Coronation Chicken

[RichardB]

We shouldn’t be discussing partisan politics here at all.

How can that actually be avoided, when a quintessentially "conservative" institution like the monarchy is under discussion?

[smittims]

From what I'd heard of the King when he was Prince of Wales, I imagined he'd want a simplified, modernised monarchy (e.g.plain suits rather than fancy robes) . I'm disappointed to see all the extra flummery, and I can't help thinking this has been imposed by various vested interests pushing their own agendas. The whole thing treatens to be an overloaded mishmash, and the amount of public disapproval generated is in interesting contrast to the reaction to the last Coronation, which was more of a one-themed event rather than an attempt to include everything, and where those who didn't care for it didn't feel so much need to protest.

[french frank]

How can that actually be avoided, when a quintessentially "conservative" institution like the monarchy is under discussion?

Easily. Not all conservatives vote Tory and not all Labour voters are anti-monarchy. The monarchy is only partially a party political issue. In fact, that said, I'm not sure that it is party political at all. Many anti-monarchists seem to be anti-Labour and anti-Liberal. And most seem to be anti-Tory.

[ahinton]

Orb and Sceptre has the tone I'm thinking of: confident, heroic, a bit military, midde-of-the-road musically. I think if formed a background to life in the early '50s as I began to be aware of music. it's even there in the music for Pathe News and Look at Life features at the cinema.

Maybe it's just me, but Orb & Sceptre and the same composer's Crown Imperial have always struck me as brilliantly sardonic send-ups of the entire imperialist/monarchist flummery from someone who appears to have loathed his background and was delighted to escape from it to Ischia, much as his "English" predecessor Delius felt about living in France rather than his "native" land...

[RichardB]

Not all conservatives vote Tory and not all Labour voters are anti-monarchy.

Obviously. But "partisan politics" might have little do do with which of the established political parties one votes for (or doesn't). As I've said before, you can't "believe in" the kind of equality demanded by socialism and at the same time believe that the monarchy has any meaningful benefits to society.

[kernelbogey]

Maybe it's just me,..

Up to now, I just don't get Walton (but continue to try). Glad to have your alternative perspective, AH.

[pastoralguy]

Up to now, I just don't get Walton (but continue to try). Glad to have your alternative perspective, AH.

I have an ambivalent feeling towards Walton. I absolutely love the first two movements of his First Symphony but rapidly lose interest after these have been heard. His violin concerto is probably my least favourite violin concerto. ( Well, if it’s not played by Ida Haendel!) Belshazzar is just a riot from start to finish but is curiously uninteresting to play, imvho.

[Pulcinella]

Maybe it's just me, but Orb & Sceptre and the same composer's Crown Imperial have always struck me as brilliantly sardonic send-ups of the entire imperialist/monarchist flummery from someone who appears to have loathed his background and was delighted to escape from it to Ischia, much as his "English" predecessor Delius felt about living in France rather than his "native" land...

But didn't he expect and require to be fêted whenever he came back to the UK?

[oddoneout]

From what I'd heard of the King when he was Prince of Wales, I imagined he'd want a simplified, modernised monarchy (e.g.plain suits rather than fancy robes) . I'm disappointed to see all the extra flummery, and I can't help thinking this has been imposed by various vested interests pushing their own agendas. The whole thing treatens to be an overloaded mishmash, and the amount of public disapproval generated is in interesting contrast to the reaction to the last Coronation, which was more of a one-themed event rather than an attempt to include everything, and where those who didn't care for it didn't feel so much need to protest.

I'm not sure that any simplification would necessarily be envisaged to apply to himself? I think he likes the trappings - and someone who doesn't see anything odd in having a man to squeeze toothpaste onto the royal brush doesn't send out vibes of slimming down the establishment as it impinges on him.
Something that I found surprising to say the least was reading the blurb for a TV programme tonight about the making of "thousands" of uniforms for the coronation. Why are they needed and in such numbers - do defence cuts mean that no service personnel have dress-up versions of their uniforms and don't other uniformed folks have "best suits" for functions?

[vinteuil]

Something that I found surprising to say the least was reading the blurb for a TV programme tonight about the making of "thousands" of uniforms for the coronation. Why are they needed and in such numbers - do defence cuts mean that no service personnel have dress-up versions of their uniforms and don't other uniformed folks have "best suits" for functions?

... but they will 'need' CIIIR buttons and other insignia to replace the EIIR. The beefeaters were on the local telly news showing off their new get-ups complete with CIIIR embroidered on the fronts...

[pastoralguy]

But didn't he expect and require to be fêted whenever he came back to the UK?

Sorry, Walton or Delius?

[ahinton]

But didn't he expect and require to be fêted whenever he came back to the UK?

If you mean Walton rather than Delius I don't know but it makes no difference to my impression of those two pieces either way!

[Pulcinella]

Sorry, Walton or Delius?

I meant Walton.
That's not to say that he wasn't cocking a snook at the establishment in his compositions, of course.

[ahinton]

To follow on in the spirit of my earlier observation about coronation mugs possibly being those who support it I should perhaps offer another about those who might accordingly chicken out of the event but perhaps I'm too lazily disinterested to do so...

[eighthobstruction]

....