Weir Judith (b 1954): the next MQM

[MrGongGong]

Equality has come a long way, and maybe a step too far!

Shocking isn't it!
They will be giving them the vote next

[Honoured Guest]

Are any three women now allowed to be a triumvirate? Equality has come a long way, and maybe a step too far!

Pedant or sexist?

[Serial_Apologist]

Charlie is a total disaster area, lets hope he is outlasted by his (dull dull dull) mother
better still do away with the whole nonsense and have something imaginative instead

So who else would you suggest folks ?

For the Monarch, you mean?

You could always have them stuffed and put on display in Madame Tussauds - Americans would still bring in the tourist money. OTOH Britain is almost heading the league for robot technology acording to the news this morning. It is suggested they are exported to the States as company for lonely old folks.

[MrGongGong]

For the Monarch, you mean?

.

No, we can do without one of those
For the composer gig

[teamsaint]

No, we can do without one of those
For the composer gig

"Composer"?

post Barthes, should we not be looking at a rather different kind of job description ?

[Black Swan]

You seem to be suggesting tokenism is a good thing; or have I misunderstood your point?

You have totally misunderstood my point. I was saying that I think it is good that a woman has been appointed to the post. My comment was that I have no knowledge of her music. That is all. I am totally against tokenism.

[Sir Velo]

You have totally misunderstood my point. I was saying that I think it is good that a woman has been appointed to the post. My comment was that I have no knowledge of her music. That is all. I am totally against tokenism.

You and I obviously have very different ideas of what tokenism means!

You've never heard any of her music but you think it's good she's being appointed. So you have no idea of whether she is any good or not, just glad a woman is being appointed.

FWIW, my own view (other than abolishing a ridiculously anachronistic institution) is that the best qualified should be appointed (regardless of gender). IOW, the opposite of tokenism.

[Honoured Guest]

FWIW, my own view (other than abolishing a ridiculously anachronistic institution) is that the best qualified should be appointed (regardless of gender).

It's a special appointment made by the Monarch. It's an honorary position bestowed upon a figure who's achieved eminence in their field. No specific duties are attached.

Best qualified for what? There are no specific duties: the appointee does what (if anything) they choose.

[MrGongGong]

Why is it that when a woman is appointed to this some people bring up the subject of "tokenism" ?

Shades of Charles Tansley ?

[P. G. Tipps]

Perhaps she can now do us a new Spirit of England for mega-forces for the C21? Unless it's against her religion as a Scot.

Will she still have job if Scotland votes Yes? Have they though this through??

That's a bit like saying Andy Murray should be asked to cry 'For England & St George!' next time he plays at Wimbledon ... ?

Also, as it was a Scots' King who first sat on the British throne at the Union of Crowns it was the English (or rather the Germans) who were the late-coming monarchical gatecrashers.

The wee lassie Weir can relax ... Queenie will never want to give up her beloved summer Highland retreat in any case!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Also, as it was a Scots' King who first sat on the British throne at the Union of Crowns it was the English (or rather the Germans) who were the late-coming monarchical gatecrashers.

Well, quite - there hasn't been an "English" monarch since Richard III (to be generous - some would say Harold Godwinson).

And anyway, the English themselves are a bunch of foreigners!

[Honoured Guest]

Malcolm Williamson was Australian.

It's not a "job": it's an honorary appointment with absolutely no specific duties.

[Sir Velo]

Why is it that when a woman is appointed to this some people bring up the subject of "tokenism" ?

Shades of Charles Tansley ?

Woolf-ish comment.

It's probably because women composers are still greatly outnumbered by their male counterparts (at least in the area of "serious" music). If Weir is the best composer of her generation, let her be appointed. But it's patronising in the extreme to welcome her appointment, and then say one has never heard any of her output.

[french frank]

the best composer of her generation

I don't think the MotQM has to be the 'best' composer' - who is? - any more than the Captain of the MCC has to be the 'best' cricketer. It's whether they have suitable qualifications for the appointment.

[Quarky]

Malcolm Williamson was Australian.

It's not a "job": it's an honorary appointment with absolutely no specific duties.

I guess it was a personal choice, and there is no implication that JW is therefore the best living GB composer. Rather like applying the Royal Warrant to marmalade or Baxter's tinned soup.

If Judith has her eyes wide open, she may find it useful in furthering her career.

There was an in-depth appreciation of her work at a Barbican weekend a little while ago, which was broadcast on R3, but I don't know if recordings are available.