York Recorded Music Society

[Stanley Stewart]

A real pleasure to be present at my third annual Festive Season jamboree last Saturday. We few...we happy few...well
around 15 of us, gel together so well and the warmth is all embracing and so natural, I'm always touched to the quick by it all.
Chairman Gavin presides and stage manages our individual selections without fluster, each CD placement spot on cue without hesitation,
or delay and is listened to in a relaxed silence. Always a small pleasure in the atmosphere of Dower Court.

Most of the selections had a Christmassy setting at root, ideal for the start of Advent and its journey to the Nativity
but I also warmed to an unusual vocal setting of Bolero and chuckled merrily on hearing Kay Starr's rendition of
"I saw momma kissing Santa Claus" and could even recall some of the lyrics from the early 50s, although her big worldwide hit was
The Wheel of Fortune. My own choice was taken from the BBC magazine. Dec 2016; The King's Singers Christmas at King's College, a
lovely reminder of the original group at the RFH in the 70s.

Our interval break included a gorgeous spread along with warm sherry and sweetmeats. Gavin added to the splendour when
he distributed printed cards with the details of our next season: Jan 13 - The Music Which Nearly Disappeared, charting
the rise, fall and resurrection of the musical world of Jewish communities in central and Eastern Europe - more recently known
as klezmer. Feb 3,Werner Egk (1901-1983) March 3, Leonard Bernstein, Musician Apl 7, Music & Mythology

May 5, Francis Jackson: Music & Memories. A real thrill for me as I'm reading his biography, Music for a Long While, (2013) and enjoying conversations with YRMS members who also recall Dr Jackson's Minster concerts over several decades.

"O sweet music, renew our spirits."

[Stanley Stewart]

A braw January day brought forth a good attendance for the first meeting of 2018 YRMS and got the season underway with
a most compelling talk by clarinettist Lesley Schatzberger on The Music Which Nearly Disappeared charting the rise,
fall and resurrection of the musical world of Jewish communities in central and Eastern Europe - more recently known as the
klezmer. Fascinating to watch LS, a practiced speaker, and how her attractive presence exudes the virtue of 'less is more'
as she lucidly demonstrated or mimed the minutiae of rhythmical harmonies as they wend their way to the heart of music; simplicity
with efficacy and power. Instantly engaging as the listener responds energetically to the beat!

I continued with this review, yesterday, until the text broke-up - as it did last week on another thread, bravely resuscitated
by ferney, - thanks - but frustrated decided to quit as it seems likely that my Dell desktop may need renewal of repair.
My additional comments on this mesmeric presentation may yet return from cyberspace! The auto-save caption
has just appeared. In the meantime, au revoir!












The highlight for me was Lesley's delineation of aspects of a Jewish wedding ceremony with its central canopy; male
and female particpants separated and the breathtaking musical processions throughout. I made an immediate connection
with John Schlesinger's, Sunday, Bloody Sunday, (1971) and decided to gave my off-air DVD a spin in the evening. Howler















of the day

Howler of the day

[Stanley Stewart]

As anticipated parts of the missing text did appear. The howler comment I wanted to add was that Schlesinger's
filrm focussed on a Bar Mitzvah ceremony, not a wedding! SHAME emoticon. Finally, Lesley was given a
rapturous and sustained response for a mesmeric presentation I also adored watching Sunday, Bloody Sunday
again - a rare film with a sense of decency at its centre. That's all, folks!

[Lat-Literal]

As anticipated parts of the missing text did appear. The howler comment I wanted to add was that Schlesinger's
filrm focussed on a Bar Mitzvah ceremony, not a wedding! SHAME emoticon. Finally, Lesley was given a
rapturous and sustained response for a mesmeric presentation I also adored watching Sunday, Bloody Sunday
again - a rare film with a sense of decency at its centre. That's all, folks!

I can't believe how quickly the months go by.

Feel like I have written this before but perhaps not. It was only recently that I discovered there was a Federation of Recorded Music Societies of which York is one. Croydon and Carshalton and Wallington appear to be the two nearest to me although the latter has no updates on its website. Somehow, though, there is an atmospheric difference between travelling to these sometimes rather bleak feeling parts of Outer London and hopping across to the other side of a more coherent York. But same as it ever was in many ways etc.

[Stanley Stewart]

Another stimulating top of the league presentation by James Murray at a well attended meeting
last Saturday. (10 Feb). Werner Egk (1901-1983), Opportunist or Reactionary?. The only aspect
I recognised was the name of the composer, otherwise I started on new territory. Spent the
evening in research and placed an order for an ex-libris copy of 20th Century Composers, 2
,Germany, (1970), H.H. Stuckenschmidt (English translation) which arrived today in good condition
and a chapter on the work of Egk. Also ordered a CD of, La Tentation de Saint
Antoine, Die Nachtigall, Polonaise, Adagio und Finale, Werner-Egk-Quartett, Wergo label.
An arresting start to the session with mesmeric sequences from La Tentation which made it 'a must'
for my collection. An almost balletic lilt to the dark harmonies, ravishingly sung by Janet Walker, alt,
although my inner voice prompted the name of Janet Baker. Can any of our aficionados clarify?

Egk's parents were opposed to a musical career and he left home in 1920 briefly studying with
Carl Orff but he was largely self-taught, both as composer and conductor. A prolific output in opera,
often with a classical background which makes me keen to hear his adaptation of Ibsen's, Peer Gynt!
His left-leaning sympathies must have been a saving grace when he was summoned before two
post-war committees to answer charges of collaboration before finally being totally exonerated
on the second hearing. I look forward to a more detailed study of his work. In the meantime,
I can only echo Snug's appeal in MND, "Have you the lion's part written? pray you, if it be,
give it me, for I am slow of study."

[hmvman]

An arresting start to the session with mesmeric sequences from La Tentation which made it 'a must'
for my collection. An almost balletic lilt to the dark harmonies, ravishingly sung by Janet Walker, alt,
although my inner voice prompted the name of Janet Baker. Can any of our aficionados clarify?

I thought it was Janet Baker on the recording James played, Stanley.

The stand-out piece for me was the Kleine Symphonie. I listened to the whole work via YouTube when I got home.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I thought it was Janet Baker on the recording James played, Stanley.

Almost certainly from the famous DG disc, coupled with DF-D in excerpts from Martin's "Tempest" and "Everyman" - currently available licenced to Brilliant Classics: Amazon have new copies for about a fiver including P&P.

[Stanley Stewart]

Almost certainly from the famous DG disc, coupled with DF-D in excerpts from Martin's "Tempest" and "Everyman" - currently available licenced to Brilliant Classics: Amazon have new copies for about a fiver including P&P.

Thanks, Gavin and ferney. I've just checked the Wergo CD booklet, WER 60133-50
and Janet Walker,alt, is clearly named. It remains a superb recording.

[hmvman]

Almost certainly from the famous DG disc, coupled with DF-D in excerpts from Martin's "Tempest" and "Everyman" - currently available licenced to Brilliant Classics: Amazon have new copies for about a fiver including P&P.

Yes, that was the one, ferney, thanks.

[Stanley Stewart]

Yet another enticing presentation by one of our members,David Archer, blessed with a good turn-out when "shivering pines did clime the day"! David selected a concise title, 'Leonard Bernstein, Musician'
as his topic, admirably side-stepping the easier aspect of radical chic and still provided a generous
quota from West Side Story and On the Town. In turn, this left generous space for extracts from
Symphonies 1 and 6 with good examples from Sibelius and Nielsen and the Serenade gained several
new admirers. I also had a quiet chuckle when David mentioned 'Lenny's' attendance at
the White House in the era of President Kennedy. Earlier, in 1960, he had played Mozart and
Gershwin at the White House for President Eisenhower but had a slightly awkward moment when
the President approached him and said, "You know I liked that piece you played; it's got a theme.
I like music with a theme, not all those arias and barcarolles!" Later this provided the title of a CD,
on DG, which also included Suite from a Quiet Place and the Symphonic Dances from WSS, LSO,
Michael Tilson Thomas, Frederica von Stade, Thomas Hampson.

Last week, I was steeped in The Bernstein Letters and have set aside Humphrey Burton's
biography of LB as a further treat.

[Stanley Stewart]

A most refreshing presentation by member Philip Paul last Saturday, 7 April, an appreciation of Francis Jackson, organist and choirmaster at York Minster for 36 years and a noted composer who celebrated his centenary in October 2017. This enticing programme
caught my eye some months ago and encouraged a Festive Season indulgence to acquire Dr Jackson's autobiography, Music for a Long While, (2013), together with a 4CD set, The Organ works of Francis Jackson, Priory label, in which he plays The Organs
of York Minster, Blackburn and Lincoln Cathedrals. Initially, I was a bit wary that the biography could be little more than hagiography but soon realised that the character of this self-effacing man had much to say as he peals off the surface of his experience, providing an illuminating insight into the stresses, politics and personalities behind daily life in one of Europe's greatest cathedrals. Philip Paul identified these characteristics and provided a rich choice of anecdotes and caught the droll humour of Dr Jackson so well. A timely reminder that Dr Jackson's first recording was published in 1944 - the year of D-Day - and I was impressed how efficient the war time postal service still operated on a 'business as usual' slogan and managed to receive the writing paper for his compositions from Banks of York - still operating - during the two years he remained in the Mediterranean as an orderly room clerk on active service during the North African campaign.

Philip is also a keen organist and regular visitor to churches during his frequent travel in the UK and provided several delicious anecdotes about Dr Jackson's recital at St Martin's, Coney Street, York - the organ was destroyed in the notorious 1942 blitz raid on York. The heraldic flourish of organ music, the pageantry and processions are still ringing in my ears, even a most charming recording of Dizzy Fingers on the pianoforte by Dr Jackson was a joy in itself; the warm reception indicated that we wanted more. A request for a Part II presentation by Philip have reached sympathetic ears!

[Stanley Stewart]

Apologies for a belated review of our meeting on May 5th but the arrival of a new Dell computer, stylish, probably beyond my ken has grabbed my attention, alongside a variety of gardening chores!

Member Irene Parkin presented a neat programme inspired by myths and legends from various parts of the world with music by Sibelius, Dvorak, Grieg, Offenbach and Copland and it was heart- warming at the conclusion of the season at YRMS to reflect on the
confidence several of our members have gained as practitioners in the craft of presentation, always respected by an appreciative audience who respond with warmth and silences throughout. In particular, it was a pleasure to be reminded of the talent of Kathleen Ferrier and the surprise for me was a renewed interest in Dvorak's The Water Goblin which I've overlooked for so long. Officially, this was also the end of the 2017/18 season, possibly the best for many years, and it was good news that an extra evening meeting may be added before we assemble again in September. The concert room at Dower Court has been given a fresh coat of paint and the intimacy of the setting, along with the view is always a special treat to match the music.

"Good music penetrates the ear and quits the memory with difficulty". Thomas Beecham