Love Stories
Working together with local communities to tell stories from and of Scarborough through music making and creation.
What do we want to achieve?
With our partner ARCADE we wanted to explore how we could work together with the community to use orchestral music to tell stories from and of Scarborough.
Our first project, Love Stories, is a digital audio trail that takes listeners on a journey through the recently restored South Cliff Gardens. It features real-life love stories with music created with and performed by the people who experienced them.
From 22 July 2023, audiences are invited to explore the stunning coastal gardens, immersing themselves in this romantic audio promenade of storytelling, poetry, music and song.
Love Stories is available to listen to online
STREAM FOR FREE via the Bandcamp app on your chosen device and search Sinfonia Viva / LOVE STORIES.
Further details for those visiting the digital trail in South Cliff Gardens are available below.
What did we do?
ARCADE worked with the local community of Scarborough through a series of community workshops and a story gathering campaign. They collected over 100 submissions of true love stories inspired by South Cliff Gardens from people of all ages and from this varied and rich tapestry of stories, our community ensemble emerged.
The ensemble worked collaboratively with ARCADE and Associate Artist, Rebecca Deniff, to develop their stories before taking part in a series of music workshops with composer, Jackie Walduck, and musicians from Sinfonia Viva and Scarborough Spa Orchestra, to co-create new music for the audio trail.
What an amazing experience this Love Stories project has been. We have always kept our precious story to ourselves. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to share it with family, friends and the world.
~ Rusty and Ron, members of the community storytelling ensemble
The project brought together musicians from Sinfonia Viva, with their extensive experience in creative and site-specific orchestral music making and Scarborough Spa Orchestra, the last remaining professional seaside orchestra in the UK.
For Scarborough Spa Orchestra musicians, the project offered the opportunity to develop their experience of creative music project delivery and connect with the local community differently, as well as sharing their orchestra’s unique heritage with all those involved.
Being able to play my flute to help create these melodies and enhance the storyteller's words has been a real privilege.
~ Kathy Seabrook, musician, Scarborough Spa Orchestra
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Orchestra, community ensemble and members of Whitby Community Choir came together to record the audio trail live at Scarborough Library’s concert hall in June 2023. The trail is presented in five chapters that explore love in its many different forms.
A Garden for all Seasons by Jean
Between Esplanade and Sea by Lel Melayal
The Cottage of Love by Bright Eyes
From Then to Now by Lynne Matthews
Love Lives Here by the Love Stories Ensemble
From 22 July 2023, audiences are invited to explore the stunning coastal gardens, immersing themselves in this romantic audio promenade of storytelling, poetry, music and song.
Love Stories is available to listen to online
STREAM FOR FREE via the Bandcamp app on your chosen device and search Sinfonia Viva / LOVE STORIES.
FOR THOSE VISITING SOUTH CLIFF GARDENS
Wifi in the Gardens can be patchy, so we recommend:
LISTEN OFFLINE via the Bandcamp app on your chosen device and search Sinfonia Viva / LOVE STORIES. Buy the Digital Album for 50p and it will appear in your Bandcamp Collection where you can download and listen offline (WIFI is patchy in the Gardens so we advise this option).
BORROW A DEVICE. If you’d prefer to borrow a device with the tracks pre-loaded, email info@hello-arcade.com for details of how to book one of our ready to go audio players and headphones.
Love Stories is produced by ARCADE. Co-Produced with Orchestras Live and Sinfonia Viva (featuring musicians from Scarborough Spa Orchestra). Commissioned by North Yorkshire Council.