A Lark Ascending Posted January 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 (edited) 'The Lark Ascending' programme was a bit frothy...cameras trained on Diana Rigg being spiritually transported by music good TV does not make. Really enjoyed 'The Passions of Vaughan Williams' - nothing new but still brought to the fore some pieces I'd not paid much attention to - 'Dona Nobis Pacem' and the 'Three Shakespeare Songs'. ****************** Ken Russell's famous 'Song of Summer' about Delius has snuck into the BBC4 schedules, out of sight - Tuesday 24th at 11.00 pm.: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01b66rs Not sure I've ever seen this. A new film has also been commissioned by BBC4: http://www.c21media.net/archives/74960 The current Gramophone has Delius as its cover celebrity with an extensive feature inside playing up his international stature. There's also a rebroadcast of a film about Britten and children (Friday 7.30): http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074rwp More unsettling, I suspect. **************** And, in a different genre, a three parter called 'How the Brits Rocked America' - the various British Invasions that made up for Yorktown: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01b4x9g God Save BBC4 (can we send the money earmarked for a new royal yacht there, please?) - stored on the recorder these should keep me going for a few weeks. Edited January 22, 2012 by A Lark Ascending Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 (edited) Looking forward to watching that Ken Russell 'Elgar' programme on I-Player. Timely - as I was staying right next door to Malvern Abbey on Thurs and had frequent audio interuptions with the bell ringers practicing. One of the few churchyards in the country where there are still working gaslights in oiperation - very atmospheric. That hotel also had Donald Byrd 'Kofi' blasting through the speakers in the bar. Really not what you would expect in Malvern. I've wanted to see that 'Delius' for years and it is good that they are now showing it again. Intriguing that he was born in Bradford as part of the Victorian 'expat' local German community - although pretty well disowned any connection with it from what I can gather. Edited January 22, 2012 by sidewinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted January 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 (edited) I've wanted to see that 'Delius' for years and it is good that they are now showing it again. Intriguing that he was born in Bradford as part of the Victorian 'expat' local German community - although pretty well disowned any connection with it from what I can gather. Despite being pigeon-holed as an 'English' composer Delius' interests were much more continental. Initially Scandinavia, Germany, then France. He always sounds English to me but he always seems the closest to Debussy. There's that same sense of music in constant flux, themes appearing and then never (on the surface) reappearing. You don't get the musical structure showing through - with RVW or Elgar in their major pieces you are very aware of things like sonata form showing through; with Delius that's disguised. His mature music always seems somewhat otherworldly. ********** On another tack, there's a snippet in the new BBC Music Magazine about a recent 'favourite classical works' survey done in Australia. Elgar Cello Concerto at 1, The Planets at 2 and The Lark Ascending at 4. Seems like there's still a bit of nostalgia for the land of the forefathers (well forefathers of some!). Edited January 22, 2012 by A Lark Ascending Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 (edited) I have to say that that Ken Russell Delius film last night was outstanding - they just don't make them like that any more, to quote a phrase. Glad I recorded it (next to be broadcast sometime after 2050, no doubt..) There's no doubt that Ken Russell's very best work was on these BBC musical drama-docs. Black and white photography worked in its favour too. Outstanding ! I see there was a cameo by Russell as the groping priest in the church too. Turned out that was based on fact ! Edited January 25, 2012 by sidewinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Hawkins Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 Watched the Delius too last night - fantastic, as you say! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 (edited) Yeah - It's one of the best things I've ever seen on the BBC, without a doubt. That lead performance from Max Adrian was something else. Apparently Eric Fenby was involved in the making of this and when he saw the end product he had something of a nervous breakdown as it was so realistic. Imagine having to transcribe those scores at lightning speed with Delius singing off-key and also having to take into account German conventions on 'quarter note' definitions etc - all the while getting a constant b*llocking for transcribing it wrong. Edited January 25, 2012 by sidewinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted January 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 Look forward to that at the weekend - well after my weekday bedtime but it's recorded. 'A Song of Summer' is one of my favourite Delius pieces. Always amazed given the conditions under which it was written - positively shimmers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ayers Posted January 25, 2012 Report Share Posted January 25, 2012 I've wanted to see that 'Delius' for years and it is good that they are now showing it again. It was issued on DVD a few years ago so you needn't have waited so long! It is also on youtube as are the other Russell bio-pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted January 26, 2012 Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 (edited) I've wanted to see that 'Delius' for years and it is good that they are now showing it again. It was issued on DVD a few years ago so you needn't have waited so long! It is also on youtube as are the other Russell bio-pics. Yes, noticed that. Seems to be OOP at the likes of Amazon though and at £50 a shot from the Marketplace, no thanks. It would have been nice to get to hear the BBC commentary though. It seems that the 'Elgar' is available on I-Player but couldn't find the 'Delius'. Wonder why (rights issue?) Edited January 26, 2012 by sidewinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ayers Posted January 26, 2012 Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 Well it's OOP *now* but not when it came out and you were 'waiting' for it. Seems you waited years for it to go OOP. I can help you with other aspects of the internet though - a search on 'Russell' and 'Delius' on youtube yields - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted January 26, 2012 Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 (edited) Well it's OOP *now* but not when it came out and you were 'waiting' for it. Seems you waited years for it to go OOP. Er.....(ahem)....no. Never said I was 'waiting' for it'. In fact, didn't even know that this DVD existed until this week. Edited January 27, 2012 by sidewinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ayers Posted January 26, 2012 Report Share Posted January 26, 2012 I've wanted to see that 'Delius' for years. OK so not 'waited' but... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted January 27, 2012 Report Share Posted January 27, 2012 (edited) Moving swiftly on... The 'Britten' film should be interesting tonight. Followed on by that Beatles Stateside documentary and 'How The Brits Rocked America', should be a good night of viewing on BBC4. Edited January 27, 2012 by sidewinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ayers Posted January 27, 2012 Report Share Posted January 27, 2012 Moving swiftly on... The 'Britten' film should be interesting tonight. Followed on by that Beatles Stateside documentary and 'How The Brits Rocked America', should be a good night of viewing on BBC4. That's not on youtube. I don't even know the date. I suppose BB was alive when he made it so it is maybe not uh candid...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ayers Posted January 27, 2012 Report Share Posted January 27, 2012 (edited) Tomorrow is the start of the Jonathan Harvey Total Immersion weekend at the Barbican. The Madonna of Winter and Spring is an old friend of mine so I am hoping to get along to see that done. I thought it started tonight with a concert by the Arditti's but it seems I was mistaken, so at least I am not missing that. Sunday's Wagner Dream might be a bridge too far but never say never. Edited January 27, 2012 by David Ayers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted May 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2012 (edited) A new film has also been commissioned by BBC4: http://www.c21media.net/archives/74960 Due Friday 25th May, I believe. Called "Delius: Composer, Lover, Enigma' Seems portraying English cowpat composers as randy buggers is the current way of getting them noticed. I think I'd have gone for 'Delius: a nice sort of chap.' Edited May 12, 2012 by A Lark Ascending Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted May 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 (edited) A couple of doorstep retrospectives for the 150th anniversary. I rarely go in for these things but the EMI has some of the operas which I'd like to hear. At £30.99 for 18 discs, a bit of a bargain even with a fair bit of overlap. The EMI box contents: http://www.emiclassics.com/releasetracklisting.php?rid=52018 Edited May 19, 2012 by A Lark Ascending Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted May 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 And on a different tack. The excellent NMC label that focuses on contemporary British classical music has a new series devoted to emerging composers http://www.nmcrec.co.uk/debut-discs Meanwhile, established British composers are not happy: http://www.holstfoundation.org/media/Open-Letter-SAM-ACE.pdf Sounds like the sort of concerns the British jazz world has had for eons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted May 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2012 Finally watched the Ken Russell 'Song of Summer' about Delius and Eric Fenby last night. Excellent - only a few hints of the the over-the-top Russell of later years (the Percy Grainger segment). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted May 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2012 A veritable feast of Englishry on BBC4 on Friday. After the 90 min Delius programme there's a documentary on Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here' followed by one made up of various filmed clips of Floyd performances. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/programmes/schedules/2012/05/25 Somehow, in my world, Delius, Pink Floyd and Fairport Convention are all in and around the same space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted May 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 (edited) Really enjoyed the Delius programme - though I was rather taken aback that I'm supposed to find the music erotic! Surprised the record companies havn't caught on to that - instead of languid, post-impressionist gardens they could have rumpy-pumpy on the sleeves. Worth catching on the replayer. The 'Wish You Were Here' one was good too. I'm always amazed by how posh Dave Gilmour sounds. Haven't watch the PF clips yet. Edited May 26, 2012 by A Lark Ascending Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted May 26, 2012 Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 Saw most of the Delius prog and recorded it as well. Pretty good - that 'Delius Lived Next Door' pub in Bradford looked interesting.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted May 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 I never knew about the bizarre night time burial a year after his death. Surprised this year hasn't seen a new biography. I've pieced together my Delius knowledge from the Fenby memoirs and a book of essays. There are one or two short bios but I would have thought someone might have done a more in depth one - the life is distinct and colourful enough for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted May 26, 2012 Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 (edited) I never knew about the bizarre night time burial a year after his death. Same here ! I was checking out the location of his birthplace (Claremont, Horton) and it looks to be pretty close to the University, hence the reason for the 'pub next door'. That whole area must have been very up-market back in the Victorian times, with solid villa houses. Lots of German presence at that time in Bradford too, with 'Little Germany' existing to this day. The warehouses that they built were built to last (true to form). Edited May 26, 2012 by sidewinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted May 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2012 I never knew about the bizarre night time burial a year after his death. Same here ! I was checking out the location of his birthplace (Claremont, Horton) and it looks to be pretty close to the University, hence the reason for the 'pub next door'. That whole area must have been very up-market back in the Victorian times, with solid villa houses. Lots of German presence at that time in Bradford too, with 'Little Germany' existing to this day. The warehouses that they built were built to last (true to form). I must visit Bradford at some point. It's not far away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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