Thursday, January 31, 2008

Learn an instrument!


I was very excited to recieve in the post today a book that had been borrowed by a friend about four years ago, and that I had given up the hope of ever seeing again.Its called "What can I play" by M.M. Scott and was written in 1945, I bought it in my favourite charity shop. I'm not sure if it was meant to be serious or not, but its possibly the funniest thing I've read in ages, and the pictures are wonderful.The book introduces all the instruments that a child might like to take up and discusses their merits and downfalls. I will HAVE to share some of the priceless pearls of wisdom from this book in the days to come, but I thought I must start with the bassoon.Selected quotes as follows.
"it can sometimes be played by ladies, but they must have large hands and nimble fingers"
"sixteen would seem the earliest age to start the bassoon, and a slight knowledge of one of the simpler woodwind instruments would be an advantage"
"It is essential to have a teacher for at least a year to aquire a proper method"
"Practise on the bassoon should not be too long at a time"
"At first, the bassoon is noisy and rough, and not appreciated by the neighbours, but it can be practised with a cloth tied over the bell end, which does something to mute the sound"

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

"The Choir"


It will be worth watching the new series of "The choir" which starts on 1st Feb for four episodes.

The choir from a Lancaster boys school form against all odds, and aim to perform at "Music for youth's" schools prom. The boys performed at the MFY singposium last year during the National festival. Apparently the choir was successful and is still going after the programme. they are singing in the MFY regional festival in March.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Yo Yo Ma and the honkers




I decided to search "Virtuoso" on You tube in case there was something inspiring.


I was interested at the performances that had been labelled "virtuosic", they included a few tap dances, a few dubious piano or guitar pieces, the odd child prodigy., a singing dog, and the minute waltz played for several minutes on the harmonica. The most authentic and entertaining clip was of "Yo Yo Ma and the honkers"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89sFEuEuTYM

Monday, January 21, 2008

Interesting as well as highly unlikely


I am working on three projects at the moment, and therefore am spending a lot of time trying to keep focused. While I was grappling for ideas this morning I did a quick analysis of my writing style and came up with an interesting (but improbable) theory.

When I write, I tend to doodle on the piano with my pencil in my mouth and then write things down from time to time. I think I have worked like this for years ( probably have lead poisoning!),

The thing is, I'm not a very confident pianist at all. I could launch into all my theories as to why this is, or tell about those moments of horror on the instrument that shaped my fear .

I started to really relax as a musician when I took up a woodwind instrument. I had played the piano for ten years before that.

Well!. I realised to my interest today that I actually play the piano much better with a pencil in my mouth!. I wondered if there was some psychological significance in this, something about being a woodwind player, or maybe I really do have lead poisoning.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Tommy Cooper Joke


Chris loves Tommy Cooper jokes. Someone just sent him this one.


"I went up into the attic and found a Stradivarius and a Rembrandt.Unfortunately Stradivarius was a terrible painter and Rembrandt made lousy violins"

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Poom poom poom!


Sometimes strange things that you never understood from your childhood suddenly make sense.

When I took up the bassoon at the age of 14, my Grandma (then well into her eighty's) remembered when she was young. a man singing a funny song about the bassoon, and it going "Poom, poom, poom". At the time I remember thinking ( as teenagers do!) yeh.

Many years later Avril found the above piece of music (sorry its fuzzy) in a junk shop, and thought it would make a good inclusion for the various soiree's we played in.

The song was about a man using his bassoon to impress and court his young lady. It was quite risky in its time, and the words that were left to the imagination were replaced by "poom poom poom" (where the bassoon would play).

John and I did this at the Christmas show (him singing , me playing) and its still funny.

Sorry Grandma, you were right.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

The TV has broken!


The TV is dead.
Normally that wouldn't bother me, but I am in hibernating mode at the moment, and after watching every possible moment of "Strictly come dancing"my mind is conditioned to shut down at a certain time each day and stare at a screen. We got a bit desperate tonight, and after a run down of the days high spots resorted (as you do) to "you tube" and the inevitable "laughing babies" and "Skateboarding rabbits". I went to the Snoopy section and had forgotten how I used to love the books, especially Schroeder and his love of Beethoven .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJZclaUKCQo

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Kevin Mayhew Ltd


I have just found this very nice write up about my publisher Kevin Mayhew Ltd. The article does highlight what a unique publishing house it is. The offices are in the country and the place has a very serene feel. People are often surprised by the diversity of the company. These shelves are full of Razzamajazz books! http://schottverlag.com/extranet/php/Proxy.php?purl=/mds/partner/vlg/show,16519.html&ex_sid=5b51b1843777a05a1129b353b7a4d65f

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Christmas present




This was one of my favourite Christmas presents from the lovely Jane Read

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Happy New year!


I was interested to read recently that the Dankworth fan magazine "Quarternotes" was first published in the mid 50's It would be really interesting to read some of those early issues, as the late 50's and early 60's was when John's writing was really taking off with various notable film scores, and TV music including writing for the first two series of The Avengers (fab!!).

Quarter notes is now up to the moment with its own website. Still an interesting read/