The similarities between Classical and Trance are uncanny, yet certainly not coincidental. Both share crescendos, diminuendo, calando, marcato and periods of in rilievo; both share beautiful chord progressions, warming the soul and inspiring those that choose to follow. We see talented musicians both within the realms of classical and trance composing pieces designed to carry the listener on an audiological journey, a voyage through the highs and lows of sound. Joy, anger, excitement, sadness, love and hate expressed through sound. Many classical pieces tell a story, a situation that the composer has portrayed through the medium of music, and trance follows classical in this sense, more than any other genre. As an orchestra plays a list of pieces through the course of an evening, a DJ will take the audience on a similar journey. But it is not just the music that is similar, similarities can be seen amongst those that appreciate these musical journeys.

The Night Shift is a new invention, by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and the name says it all. Inspiring young people to experience the wonders of classical music, whilst in an atmosphere that is more akin to a student bar than a grand auditorium. As we sat there in the bar reception, sipping on a luscious warming Merlot, listening to beautiful notes emanate from a cello, in harmony with a grand piano on the stage, we noticed that we were surrounded by young, intelligent, open minded men and women, who were happy to let music enter their minds, their souls and escort them to wherever they may want to be.

Filing through into the grand hall, with the orchestra on the stage ready to perform, we could once again see the similarities with trance. The style of the evening was Baroque, not necessarily a favourite of RicoP and the rest of team, but this certainly did not detract from the evening. Everyone was in good spirits throughout and the orchestra were most impressive. The atmosphere was unlike the stuffy, pretentious feeling that surrounds most classical evenings, and the organisers managed to maintain this right through to the DJ at the bar after the main event. Playing chilled Jazz and acoustic sounds, the evening closed in a suitable manner.

Above and Beyond used a full orchestra to record the album Tristate. Many trance tracks have used orchestra parts to superb affect throughout the break or have sampled full on orchestral pieces (think Ferry Corsten’s remix of William Orbit, Gouryella – Ligaya, Ferry’s Full On Violin Edit of ‘Out Of The Blue’, Alex Morph and Woody van Eyden’s ‘Walk The Edge’ and Andy Blueman’s ‘Sea Tides EP’ to name but a few). Strings play an important part in both genres, as much as the audience who come to witness either the orchestra or the DJ play. And for as long as we have those who yearn for uplifting, thoughtful music, the close ties between the two genres will continue to flourish.