Britten-fest...the aftermath

[mercia]

Radio 3 obviously wanted to take in as much live performance as possible - to have been "in residence" for a whole week would (I would think) have been impractical

[Flay]

My impressions of him have changed over the last few weeks. I had thought him to be aloof and unapproachable, but the opposite became apparent. He was an astonishing man.

He has given us so much and for that we should be grateful.

[Ferretfancy]

In the 1950s and 1960s the formulation 'Little Miss Britten' would have been understood as code that Britten was at best homosexual and at worst paedophile. Thus I'm not surpised if Britten was upset.

Beyond the Fringe indulged in much more obvious gay caricature with the TV commercial parody " Bollard a Great Little Cigarette " In which all the performers were limp wristed thespian extras with a very camp director ordering them about Like Little Miss Britten it was very funny in the theatre, but much less affectionate than Dudley Moore as Peter Peers.

This was a very transitional time in the early sixties when the Wolfenden Committee was beginning its deliberations and the subject was beginning to come out of the shadows, although it was a very cautious emergence. Even the committee decided to use euphemisms in its discussions. Gay men were called Huntleys and prostitutes were called Palmers - tea and biscuits appeared regularly.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

special pleading [ what vitriol on the jazz board?] ..... very happy to eulogise RVW Finzi Tavener inter alia but not BB because i simply can not abide his music .... i adore Mozart but not when the 'thon pushes the jazz programming off air [or indeed the operas as is most likely] so for me the BB centenary was a pestfest because a] i really do not like his music and b] jazz programmes were taken off air

there are many aspects of BB's behaviour that would not stand scrutiny today as that sensible piece in the Graun made clear, and one can not but conclude that his music is used as a smokescreen for his character by many of his claque; that is however completely beside either a] or b]above

[amateur51]

My impressions of him have changed over the last few weeks. I had thought him to be aloof and unapproachable, but the opposite became apparent. He was an astonishing man.

He has given us so much and for that we should be grateful.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

special pleading [ what vitriol on the jazz board?] ..... very happy to eulogise RVW Finzi Tavener inter alia but not BB because i simply can not abide his music .... i adore Mozart but not when the 'thon pushes the jazz programming off air [or indeed the operas as is most likely] so for me was the BB centenary was a pestfest because a] i really do not like his music and b] jazz programmes were taken off air

I think the comments on the "I may be some time" Thread rather derailed the valid argument that lay behind it. The removal (yet again) of Jazz programmes further demonstrated the Corporation's lacklustre (at best) attitude to the genre - and in favour of yet another 'thon, which is the product of a controller whose committee mind has resulted in artistic achievements that can most charitably be described as "variable". But to segue from such an argument into "Britten isn't worthy of such treatment" misses the point. Jazz deserves a regular and frequent place in the schedules, not because it's "better" than Britten, nor (just) because it's had "more impact on more people's lives over the last eighty years" than any other type of Music (if that can ever be proven) - but because it's a living culture whose presence today, and for future listeners, is as essential as any. To enable listeners access to this Art form is something that the Beeb needs to start genuinely taking seriously: not (just) the aficianados, but people who have no idea of how good it is, and how much it might enhance their lives.

there are many aspects of BB's behaviour that would not stand scrutiny today as that sensible piece in the Graun made clear, and one can not but conclude that his music is used as a smokescreen for his character by many of his claque; that is however completely beside either a] or b]above

Yes, it is. But if "one" can come to such a conclusion, then the thousands who disagree must also be heard. The number of performers and listeners who know little of BB's personality but who adore the Music he wrote - and the fact that these numbers are growing and have grown steadily in the nearly forty years since his death - demonstrates even to Brittenophobes, surely, that it has more to offer than (just) being a "smokescreen" for his character. Whether or not one likes the Music (or the "posh" voice) it has demonstrable quality beyond that of Gordon Jacob (or whoever) and warrants celebration in his centenary year.

I just don't believe that this saturation is the best way of so celebrating.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

I think the comments on the "I may be some time" Thread rather derailed the valid argument that lay behind it. The removal (yet again) of Jazz programmes further demonstrated the Corporation's lacklustre (at best) attitude to the genre - and in favour of yet another 'thon, which is the product of a controller whose committee mind has resulted in artistic achievements that can most charitably be described as "variable". But to segue from such an argument into "Britten isn't worthy of such treatment" misses the point. Jazz deserves a regular and frequent place in the schedules, not because it's "better" than Britten, nor (just) because it's had "more impact on more people's lives over the last eighty years" than any other type of Music (if that can ever be proven) - but because it's a living culture whose presence today, and for future listeners, is as essential as any. To enable listeners access to this Art form is something that the Beeb needs to start genuinely taking seriously: not (just) the aficianados, but people who have no idea of how good it is, and how much it might enhance their lives.


Yes, it is. But if "one" can come to such a conclusion, then the thousands who disagree must also be heard. The number of performers and listeners who know little of BB's personality but who adore the Music he wrote - and the fact that these numbers are growing and have grown steadily in the nearly forty years since his death - demonstrates even to Brittenophobes, surely, that it has more to offer than (just) being a "smokescreen" for his character. Whether or not one likes the Music (or the "posh" voice) it has demonstrable quality beyond that of Gordon Jacob (or whoever) and warrants celebration in his centenary year.

I just don't believe that this saturation is the best way of so celebrating.

you must allow us some enthusiasm for our chosen music ferneyhoughtgeliebte but i welcome your measured comments ... many people including respected professionals tell me that Braxton's music is great, alas i am unpersuaded; with BB i just do not like it, never have and quite possibly my loss but at my years not sure that i care ... i confess to envy though, not 1% of the thought energy and resourcing that went into the BB'thon gets put into jazz programming by the R3 management .... and it often sounds like less than that

[Richard Barrett]

Isn't that enough about Britten now for &^$@'s sake?

[teamsaint]

Isn't that enough about Britten now for &^$@'s sake?

I think you will find that it's an anniversary YEAR, RB........

[Richard Barrett]

I think you will find that it's an anniversary YEAR, RB........

I think I'm going to have to leave the country. What's that Sooty? I already have? OK, the planet in that case.

[teamsaint]

I think I'm going to have to leave the country. What's that Sooty? I already have? OK, the planet in that case.

Sooty and Sweep...live at the Nuffield, 1967...classic !!

come back soon RB, but perhaps check out the 2014 anniversaries first?

[Richard Barrett]

check out the 2014 anniversaries first?

... that would be, let's see, Nono, Birtwistle and George Formby. That'll do for me.

[Mary Chambers]

... that would be, let's see, Nono, Birtwistle and George Formby. That'll do for me.

I'm sure the George Formby Lieder weekend on Radio 3 will be sensational. Ian Bostridge and Julius Drake will be hugely overworked.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'm sure the George Formby Lieder weekend on Radio 3 will be sensational. Ian Bostridge and Julius Drake will be hugely overworked.

Looking forward already to Fischer-Dieskau's classic recording with Gerald Moore (the earlier EMI version, of course: far too mannered for me in the later DG recording - it didn't turn out nice again) of Mit meinem kleinen stick von Felsen der Schwarzenbad.

[Mary Chambers]

Looking forward already to Fischer-Dieskau's classic recording with Gerald Moore (the earlier EMI version, of course: far too mannered for me in the later DG recording - it didn't turn out nice again) of Mit meinem kleinen stick von Felsen der Schwarzenbad.

Good heavens, yes - I'd forgotten that.