Hull, City of Culture

[gurnemanz]

Hull tends to get mocked. I spent several months in the city in 1972 doing teaching practice (pre-Humber Bridge). I had a great time there and to mark Hull's nomination as UK City Of Culture 2017 I have just crept upstairs and dug out the programmes for three cultural events I remember enjoying during my short stay there:

Hull Chamber Music Club:
The Bartók String Quartet: Mozart, Beethoven and Bartók in a lecture hall at the University

Peter Goodman ("City Organist"): A varied programme in the splendid City Hall, including Bach, Mozart, Couperin and Messiaen. "Admission Ten New Pence, (at the door)".

The University Choir and English Sinfonia. Brahms Requiem, Haydn Te Deum, City Hall. Soloists, Eileen Poulter and John Carol Case (died this year aged 89).

I also have fond memories of t'Gainsborough, the largest Fish and Chip Shop in the known universe. I don't know if it still exists.

I wish them well.

[Alison]

I have Hull connections. The Hull Philharmonic are always worth checking out. David Pyatt plays Strauss alongside Bruckner 7 a week on Saturday.

[Mary Chambers]

I believe Philip Larkin didn't like it much, but most places have more going on than the rest of the country is aware of.

I think I may have been there many years ago, once, to see a university friend.

[aeolium]

I've never been there but I remember my grandfather watching their two rugby league sides, Hull and Hull Kingston Rovers, knocking seven bells out of each other during the 70s.

There was a lot of play made of Larkin in one of the news reports but I prefer the work of that earlier Hull luminary (and sometime MP) Marvell, to whose memory the constituents of Hull raised a monument (in London, where Marvell died) with an impressive tribute: "Near this place lyeth the body of Andrew Marvell, Esq., a man so endowed by Nature, so improved by Education, Study and Travel, so consummated by Experience, that, joining the peculiar graces of Wit and Learning, with a singular penetration and strength of judgment; and exercising these in the whole course of his life, with an unutterable steadiness in the ways of Virtue, he became the ornament and example of his age, beloved by good men, feared by bad, admired by all, though imitated by few; and scarce paralleled by any."

I was amused by the comment of the council leader of Swansea City (one of the rivals that Hull beat to the award): "If you live in Hull, you've got to have something to look forward to, I suppose." No sour grapes there, then.

[Alison]

There is a certain affection in Larkin's work for the city of Hull and its "sudden elegancies". Mary is right though that quite a lot goes on. For us Radio 3 types there is a fair bit of music around the University and some interesting lectures open to all.

[eighthobstruction]

Apparently there is no money/grant for this project....Hull will have to find (said to be £15 million) needed themselves from sponsorship....

....In 90's Hull had a very good Modern Art Gallery sponsored by a local entrepreneur.... and De Monford Uni which is linked to Leicester Uni...

[MrGongGong]

and De Monford Uni which is linked to Leicester Uni...

De Montfort University isn't "linked" to the University of Leicester at all
and isn't in Hull but Leicester (and Leicester university doesn't have a music department )
but does have the rather excellent MTI (Music, Technology & innovation) research centre

But the Gallery in Hull is (was ? not been for a few years) very good indeed

[Mary Chambers]

I had no idea that Andrew Marvell lived in Hull. I've learnt something already!

[Gordon]

I had no idea that Andrew Marvell lived in Hull. I've learnt something already!

Wasn't Marvell MP for Hull and also a protoge of Cromwell's General Monck who has enough of war and went home to Yorkshire? He's buried in St Giles in the Fields in London.

[aeolium]

Wasn't Marvell MP for Hull and also a protoge of Cromwell's General Monck who has enough of war and went home to Yorkshire? He's buried in St Giles in the Fields in London.

Yes, MP for 20 years. Some Hull-related info about him here.

[eighthobstruction]

De Montfort University isn't "linked" to the University of Leicester at all
and isn't in Hull but Leicester (and Leicester university doesn't have a music department )
but does have the rather excellent MTI (Music, Technology & innovation) research centre

Sorry mucked up original post....There's some sort of link between Leicester/De Montford and Hull (or did have a link)....maybe it has to do with Visual Arts....

[Honoured Guest]

Sorry mucked up original post....There's some sort of link between Leicester/De Montford and Hull (or did have a link)....maybe it has to do with Visual Arts....

Yes, this fascinating link has to do with metalsmithing and jewellery, with a Senior Lecturer in the School of Design at De Montfort University, Leicester named Mr Ed Hull.

I foresee Free Thinking in Hull in 2017.

[eighthobstruction]

I foresee Free Thinking in Hull in 2017.

....indeed....

....anyway fascinate yourself way back behind....Beatrice.....

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Hull Philharmonic is indeed worth checking out. Conducted by Andrew Penny and consisting mainly of players from the Hull and East Riding Music Services, they give relatively few concerts, but are ambitious in their programming.

[Old Grumpy]

I foresee Free Thinking in Hull in 2017.

Let's hope so - I have been to the event at the SageGateshead for the last two years, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I do wonder whether, in the current financial and cultural climate, the whole R3 Caravan will still be traipsing round the country for Freethinking in the future though.

OG

Oh, and P.S., well done Hull!