Wednesday June 6, 2007
It’s Elgar here, Elgar there, but never quite enough Elgar anywhere, not really, anyway. Not for me.
It’s the 150th anniversary year of the birth of Edward Elgar, you see, giving English classical music nuts like me a true feast of music. I don’t think I could ever get too much of Elgar.
This morning I hopped out of bed humming Salut d’amour, very quietly. About an hour later I was singing it. Come to that I’ve been singing it all day long. A truly lovely piece, undemanding, forgiving, and yet infinitely rewarding to musician and listener alike.
When friends come together to make music the world pauses for a while, to listen and to love. That’s a good time.
The author, webmaster, and minder of the cat
14 responses so far ↓
gary // June 6, 2007 at 9:47 pm
You know, there is quite a bit of ugliness in the world, time to celebrate beauty.
Jim in Vegas // June 6, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Very nice amateur play, but too dreary for me. Sorry, I’ll take Mozart or virtually any of the Baroque Boys instead. But that’s just me, whatever turns your crank is OK in my book.
oldgreypoet // June 6, 2007 at 10:05 pm
You got it, Gary, that’s it exactly.
Oh, Jim… I love Mozart too but you’ll have to forgive me, and allow me my love of English music. And my forgiveness of amateur playing; for me it’s the music that counts, and the professionalism second.
CBG Dee // June 6, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Wow! John, I have had SUCH a day so, when I checked into your blog and found this lovely video, I can’t tell you what sweet balm it provided for my beleaguered soul. Thank you, Mr. Medicine Man! Now the rest of the day will go ever so much better.
Bonnie // June 6, 2007 at 10:40 pm
While not a huge fan of violin and an ignorant person of English classical I still found that rather nice.
Tim Reed // June 6, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Thanks for the concert, John. It is the perfect end to an otherwise tiresome day.
louphoria // June 6, 2007 at 11:56 pm
So nice I had to listen to it a few times over. Nice is an insipid word, but that’s what the feeling was, just relaxing and pleasant and unwinding and nice. Thanks John
Lbehrendt // June 7, 2007 at 12:01 am
hey John — don’t know if you ever get to upstate new york, but Elgar will be celebrated here this summer & fall:
http://fishercenter.bard.edu/calendar/event/index.php?eid=102389
Wendy, NC // June 7, 2007 at 12:07 am
It seems that the townhouse is a delightful place to be these days. Glad you’re all there together.
wayne // June 7, 2007 at 12:15 am
Thanks! For some reason I needed this music to loosen my tears. Sometimes family is more than one can bear. I wish I had the range of a violin to express myself.
Peter Cooper // June 7, 2007 at 12:37 am
The thing I’ve always felt about Elgar is that you can’t listen to it without imagery, as you can with a lot of other classical music. It requires thoughts of quiet English landscapes, large open fields, and big blue skies. It truly harks back to quieter, more rural times.
~ Sil in Corea // June 7, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Thank you very much for a lovely piece of music. The violinist is a treat for the eyes, as well as an elegant bowman.
Dick // June 7, 2007 at 6:10 pm
A coincidence - I was listening to Elgar’s Music For Strings on the way home. Great minds..!
Kate & Jim // June 7, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Peter Cooper is right…when we listened, I was taken to the little place in my mind that conjures up mental visions of England.
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