Cornflower

Singing for Her Majesty

   

    Here's a story which brightened my breakfast this morning: in writing a song for the Diamond Jubilee, Gary Barlow took guidance from the Prince of Wales, and the eventual end product - 'Sing' - will feature more than 200 performers including a guest appearance by Prince Harry on tambourine!

    Read all about it here, and while we wait for its release*, just for fun watch Barlow and co.'s jaunty Shine (guaranteed to get your toes tapping, especially if wearing these Britannia pumps by Helen Bateman).

*Short clip here.

Kathleen Ferrier

 

    Mr. Cornflower writes:-

 

    This weekend there are many tributes to the singer Kathleen Ferrier, who was born on this day one hundred years ago, and who died tragically early (in October 1953). This is mine.

    The shock and grief at her loss were both a reflection of her enormous popularity, and an echo of the  emotional response her voice brings forth to this day. From the very first note she is utterly distinctive; a warm, rich contralto, clearly lower than the average female singing voice - she occasionally sang tenor parts in mixed choirs - and very much part of a lusher, richer style which even in her own time was being superseded by a more austere approach. Although her career lasted barely ten years, she recorded a great deal, and some of her songs - the showstopper arias from the Messiah, folk classics like Blow the Wind Southerly - are part of the 'national soundtrack'. But if you are coming to Ferrier for the first time, let me suggest a less famous starting point: the aria Come to me soothing sleep from a now forgotten Handel opera, Ottone.

    She showed great courage in her final years, raising that lovely voice above the cancer which eventually killed her until one day, her bones weakened by the disease, her leg broke when singing the role of Orfeo and she had to be carried off the stage. I also think of her in the post war years, walking to rehearsals and performances through the bomb damaged cities of Britain, singing of forgiveness and redemption in the St Matthew Passion, or entrancing audiences with German songs at the Edinburgh Festival. She brought hope, happiness and consolation to millions; there can be no finer memorial.

Extravagant podium demeanour

    This is fun: 'The Dancing Conductor', Joseph R. Olefirowicz, 'interpreting' "What's the Use?" from Bernstein's Candide, ("sheer, outrageous campery" says Stephen Hough!).

    But here's a man who is particularly well known for his 'extravagant podium demeanour', Yuri Temirkanov. He's not being quite as flamboyant in this video as I've seen him in the flesh, but I chose the piece - Shostakovich, Festive Overture - in the hope that it (and the Bernstein) will put a spring in your step today.

Musical Monday

    If you could do with some uplifting music, pause your day for a few minutes and listen to this piece, Seek him that maketh the seven stars, by Jonathan Dove. A word for those in a hurry - it does take its time to build and for its shape to become apparent, so stay with it and you'll be glad you did. For those who like to know a bit about structure, you can read a brief analysis by composer Phillip Cooke.

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    Another musical offering, but just words this time: Stephen Hough wonders, would Rachmaninov enjoy Twitter?

Some corner to sit and think

    This very short but beautifully expressive piece of writing by the pianist Stephen Hough caught my attention this morning, so I offer the link in the hope that reading his words will give you a moment's restorative contemplation.

Sing, choirs of angels

    Here is a glimpse inside Edinburgh's St. Giles' Cathedral late this afternoon. We were there for a service of carols and readings, one which begins in candlelight, and as the building is gradually illuminated, so it also fills with glorious music and the spoken word.

    Just visible there in the organ loft is Peter Backhouse, another of the 'real' characters from the novels of Alexander McCall Smith - his playing has us lingering to listen even as the rest of the congregation are departing - but amongst much familiar music today the choir sang this Bob Chilcott setting of Christina Rosetti's "Midwinter" which I hadn't heard before; listen if you have a moment.

Freddie day

   I couldn't let this pass without a mention: Freddie Mercury would have been 65 today, and you may well have seen the commemorative Google doodle and animation - click here and press play, if not - or read about the various events which are are taking place to mark the occasion; for my part I'll just give you a link to some typical Freddie.

Friday fun

    I wish Pippin were as well trained as these chaps (I don't mean the men)!

Sturm und Drang

    What with the Grimsvötn volcanic ashcloud causing considerable disruption to flights, and severe gales felling trees and power lines here, there's plenty of dramatic weather about.

    This poor tree is one of several brought down on Monday in our local park, but further north, my parents lost a huge willow which was the centrepiece of one half of their garden. Our only casualty was a substantial fence, snapped off at the roots and broken like matchsticks.

    For an evocation of rather calmer weather in the (albeit) rain-soaked woods, listen - if you have a few minutes to spare - to the first section of Arnold Bax's Spring Fire, available here (at 6 mins. 28 secs.) but for just a few more days, or on CD. It's lovely.

Simply lovely ...

.... the dress (very full details here)

.... the flowers (and the hornbeams and maples were quite beautiful and an inspired touch)

.... the music (we had Parry's I was glad for the procession of the bride at our own wedding, and it remains a special favourite).

Bravissimo!

    And following on from last week's post ..... the Edinburgh Academy won!

Bravo!

    We had a special interest in watching yesterday's Songs of Praise - Senior School Choir of the Year Competition as the last choir to perform in the semi-final was that of my son's old school. William is now away at university, but as a member of numerous ensembles he was involved with the hugely vibrant and impressive musical life of the school throughout his thirteen years there. Many's the concert we've attended and marvelled at the talent, musicianship and spirit of the young performers - with all credit, too, to the dedicated staff who teach them so well.

    The programme is currently on iPlayer, and 'our' bit is at the 32.41 mark, should you want to see it and enjoy some particularly fine singing. The adjudication and naming of finalists comes immediately after that, but bravo to Mr. Tully and the Edinburgh Academy choir.

Grand music

    iPlayer is wonderful for catching programmes you missed when broadcast, but they tend not to be available for very long, and while you are nonchalantly thinking you'll watch or listen 'tomorrow', you find they've been and gone. I was vexed, recently, to miss the edition of Radio 3's excellent series Private Passions which featured historian Amanda Vickery as I so enjoyed her book Behind Closed Doors, and the accompanying television series, (you can still see what music she chose, though).

    Happily, I was not as lackadaisical where Michael Berkeley's most recent guest - Monty Don - was concerned, and until Sunday you can hear about his passions by clicking here. I mention this because the music he chose is grand and moving, often uplifting (he talks of Bach's "cosmic gaiety"), and always worth listening to, and because the only piece I wasn't already familiar with is Tom Waits' Green Grass which is an interesting discovery. So, don't let the, er, grass grow under your feet...and stay tuned for this week's guest, the author Nicole Krauss.

After the show

 

    What a glorious concert that was last night! From our front row/grand circle vantage point we were ideally placed to see and hear everything, but the music had us on the edge of our seats, so engaging was the performance. I'm not a music critic so shan't try to go into the finer points but it was a marvellous example of ensemble playing throughout; the first piece, Haydn's Symphony No. 13, was directed from the cello by Steven Isserlis, then Joshua Bell took over the direction as first violin for Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 'Italian', and the two soloists complemented one another beautifully in the Brahms Double Concerto in A minor.

    The Cursiter picture I posted yesterday is now hanging in the Hall itself, just outside the auditorium, also new since my last visit is a glass 'extension', in which Joshua Bell was signing his CDs after the concert. I was keen to go and buy one and tell him how much I'd enjoyed the evening, but someone (yes, Mr. C. I'm looking at you) rushed us off into a taxi - I think he anticipated the length of the Bell fans' queue.

    If you're in London and can get a ticket, the musicians are giving a repeat performance at the Cadogan Hall tonight. I'd camp on the pavement in the hope of snapping up a return if I were you.   

Musical evening

    This evening I'm off to the place pictured here - Edinburgh's Usher Hall - but not to see a pianist perform (that's Vladimir de Pachmann, and the painting's by Stanley Cursiter); we're greatly looking forward to hearing Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis with The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields in a programme of Haydn, Mendelssohn and Brahms.