I think this was probably the last in a long line of “new experiences” for me this year, but yesterday I headed down to our cathedral on the river for a performance by the Bohemian Symphony Orchestra Prague. Despite being no expert on classical music, it had piqued my interest so I persuaded my film club friend to come with me. I freely admit that my knowledge of such music came mainly from primary school after which the pop music of the day took over. Why listen to Debussy when you can have David Cassidy and Donny Osmond! Like most people from a working class culture, I mainly became familiar with classical music from films, television shows or adverts which is sad, because I rarely knew who the composer was, but I always knew the product it was associated with. The Hamlet cigar music was on the programme yesterday – Air on the G String (no sniggering).
We arrived at the cathedral early as I was unsure how long it would take to get in and get seated. As it turned out it was really quick so we were two of the first people in, but our punctuality meant they hadn’t yet got the programmes ready for distribution. It wasn’t until the concert started that I noticed everyone had one except us so I was in the dark as to the running order of each piece of music. That aside, the nine-piece orchestra played beautifully and I later realised that their star performer, a young lad called Matteo Hager, only joined them for the performance of Vivaldi’s, Four Seasons. He is only 23 but started playing the violin at age four and you could tell he was a real virtuoso compared with the rest of the players, who were proficient but didn’t have that extra skill and showmanship he had. He came back on for three encores.
If you’ve forgotten what Vivaldi’s Four Seasons sounds like, here is a clip that starts with Spring then continues on with Summer, Autumn and Winter. Each segment might be called a movement but I’m not entirely sure. Anyway, I’m glad the still for this clip shows an autumn scene as I feel I’ve been immersed in autumn colours all week.
The first photo in this montage is of my neighbour’s tree. I luckily managed to take it just before that recent storm blew all the leaves off (and into our garden). The second photo is of Urquhart Castle that overlooks Loch Ness. I don’t know if my fellow Scottish blogging pals know this, but properties owned by Historic Scotland offer free entrance the first Sunday of the month between October and March. We’d never been to the visitor centre or castle before and it was a wonderful experience as the sun shone on the loch, and the autumn colours lined the banks. The next three photos are from a walk I took this week with a friend along the Caledonian Canal – from the path we got the reflection of houses a few miles away, the cemetery with its backdrop of trees and the boats in the marina. Last but not least is the cathedral, surrounded by autumnal trees.
No lyrics to Vivaldi’s masterpiece for this one but here is something very seasonal that I actually shared in my first year of blogging, 10 years ago now, but worth including again I think – Autumn Almanac from 1967, by The Kinks. The song was written by frontman Ray Davies CBE who is still one of Britain’s most respected songwriters. The Kinks most commercially successful period was 1964-1967 but it was towards the end of this time that Ray started to change his songwriting style. He became a bit of a social commentator, first writing about the brave new world that was Swinging London (Dedicated Follower of Fashion), but also about his urban environment (Waterloo Sunset) and the traditional working class lifestyles he was familiar with (Autumn Almanac). These songs really are in a different league to much of what was around at that time, and have truly stood the test of time.
Autumn Almanac by The Kinks frontman Ray Davies CBE who is one of Britain’s most respected songwriters and has received many awards in the course of his long career. The Kinks most commercially successful period was 1964-1967 but it was towards the end of this time that Ray started to change his songwriting style. He became a bit of a social commentator, first writing about the brave new world that was Swinging London (Dedicated Follower of Fashion), but also about his urban environment (Waterloo Sunset) and the traditional working class lifestyles he was familiar with (Autumn Almanac). These songs really are in a different league to much of what was around at that time, and have truly stood the test of time.
What’s your knowledge of classical music like, and do you have any favourite composers and or pieces? I remember crying when our teacher first played the music from Swan Lake in class when I was about 10 but I loved when we sang along to songs from Carmen (in English). A trip into the big city later that year to watch the Disney film Fantasia was also a real treat. Turns out I was quite the expert on Tchaikovsky, Bizet and Dukas at that age, but I didn’t yet know it!
Until next time…
Autumn Almanac Lyrics
(Song by Ray Davies)
From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar
When the dawn begins to crack, it’s all part of my autumn almanac
Breeze blows leaves of a musty-coloured yellow
So I sweep them in my sack, yes, yes, yes, it’s my autumn almanac
Friday evenings, people get together
Hiding from the weather, tea and toasted
Buttered currant buns, can’t compensate
For lack of sun because the summer’s all gone
La la la la, oh my poor rheumatic back
Yes, yes, yes, it’s my autumn almanac
La la la la, oh my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it’s my autumn almanac
I like my football on a Saturday
Roast beef on Sundays, all right
I go to Blackpool for my holidays
Sit in the open sunlight
This is my street and I’m never gonna to leave it
And I’m always gonna to stay here if I live to be ninety-nine
‘Cause all the people I meet, seem to come from my street
And I can’t get away because it’s calling me, come on home
Hear it calling me, come on home
La la la la, oh my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, it’s my autumn almanac
La la la la, oh my autumn almanac
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes
Bop bop bop bop bop, whoa
Bop bop bop bop bop, whoa
