A group of schoolchildren is delving into the concept of constructing a town by reenacting a musical theater experiment dating back nearly a century.
Around 50 students from St Francis Primary School in Oxford are gearing up to participate in a performance of Let’s Build a Town at St Edward’s School at 18:00 GMT.
The undertaking envisions a city devoid of adults, where children wield authority.
Originally composed by German musician Paul Hindemith, the piece premiered in Berlin in 1930 and was later staged in 1931 by students at the Holywell Music Room in Oxford.
The present-day youngsters have expressed desires for “clean air” and the opportunity to “witness the sunrise” in their ideal urban setting.
The production is being spearheaded by the independent concert series Music at Oxford in partnership with the University of Oxford’s Cultural Programme.
Dr. Giles Masters, a music historian at Magdalen College and co-curator of the performance, remarked, “We felt that the perspectives and voices of young people had been largely overlooked – despite being the ones who will inherit the outcomes of our present decisions.”
He added, “Hence, one of the aims of this project was to provide them with a platform to articulate and cultivate their opinions on urban planning, community engagement, and citizenship in a creative manner.”
The musical’s debut performance was integrated into that year’s annual festival of the International Society for Contemporary Music, established in 1922.
Dr. Masters underlined the intriguing parallels between the 1930s and the current decade as periods of significant change in Oxford.
He noted, “The city was undergoing substantial transformations in the early 20th century – with a surge of newcomers arriving to work in the rapidly expanding automotive industry.”
“We can draw numerous similarities between the challenges and discussions of the 1930s and those confronting Oxford today. Where should we develop new housing, and what should it encompass? What sort of transportation infrastructure is imperative?”
The young participants will stage scenes from the original production alongside new music and theater pieces they have crafted themselves.
Noteworthy is the involvement of three students from Oxford Spires Academy in the instrumental ensemble, joining forces with professional musicians and music students from the University of Oxford.
The event will also feature interactive “performance games” inspired by Hindemith’s efforts to stimulate the creativity and confidence of young people through play.
Felicity Newby-Smith, the learning and participation manager at Music at Oxford, expressed her belief that the original performance had lost its essence of “fun and play” over time.
She mentioned, “Their initial vision of using that as a catalyst was quite pioneering for their era and rather unconventional.”
“However, they eventually reverted to a more formalized setting typical of classical music.”
Newby-Smith emphasized the desire to liberate the production from those constraints to rekindle a sense of freedom.
She observed that contemporary society is more accepting of children
In a bold statement, Dr. Masters suggested the possibility of “eliminating politicians” as a solution to societal issues. This controversial idea was shared during a discussion on reforming governance systems held at the University. Additionally, Dr. Masters emphasized the importance of fostering stronger ties between the academic institution and the surrounding community. This initiative aims to bridge the gap and promote collaboration for the betterment of both parties. Stay updated on the latest developments by following BBC Oxfordshire across their social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter (X), and Instagram.
