On discovering classical music

[french frank]

Made a rare visit to R3's Facebook page and saw the announcement for this:

An introduction to Charles Ives' Symphony No.2. Ivan Hewett discusses Ives' Symphony No. 2 with J.P.E. Harper-Scott and Geoffrey Smith.

I didn't think the picture was of Ivan Hewett, nor Geoffrey Smith, nor Charles Ives. Which left J.P.E. Harper-Scott - who he?

Well, professor of musicology at Royal Holloway, and always referred to as simply J.P.E. Harper-Scott, which for reasons unknown even to myself slightly annoyed me. But I kept looking, and - no mystery at all - what I found was quite interesting in itself. Though I would have liked to know a little more about little Paul Harper and how he discovered classical music, from his starting point.

https://jpehs.co.uk/a-biographical-note/

[Bryn]

But Frenchie, Pabbers mentioned him re. Elgar, back in January 2012, and I celebrated his comments re. the final chord of the Ives just a day or so ago.

[french frank]

But Frenchie, Pabbers mentioned him re. Elgar, back in January 2012, and I celebrated his comments re. the final chord of the Ives just a day or so ago.

Well!!! People might have forgotten!!!



But my point was his personal story in that article, about how the son of a miner went to the local comprehensive and became interested in classical music. It was really just intended as a starting point for getting people with no musical background into listening to something other than pop

[greenilex]

Has the Britten book appeared yet?

[Richard Tarleton]

Well!!! People might have forgotten!!!



But my point was his personal story in that article, about how the son of a miner went to the local comprehensive and became interested in classical music. It was really just intended as a starting point for getting people with no musical background into listening to something other than pop

I've long since forgotten things I said on the forum in 2012, let alone anyone else....

I've realised that as the recipient of a privileged education etc. etc., and able to take the Third/R3 on its own terms 50 years ago, my experience is of no relevance to anyone else

[greenilex]

Personally I read autobiography with pleasure and profit in proportion to my interest in the writer...an English teacher depends on the human need to make sense of one’s own experience.

[french frank]

I've realised that as the recipient of a privileged education etc. etc., and able to take the Third/R3 on its own terms 50 years ago, my experience is of no relevance to anyone else

It's quite strange how 'luck' is involved. I would say the professor had a 'privileged education' since he went to a comprehensive school which had excellent music staff. I passed my 11+ and consequently had a 'privileged education', but other than 'music lessons' which were singing (and involved sightreading and a bit of basic theory), there was no introduction to classical music. And no learning an instrument unless your parents paid for it. On the other hand, there was good language teaching and I went in that direction. But 'discovering classical music' was pretty random and nothing to do with school.

[Pabmusic]

But Frenchie, Pabbers mentioned him re. Elgar, back in January 2012, and I celebrated his comments re. the final chord of the Ives just a day or so ago.

And why didn't you remember? Clearly my contributions count for little...:)

[I was going to write"Shame!" but the spectre of Donald Trump arose.]

[french frank]

And why didn't you remember? Clearly my contributions count for little...:)

I expect I do remember, really . But I'm still not clear that what I'm talking about is what you and Bryn were talking about.

[Pabmusic]

I expect I do remember, really . But I'm still not clear that what I'm talking about is what you and Bryn were talking about.

And I am all too often unsure whether what I'm talking about is what I'm talking about. :)

[Serial_Apologist]

And I am all too often unsure whether what I'm talking about is what I'm talking about. :)

I think we're talking about the talking about which you're unsure. Pabs!

[Pabmusic]

I think we're talking about the talking about which you're unsure. Pabs!

:)

[french frank]

And I am all too often unsure whether what I'm talking about is what I'm talking about. :)

Well, I looked back and the only comment I could see that you made was about his biography of Elgar, not about his own life as in the article I quoted, and how he got interested in classical music and became a professor of musicology. Hence the title of my new thread. It was back in 2012, though.

[Pabmusic]

Well, I looked back and the only comment I could see that you made was about his biography of Elgar, not about his own life as in the article I quoted, and how he got interested in classical music and became a professor of musicology. Hence the title of my new thread. It was back in 2012, though.

I canˊt recall, unless it was about his truly unreadable book about Elgar the Modernist.

[french frank]

I canˊt recall, unless it was about his truly unreadable book about Elgar the Modernist.

That was a link to your post . Yes you mentioned both works.