Glyndebourne Opera, London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Opera House, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg and Staatskapelle Halle. As a composer, he specialises in writing music that enables children to perform with professional musicians - as equals. He has created a series of highly interactive orchestral works that have been commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Ensemble.

Full 3 February concert information on www.rte.ie/nationalsymphonyorchestra