What are you reading now?

[Sir Velo]

Christoph Wolff: Johann Sebastian Bach: The Learned Musician

I thought it would be very heavy-going but, thus far, it seems not. I expect the section on organs might be, mind.

Given the number of musical offspring he conjured forth, the section on his organs might make for more interesting reading than first thought.

[Thropplenoggin]

Given the number of musical offspring he conjured forth, I think he made good use of his organs.

Huzzah! Indeed, his first progeny is this week's Composer of the Week - the supposed black sheep of the family but Wilhelm Friedemann seems to have inherited a fair share of his father's genius.

[amateur51]

Given the number of musical offspring he conjured forth, the section on his organs might make for more interesting reading than first thought.

Conjured?!?

You mean like millionaire Paul Daniels?





not a lot

[Sir Velo]

Conjured?!?

You mean like millionaire Paul Daniels?

Well, he must have had a kind of magic wand, don't you think?

[amateur51]

Well, he must have had a kind of magic wand, don't you think?

Please, that's quite put me off my porridge

[gingerjon]

I am currently having my brain fried by reading Christopher Priest's The Glamour. I manage a Christopher Priest novel about once every four years and then find I need the intervening period to put my understanding of the world back together. I don't think this is going to make me question the world in quite such a way as The Affirmation but then I haven't got to the pay-off yet.

After this, I may download a freebie copy of Les Miserables for the giggles.

[Thropplenoggin]

I am currently having my brain fried by reading Christopher Priest's The Glamour. I manage a Christopher Priest novel about once every four years and then find I need the intervening period to put my understanding of the world back together. I don't think this is going to make me question the world in quite such a way as The Affirmation but then I haven't got to the pay-off yet.

Did you see the film adaptation of The Prestige and, if so, what did you think in comparison to the book? I enjoyed the film but have yet to read the book.

[gingerjon]

Did you see the film adaptation of The Prestige and, if so, what did you think in comparison to the book? I enjoyed the film but have yet to read the book.

I haven't read The Prestige but have seen the film. I suspect it's probably quite close in terms of plot - it certainly didn't feel wrong in that regard - but what they seemed to miss was the sense of internal conflict and bewilderment Priest is good at getting across. I do intend to read it as some point but knowing the twists sort of puts it behind other books in my list.

[Mahler's3rd]

Cosima Wagner-The Lady Of Bayreuth by Oliver Hilmes

[Sir Velo]

Please, that's quite put me off my porridge

[gingerjon]

Did you see the film adaptation of The Prestige and, if so, what did you think in comparison to the book? I enjoyed the film but have yet to read the book.

Turns out that there really is a website for everything http://www.thatwasnotinthebook.com/d...006/1#diffPage

[Thropplenoggin]

Turns out that there really is a website for everything http://www.thatwasnotinthebook.com/d...006/1#diffPage

Interesting link, GJ. Thanks for that!

[french frank]

I've just started Machiavelli's The Prince (was reminded of its diabolical associations in the Elizabethan era by the speech by Richard-to-be-III in Henry VI:

I can add colours to the chameleon,
Change shapes with Proteus for advantages,
And set the murderous Machiavel to school.
Can I do this, and cannot get a crown?
Tut, were it farther off, I'll pluck it down.

Another bit of Shakespearean anachronism, since this speech could not have been made by Richard later than 1483 when he was crowned and Machiavalli was born in 1469, so would have only been 14 at the oldest at that time. He wrote Il Principe in 1513/14.

Not sure how I'll get on with the text, but the introduction is interesting

[Richard Tarleton]

At least it's quite short I dimly remember having to read the Discourses for my Political Theory paper for my degree. I seem to recall M speaking a great deal of sense and nowhere near as diabolical as he was made out to be.

[french frank]

At least it's quite short I dimly remember having to read the Discourses for my Political Theory paper for my degree. I seem to recall M speaking a great deal of sense and nowhere near as diabolical as he was made out to be.

That's pretty much what the intro says. The whole context of Renaissance "Italy" has to be understood to realise what was happening and the leading dramatis personae. Il Principe may be easier than the Discourses which it suggests are rather more rambling in style.

The Shakespeare speech actually is set, in Olivier's Richard III, in the middle of his 'Now is the winter of our discontent' speech and makes good sense there.