Half a Century

Breakfast, coffee, elevenses, coffee, lunch, fruit, supper, all interspersed with battling with a quite slow VLE system. That’s about it.

But two things online happened today, A friend, who I haven’t seen for more than fifty years, posted a photo of The London Philharmonic Chorus and asked friends to spot her. I got it right, merely that she looked as I remembered.

What I didn’t know was that the choir had also recorded some Vaughan Williams, the ninth symphony and the Fantasia of the Old 104th psalm. The actual recording is available second hand on vinyl, but I lack the ability to play that. Originally the symphony was supposed to be programatic based on Tess of the d’Urbervilles, but the neve transpired. Sandy, who loved reading, took the OU course the Nineteenth Century Love and its legacy, and had to read a novel a week. Tess was one of house. When she finished the course, she rarely picked up a book for reading for pleasure for five years, it had been such an ordeal. I still have the books.

The second concerns the church of St Anthony in Meneage, right by Gillan Creek, where, in 2001, when I broke my wrist after been tripped by an octopus at Cadgwith (which is another story), We went back to Cornwall after the fracture trip for the bank holiday, Sandy driving, first time with a trailer. My arm was still in plaster We were then camping at Trelowarren. On the Saturday afternoon of the Bank Holiday we decided to go to St Anthony (we’d never been there) and Richard and I were map reading and directed Sandy the pretty way, closest to the Helford River. It was a set of quite narrow roads. The further we got the louder and more frequent the swearing got from the pilot du jour. We spent a very good afternoon at St Anthony by the creek with our two dogs, and then we went back to the camp site the quick way. This resulted on more calling us various names which I daren’t write here. I was never allowed to forget it.

The photos are in response to a posting on British Medieval history, where a mystery has been solved regarding some of Sandy’s chapel research.

Apparently weddings are going to be permitted on a restricted basis, but limited number of people, no singing, no reception, no eating. This will also mean no wedding cake.

And while I’ve been writing this it’s been revealed that Leicester is to remain in Lockdown.

St Anthony in Meneage on Gillan Creek. French monastic foundation, church built on solid bedrock, tombstone in the churchyard to someone killed with a biddax, a type of mattock or breast plough.

Music:

More RVW.

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958): Fantasia on the “Old 104th” Psalm Tune, per pianoforte, coro e orchestra (1950), John Hunt, pianist , Cornell a Capella Chorus e The Rochester Chamber Orchestra diretta da Robert Hull

This is the 1958 recording which was scheduled to be attended by the composer, but he died in his sleep the night before.

1. Introduction by Sir Adrian Boult
2. Allegro moderato
3. Andante sostenuto
4. Allegro pesante
5. Andante tranquillo 

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958): Symphony No 9 in E minor, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult, Conductor

<- Prev | Next ->