The Bronte's piano. yesterday11.30am on R4 and next Sat at 3.30pm

[ardcarp]

...the Bronte's piano was discussed, played and sung to (by our very own Ms Bott) on Radio 4 at 11.30 yesterday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b01d12ny

Not only was the piano itself of interest (a tall cabinet piano of six octaves...not really seen today except in museums) but also mid-Victorian parlour songs.

[MickyD]

Thanks for this, I would have missed it otherwise. I still have a lovely LP ("An Evening with the Bronte Family") recorded in the 80s of Alan Cuckston playing what I believe to be the same cabinet piano...I always hoped it would be re-released on CD, but to no avail.

[MickyD]

Correction, the cabinet piano on the LP was made by John Waite, and to my ears, has a much more ethereal sound than the one at Haworth.

[Chris Newman]

ardcarp,
Many thanks for the heads up. I have had a lovely extended lunch break listening to other people's suggestions today and I did enjoy this programme. So nice to hear Miss Bott singing again even if she was forced to sing sotto voce because of the gentle piano and small room. I wish they had played more of that Battle of Prague where each hand represented a side in the battle.
bws
Chris

[ardcarp]

I wish they had played more of that Battle of Prague

I wish they had played/sung more of everything! But this was R4 and not a dedicated music channel; and I think R4 does a great job with its quite frequent musical items. Does anyone remember Jonathan Cohen as a rather charismatic member of a kids' TV music education team? Can't recall the name of the programme unfortunately, but remember JC as being extremely versatile.

[Chris Newman]

I wish they had played/sung more of everything! But this was R4 and not a dedicated music channel; and I think R4 does a great job with its quite frequent musical items. Does anyone remember Jonathan Cohen as a rather charismatic member of a kids' TV music education team? Can't recall the name of the programme unfortunately, but remember JC as being extremely versatile.

I'm not sure which Jonathan Cohen it was on the R4 programme. The one who used to do many musical TV programmes with and without Brian Cant still does Royal Albert Hall concerts for Raymond Gubbay,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Cohen_(musician)

whilst a younger one plays cello, harpsichord and conducts ENO, Le Arts Florissants and other HIPP ensembles.

http://www.askonasholt.co.uk/artists/conductors/jonathan-cohen

[ardcarp]

....ah. I assumed it was the former, Maybe wrongly.

[salymap]

The Bronte's piano. yesterday11.30am on R4 and next Sat at 3.30pm

Did anyone hear this yesterday?

Catherine Bott and Jonathan Cohen examine the musical tastes of the Bronte sisters, playing music found in the drawer of their restored piano and recreating a typical evening in with the writers. Includes works by Handel and Haydn and folk songs.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I wish they had played more of that Battle of Prague where each hand represented a side in the battle.

Sums up my piano technique generally, Chris!

[Catherine Bott]

The two Jonathans

....ah. I assumed it was the former, Maybe wrongly.

Thanks to everyone for kind words about the Brontes' piano programme. There are two hugely talented musicians called Jonathan Cohen, and the JC who played such a telling part in our trip to Haworth is indeed the charismatic, versatile pianist and organist famous for his appearances on Play Away, Play School and Music Time. He does conduct concerts for Raymond Gubbay, and I'm happy to say that he's also a terrific accompanist - come to Dorking Halls on May 19th, when he'll be joining me and James Bowman in recital. Ignore Dorking's advance publicity - our JC is the original!

[french frank]

Hello CB! Welcome and thanks for the clarification.

come to Dorking Halls on May 19th, when he'll be joining me and James Bowman in recital.

Ooooh! ... my birthday

[salymap]

I am so glad to find this thread. I started one elsewhere just after the first R4 programme which I missed and hope to hear the repeat broadcast.

I couldn't understand why no-one responded but just found Miss Bott's name on recent posts so all is well.

My thread was under 'Talking about Music' as I understood it was partly that..

[MickyD]

How good to see you, Catherine, on our messageboards! Your programmes and Lucy Skeaping's are definitely the highlight of my week's listening.

[ardcarp]

Welcome from me too. ( I'm glad I got the right Jonathan.) I'm sure we all look forward to more contributions from you to our Forum!

[Chris Newman]

Welcome indeed, Catherine. Thank you so much for the clarification about the Jonathan Cohens. Like everyone else I look forward to hearing from you.