From the Sea to the Land Beyond Britain’s Coast on Film

I heard an interview a while ago with the band British Sea Power who provide the soundtrack to this film, so was glad to finally see it. Funded by Sheffield Documentary Festival, it is a fascinating selection of work from the British Film Institute from early black and white to the modern era. We see … Continue reading →

Sign Language Music Interpreters

This is a great post on the rise of this very important profession. Had no idea they have been compulsory at rock concerts in the USA for years. Brilliant performances, and add to the enjoyment of hearing audiences as well. . http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/OpenCulture/~3/3RA1WGDalT8/how-ingenious-sign-language-interpreters-are-bringing-music-to-life-for-the-deaf.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email

Writing Non Fiction

Writing fiction or non fiction requires the ability to get inside a story, and inside the heads of characters. But non fiction has to go further – it has to be checkable, you need to protect yourself from challenges. But the process of research and writing can change you for the better. I am a … Continue reading →

Aida versus Political Correctness

Last week the papers ran yet another story that makes me fear for the future of this country. A student production of Aida has been cancelled due to charges of “cultural appropriation’, as the leading roles were likely to be played by white actors. The production was not to be the original, by Verdi, but … Continue reading →

Social Mobility by English Rock Stars

The music business has long been seen as a means for poor people to make a living, but in the late 1960s/early 70s there were some truly stellar rises by the few fortunate enough to become famous.  The following snippets come from Dominic Sandbrook’s book The Great British Dream Factory: Bill Wyman had grown up in … Continue reading →

The World’s Most Radical Pop Group? The Monkees At 50

The Monkees were one of the biggest bands of the late 60s, sometimes hailed as the American Beatles, yet they have always been condemned for their lack of ‘authenticity’. They were formed for a tv show that was hugely successful. They didn’t play their own instruments.But crucially, they hadn’t worked their way to success, rather … Continue reading →

Death Metal Does Cage

It took me a long time to comprehend John Cage’s 4 minutes 33  Here’s a brilliant version of it by a death metal band. Love the hair flicking by the singer. Or non singer? http://www.openculture.com/2016/07/john-cages-silent-avant-garde-piece-433-gets-covered-by-a-death-metal-band.html

Origins of Mechanical Music

I’ve been trawling through my archives, unearthing scraps of paper with indecipherable scribblings on them, but found one that got me thinking. This is a bit of a rambling post, (no surprise there?) so please bear with me. This comes from Humphrey Jennings’ Pandaemonium 1660-1886 The Coming of the Machine as seen by Contemporary Observers. … Continue reading →

The New Gypsy Kings

This is a documentary by Liviu Tipurita investigating the rise of a new form of Roma music in Romania called manele. Romania is home to a large population of Roma, which he claims have an 80% unemployment rate. They are denied access to banks, so have to rely on loan sharks when they need extra … Continue reading →

Franklin’s Glass Harmonica in Action

I did a post some time back on Marianne Davies who was something of a protege and performed across Europe with her soprano sister, but it is rare to actually hear it played. So enjoy this lovely sound. It seems perfect choice for Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Or music about any fairy. http://www.openculture.com/2016/06/hear-the-instrument-benjamin-franklin-invented-the-glass-armonica-play-tchaikovskys-dance-of-the-sugar-plum-fairy.html