{"id":7199,"date":"2021-11-02T15:10:27","date_gmt":"2021-11-02T14:10:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/?p=160211"},"modified":"2021-11-02T15:24:08","modified_gmt":"2021-11-02T14:24:08","slug":"what-pieces-of-classical-music-should-football-clubs-play-to-inspire-their-players-to-victory","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/rss_feed\/what-pieces-of-classical-music-should-football-clubs-play-to-inspire-their-players-to-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"What pieces of classical music should football clubs play to inspire their players to victory?"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Jeremy Pound\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 02 November 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

I<\/span>n the summer of 1997, Sunderland AFC had a bright idea. Though football teams had long been running out onto the pitch at the beginning of games to the sound of pop music, why not mark the first season at the club\u2019s new home, the Stadium of Light, with something a little different?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

And so, as the Black Cats emerged from the tunnel for the first home match of the season, it was the sound of Prokofiev\u2019s Dance of the Knights<\/em> booming through the PA system that greeted them.<\/span><\/p>\n

It worked a treat, as that first match saw Manchester City vanquished 3-1. Sunderland would come third that season before finishing top the following year and gaining promotion to the Premier League. The choice of music also made its mark outside the ground \u2013 when Prokofiev<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s Romeo and Juliet<\/i> ballet toured the area in 1998, members of the audience were seen to be wearing red-and-white stripes (and Sunderland manager Peter Reid was even rumoured to have attended too).<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p class=\""p3"\"><span class=\""s2"\">In 2018, Sunderland dropped Prokofiev as their run-out tune\u2026 and have since spent the last three seasons forlornly trying to escape from the third division of English football. All of which tells you that, if you want a successful team, play classical music. We asked eleven football-loving musicians to tell us which piece they\u2019d choose to gee their teams and fans up\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\""p4"\"><span class=\""s2"\"><span class=\""Apple-converted-space"\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\""p5"\"><strong><span class=\""s3"\">Jennifer Johnston,<\/span> <span class=\""s3"\"><i>mezzo-soprano<\/i><\/span> <\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 class=\""p5"\"><strong><span class=\""s5"\"><i>Team: Liverpool<\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\""p2"\"><span class=\""s2"\">It would be wholly predictable for me to choose \u2018You\u2019ll Never Walk Alone\u2019 for Liverpool, but I\u2019m going to strike out and choose something different, a piece that conjures up both the colour red, LFC of course being known as the Mighty Reds, and the mythical symbol of Liverpool, the liver bird: the final moments of <\/span><span class=\""s7"\">Stravinsky<\/span><span class=\""s2"\">\u2019s magnificent <i>The Firebird<\/i>. The incredible fanfare, those extraordinary brass chords and the huge thumps of the timpani that sound like a warrior\u2019s heartbeat would create an atmosphere heralding future victory, setting the tone perfectly. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\""p5"\"><span class=\""s3"\">Julian Lloyd Webber,<\/span> <span class=\""s3"\"><i>cellist<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<h3 class=\""p5"\"><span class=\""s5"\"><i>Team Leyton Orient<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\""p2"\"><span class=\""s2"\">As both sides take to the pitch, the host team should have carefully selected music guaranteed to strike terror into the hearts of its opponents. So Leyton Orient\u2019s current choice of Herb Alpert\u2019s <i>Tijuana Taxi<\/i> could be seen as an inspired one as its innocuous inanity runs counter to any known notion of what a football \u2018theme\u2019 should be \u2013 the idea was to convince opposing players that they had entered a madhouse. However, recent home form suggests this formula has worn thin and a change in tactics is needed. So, I nominate that insidiously menacing theme from <\/span><span class=\""s7"\">Shostakovich<\/span><span class=\""s2"\">\u2019s <i>Leningrad<\/i> Symphony No. 7 \u2013 which is enough to drive anyone mad!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\""p5"\"><span class=\""s3"\">Rumon Gamba,<\/span> <span class=\""s3"\"><i>conductor<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<h3 class=\""p8"\"><span class=\""s3"\"><i>Team: Arsenal<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\""p2"\"><span class=\""s2"\">With its origins in a group of workers from the Woolwich Arsenal Armament Factory, Arsenal Football Club (\u2018The Gunners\u2019) should definitely run out to <\/span><span class=\""s7"\">Bliss<\/span><span class=\""s2"\">\u2019s \u2018Attack on the Moon Gun\u2019 from his score to the 1936 film <i>Things to Come<\/i>. Notwithstanding the fact that Arsenal won their second FA cup in the same year the film was made, the piece has an exhilarating and ferocious energy which is matched with steely determination and unstoppable forward momentum right through to its victorious major key conclusion. One minute and 20 seconds of breathless anticipation, something to get the pulse racing and (in a hopeful sign of things to come) launch Arsenal\u2019s stars to the top of the league once more.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\""p5"\"><span class=\""s3"\">YolanDa Brown, <i>saxophonist<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<h3 class=\""p8"\"><span class=\""s3"\"><i>Team: Newcastle United<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\""p2"\"><span class=\""s2"\">Being a Newcastle United supporter is an emotional rollercoaster at the best of times! But through thick and thin the fans are always there and the atmosphere at St James\u2019 Park is electric. The piece of music I\u2019d choose is <\/span><span class=\""s7"\">Florence Price<\/span><span class=\""s2"\">\u2019s Symphony No.\u00a01. Coming through the tunnel the players should walk on to the third movement \u2013 \u2018Juba Dance:<i> Allegro<\/i>\u2019. It\u2019s joyful, spirited and reminds me of the \u2018Going Home\u2019 theme from<i> Local Hero,<\/i> our current choice. But also this symphony takes you through different musical textures which tell the story of the heartaches and triumphs that we, the Toon Army, continue to go through.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\""p5"\"><span class=\""s3"\">Vasily Petrenko,<\/span> <span class=\""s3"\"><i>conductor<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<h3 class=\""p8"\"><span class=\""s3"\"><i>Team: FC Zenit Saint Petersburg<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\""p2"\"><span class=\""s2"\">Being born in Leningrad \u2013 now St Petersburg \u2013 my home team is FC Zenit. And among many classical composers, the one whom I associate in my mind with the city is <\/span><span class=\""s7"\">Shostakovich<\/span><span class=\""s2"\">. He was a huge fan of the team himself, attended many games and famously even compiled a \u2018grossbuch\u2019 (\u2018big book\u2019) about football! Soon after FC Zenit was founded in 1925, he wrote a ballet on the theme of football called <i>The Golden Age<\/i>. There\u2019s one specific movement called \u2018Football Match\u2019 which, starting with the referee\u2019s whistle, depicts the tough game\u00a0perfectly! <\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\""p5"\"><span class=\""s3"\">Bob Chilcott,<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\""s3"\"><i>composer<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<h3 class=\""p8"\"><span class=\""s3"\"><i>Oxford United<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\""p2"\"><span class=\""s2"\">As a former singer and someone who loves to hear people singing, I think I would aim to choose a piece that would ultimately be able to be sung by the fans in some way. <i>Short Ride in a Fast Machine<\/i> by John Adams might be a challenge, even for Oxford United\u2019s sophisticated fans, but I think parts of the first movement of <\/span><span class=\""s7"\">Jan\u00e1\u010dek<\/span><span class=\""s2"\">\u2019s Sinfonietta might be a good choice. I love those blaring, fanfaring trumpets and their opening phrase might be singable by a big crowd and could be very motivating. Come on you Yellows!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\""p5"\"><span class=\""s3"\">Nicky Spence,<\/span> <span class=\""s3"\"><i>tenor<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<h3 class=\""p8"\"><span class=\""s3"\"><i>Team: Queen of the South<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\""p2"\"><span class=\""s2"\">The perfect piece to reflect the glory of Queen of the South is <\/span><span class=\""s7"\">Hamish MacCunn<\/span><span class=\""s2"\">\u2019s <i>The Land of the Mountain and the Flood<\/i>. Not only does its title resonate with some of the infamously refreshing weather Dumfries and Galloway attracts, but the ground is located just off Dumfries\u2019s Whitesands, one of Scotland\u2019s beauty spots most susceptible to flooding. Although MacCunn\u2019s work isn\u2019t hugely well known, much like the team, as soon as you\u2019ve encountered it, your heart is owned in a lifelong love affair filled with crescendos, some tense moments and the odd surprise cadence. All of this is flanked by the musical presence of the mountain or, in this case, the foreboding hulk that is Dumfries\u2019s own Criffel.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\""p5"\"><span class=\""s3"\">Fenella Humphreys,<\/span> <span class=\""s3"\"><i>violinist<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<h3 class=\""p8"\"><span class=\""s3"\"><i>Team: Brighton & Hove Albion<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\""p2"\"><span class=\""s2"\">Brighton & Hove Albion\u2019s song \u2018Sussex by the Sea\u2019 is close to being the best football song there is, and I love being at the Amex Stadium surrounded by the chants. But if I had to replace \u2018Sussex by the Sea\u2019, I\u2019d be tempted to bring in the Sacrificial Dance from Stravinsky\u2019s <i>Rite of Spring<\/i> to try and freak out the opposition with its brutal rhythmic stabs. Though perhaps <\/span><span class=\""s7"\">Malcolm Arnold<\/span><span class=\""s2"\">\u2019s <i>Sussex Overture<\/i> is a bit more Brighton \u2013 the music is wonderfully quirky, interspersing fantastic brass fanfares with chirruping strings, woodwind and percussion, and lush Hollywood moments for the team to walk out to. A perfect, joyful accompaniment to a pint of Harveys, a pie and a field of Seagulls.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\""p5"\"><span class=\""s3"\">Alban Gerhardt,<\/span> <span class=\""s3"\"><i>cellist<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<h3 class=\""p8"\"><span class=\""s3"\"><i>Team: Hertha BSC Berlin<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\""p2"\"><span class=\""s2"\">As a long-suffering and hardened supporter of Hertha BSC Berlin \u2013 who won their last title 90(!) years ago \u2013 I would choose for these unsung heroes <\/span><span class=\""s7"\">Richard Strauss<\/span><span class=\""s2"\">\u2019s <i>Ein Heldenleben<\/i> (A hero\u2019s life). As they enter the pitch of the over-sized Olympic Stadium, which Adolf Hitler had built five years after their last championship and definitely lacks the atmosphere of a proper football ground, the players need music to push them to heroic deeds. I would start shortly before the music\u2019s big battle moment, reminding them of what will be necessary to ever win anything again and heal the hurting souls of their hungry fans.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\""p5"\"><span class=\""s3"\">Rowan Pierce<\/span> <span class=\""s3"\"><i>soprano<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<h3 class=\""p8"\"><span class=\""s3"\"><i>Team: Middlesbrough<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\""p2"\"><span class=\""s2"\">Middlesbrough, the town known for its industry and steel, once championed the Neapolitan hit \u2018Funicul\u00ec, Funicul\u00e0\u2019 as its crowd-stirring anthem. \u2018Let\u2019s go, let\u2019s go! To the top we go\u2019, was a fitting sentiment for me in the first decade of my life as I sat in the crowds and chorused along. It\u2019s difficult to top it, but in my third decade, I think I\u2019d choose something that harks back to the town\u2019s beginning. Middlesbrough is often nicknamed the \u2018infant Hercules\u2019 \u2013 so, swap Hercules for the hammer-wielding Thor and you might hear the sounds of striking anvils ringing in your ears. <\/span><span class=\""s7"\">Verdi<\/span><span class=\""s2"\">\u2019s Anvil Chorus (from <i>Il\u00a0trovatore<\/i>) with its strong vocal lines and incessant repeated grace notes could echo both light-footed footballers and the hearts of the fans, rising together\u00a0victorious! <\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\""p5"\"><span class=\""s3"\">G\u00e1bor Tak\u00e1cs-Nagy<\/span> <span class=\""s3"\"><i>violinist, conductor<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<h3 class=\""p8"\"><span class=\""s3"\"><i>Team: Manchester United<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\""p2"\"><span class=\""s2"\">I have been a Manchester United fan since I was around six or seven years old. My father took me to see them play Ferencv\u00e1ros in Budapest, and George Best was in the team \u2013 he was the big star. My choice of music for the Red Devils<span class=\""Apple-converted-space"\">\u00a0 <\/span>to run onto the pitch to would be the first movement of <\/span><span class=\""s7"\">Mendelssohn<\/span><span class=\""s2"\">\u2019s <i>Italian<\/i> Fourth Symphony. This music is so energetic that, if you played it at Old Trafford, it would give a really positive vibe to the crowd \u2013 it\u2019s full of sparkle and sunshine, like opening a bottle of champagne. Even in typically English rainy weather, I still think it would be fantastic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\""p2"\"><span class=\""s2"\"><i>What piece would you choose to inspire your team (football or otherwise)? Let us know at music@classical-music.com<\/i><\/span><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Jeremy Pound Published: Tuesday, 02 November 2021 at 12:00 am In the summer of 1997, Sunderland AFC had a bright idea. Though football teams had long been running out onto the pitch at the beginning of games to the sound of pop music, why not mark the first season at the club\u2019s new home, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":7200,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"7"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/what-pieces-of-classical-music-should-football-clubs-play-to-inspire-their-players-to-victory.jpg",1179,884,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/what-pieces-of-classical-music-should-football-clubs-play-to-inspire-their-players-to-victory-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/what-pieces-of-classical-music-should-football-clubs-play-to-inspire-their-players-to-victory-300x225.jpg",300,225,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/what-pieces-of-classical-music-should-football-clubs-play-to-inspire-their-players-to-victory-768x576.jpg",768,576,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/what-pieces-of-classical-music-should-football-clubs-play-to-inspire-their-players-to-victory-1024x768.jpg",800,600,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/what-pieces-of-classical-music-should-football-clubs-play-to-inspire-their-players-to-victory.jpg",1179,884,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/11\/what-pieces-of-classical-music-should-football-clubs-play-to-inspire-their-players-to-victory.jpg",1179,884,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Jeremy Pound Published: Tuesday, 02 November 2021 at 12:00 am In the summer of 1997, Sunderland AFC had a bright idea. Though football teams had long been running out onto the pitch at the beginning of games to the sound of pop music, why not mark the first season at the club\u2019s new home,…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/7199"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}