Blog 7 – Pati o’doors
This is an outrage, we were promised James Bond and our illusions of being caught up in a……
All right don’t go on, who do you think you are to harass a man of tender years (violins in background playing some foreign composers melody.) Not like the worlds greatest composer – come on he has to be!! I’ll say just one word, I’m putting it in upper case (get you) to emphasise the magnitude that this piece of classical excellence offers the untrained ear (and manners in some – come on put your hands up if this applies to you – I’m already reaching for the sky.) If you’re a senior reader you more than likely are thinking of Kenneth More , that truly excellent post war British actor who played a number of significant roles ( Genevive was not a rolls, the admirable Crighton – Guv.- and many others) most famously as Douglas Bader, in a film (as it’s British – whereas movie is American- sorted? sorted!) about a world war 2 fighter pilot who lost both legs in a flying accident. This man was a legend in his own lifetime, a qualification equally deserved by the numerous heroes who are not only the para-Olympians but those who despite their circumstances, strive to live life to the full, all well deserving full respect. Nuff said.
Moving on, to the less senior reader, Reach for the sky conjures up images of puppets created by CGI, each given a voice by major truly respected movie stars, who in this instance is Woody – no sorry Tom Hanks, that major collector of typewriters (a typeographer? Maybe not)
Both had memorable themes (you’ve got a friend in me brings tears to my eyes whenever…) but they fail to surpass this (dare I say it) tune.
It was a part of a suite of music, each section different, and composed to reflect different facets of the composer’s experience. The composer grew up in a small house outside of Malvern in Worcestershire, down a country lane, almost the legendary “two up, two down” abode, which today is a reproduction of the original home where the composer I seem to recall was born.
The tragedy of our visit was that it was the day after some low life thieves broke into the house and stole irreplaceable artifacts. Some things really wind you up – if they ever caught the b….s, they should mete suitable punishment
The was another composer who created a similar format, his name is Gustav Holtz, titled the Planet Suite and includes monumental music named after the solar system planets (repetitive) such a Jupiter – Ode to joy and that truly menacing Mars – bringer of war.
Oh! I didn’t mention the composers name which of course is Edward Elgar, who wanted his address to be “Elgar, England”. Cool or what?! I think he was trying to compete with Sir Arthur Wellesley – the Duke of Wellington, who lived at No.1 London.
Elgar wrote the famous pieces traditional to the last night of the proms, you can guess the rest!
That said these pieces of music are not the one I adore.
I can still remember the first time I heard the sequence it literally did – and still does, make the short hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
NIMROD – nuff said!!
The only other time I can honestly say the above experience happened again, was on a cruise to the Norwegian Fjords.
Earlier this year after many failed attempts (another potential blog) we took a cruise to see the northern lights (rubbish). After sailing one day we were due to dock at dawn in our first fjord. Being an early riser I got up and decided to take a look out of the cabin window. I reached up, grabbed the curtains by their lapels and threw the curtains to one side to be confronted by the most magnificent panoramic vista of snow covered mountains, so close they were practically in our cabin. To say I was overwhelmed is major understatement. Hairs and breath didn’t stand a chance.
Look at me rambling on again, not a single word about p o’d or JB.
Some days are just like that, promise I won’t do it again, but as it’s late promises start tomorrow
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