Scratch Orchestra

The Scratch Orchestra was an experimental musical ensemble founded in the spring of 1969 by Cornelius Cardew, Michael Parsons and Howard Skempton . The first meeting of the Scratch Orchestra was at St Katharine Docks, 1 July 1969 . It was announced by means of a "Draft Constitution", published in The Musical Times in June 1969 . Despite the emphasis on free improvisation, the varying experience of the members, and the "do your own thing" free aesthetic of the time, the Scratch Orchestra was a disciplined ensemble . It was effectively inoperative by 1974, and no concerts were performed until 1974 . New Zealand artist/musician Philip Dadson was amongst those at Morley College who were in the foundation group for the Scratch Orchestra .