What are the items you refuse to own on principle?

[Richard Tarleton]

I wouldn’t give a guitar houseroom - instrument of the devil, IMO.

Can you be more specific, alycidon? How would you rate this one (on the left)? Or this? Or this?

[Bryn]

Can you be more specific, alycidon? How would you rate this one (on the left)? Or this? Or this?

Or this tribute to Ravel's Bolero:

[MrGongGong]

I think I partially agree with you (now there’s a first!) and the idea of a guitar ban, or maybe just take the amps and speakers awayas there is too much, too loud playing covers badly or poorly written songs. I like the fairly minimalist (instrumentally NOT the genre) approach of voice and piano, no drums and maybe a gentle bass, though that could be covered by the piano.

As for Hundreds of Good Punk albums, RB, as Johnny Mac would say.... Mind you he would bearing in mind who is married to, may possibly agree with you!

"strummy strummy" acoustic guitars are worse than electric IMV

The Shakuhachi had, for a time, a "closed repertoire". It was considered that ALL the pieces for the instrument had been written so no-one composed any more. That obviously isn's the case now... BUT it's a good idea for "singer songwriters" who seem to have bred like rabbits.

How about a 10 ban on "songs" in English ?

One of the unforgettable lessons learned from my principal composition teacher was "you have to be able to do something interesting just with a pair of bongos."

A typical piece by my own composition teacher would be for Bass Recorder, Conch Shell, Shakuhachi, Viola and a pile of twigs. So, i'm with you all the way.

[cloughie]

"strummy strummy" acoustic guitars are worse than electric IMV

The Shakuhachi had, for a time, a "closed repertoire". It was considered that ALL the pieces for the instrument had been written so no-one composed any more. That obviously isn's the case now... BUT it's a good idea for "singer songwriters" who seem to have bred like rabbits.

How about a 10 ban on "songs" in English ?



A typical piece by my own composition teacher would be for Bass Recorder, Conch Shell, Shakuhachi, Viola and a pile of twigs. So, i'm with you all the way.

Yes you’re right about the strummy acoustic ones.

[Richard Barrett]

A typical piece by my own composition teacher would be for Bass Recorder, Conch Shell, Shakuhachi, Viola and a pile of twigs.

Let me guess. Was it Robin Holloway?

[ahinton]

Let me guess. Was it Robin Holloway?

Your guesswork seems to be a tad off-piste lately...

[MrGongGong]

Let me guess. Was it Robin Holloway?

[vinteuil]

.

tee-shirts

shorts

polo shirts

short-sleeved shirts

trainers / sneakers

sandals

cardigans

jumpers

hats (except for straw hats in extremis)

car coats

velour half-collars

.


.

[Bryn]

Pets

[Richard Tarleton]

Or this tribute to Ravel's Bolero:

Great stuff - and Stephen Hawking introducing it

[alycidon]

Acoustic, or otherwise? That's your opinion and you're welcome to it. Is this really based on religious or anti-satan grounds?

Beecham might have added a harpsichord to your list.

I was struck recently that there are some instruments which add tonal "colour" to music, or can even function as solo instruments in their own right, and they can make music considerably less bland. I would include guitars amongst these, but my thought was triggered by hearing a cimbalom in Kodaly's music - it would be horrid if every piece had to include one, but used sparingly such instruments do have a role I feel. Boccherini wrote at least one chamber work including a guitar - e.g. this quintet - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpYEfXzpYSk - which some people enjoy.

Also, in the case of the cimbalom, watching a cimbalom player can be a fascinating and exciting experience.

Are there other instruments which you or others would not wish to have? Of course the reasons for denial could be simple, and relatively non-judgemental, such as "I can't play, or will never be able to play it." - a view which I had recently when looking at an accordion in an auction sale. That would hardly be a very principled objection. Another practical reason would be space/size. Who would want to have a church organ or a cinema organ in their house? [There are people who do, and have ...]

Actually, Dave, I wrote that with my tongue firmly in my cheek and I do not ascribe any satanic properties to the guitar, but I feel that any such instrument should not be used in church services. I’ve been a church organist for much of my life so I suppose that that is not surprising, but the guitar, acoustic or otherwise, and the flute are my most un-favourite instruments.

That said, I do believe that pop-type instruments should be kept out of churches because these lend a worldly atmosphere to something that should remain sacred. For the past five years I have been a member of the Free Church of Scotland which traditionally has not allowed instruments until recently, and we sing unaccompanied psalmody led by a precentor of which I am one. That is not as easy as it might sound, either, and I have completely lost the tune on more than one occasion.

As an aside, I have recently exchanged my acoustic piano for a Kawai electronic and I have organ and harpsichord as well as several types of piano sound. I always thought that I didn’t like the harpsichord as being too ‘twangy’, but believe me, I really do enjoy playing in that medium, and Mrs A, who isn't musical, likes it also.

For the record, my favourite instruments are the French Horn and the cello.

[cloughie]

.

tee-shirts

shorts

polo shirts

trainers / sneakers

sandals

cardigans

jumpers

hats (except for straw hats in extremis)

car coats

velour half-collars

.

I know Autumn is nigh but what do you wear in the Summer then?

[vinteuil]

I know Autumn is nigh but what do you wear in the Summer then?

... just back from a couple of weeks in the relatively hot south of Italy.

Where I wore : chinos, long-sleeved cotton shirts, linen jacket, cotton socks, suede shoes. And, of necessity, a straw hat.



[ Good lord, man - d'you think we coped in India for three hundred years wearing Shorts And Tee-Shirts??? ]


.

[cloughie]

... just back from a couple of weeks in the relatively hot south of Italy.

Where I wore : chinos, long-sleeved cotton shirts, linen jacket, cotton socks, suede shoes. And, of necessity, a straw hat.



.

Cool!

[alycidon]

Or this tribute to Ravel's Bolero:

Thank you for those, Richard, and I have listened to all three. I do not deny for one moment that the performers are extremely competent, nor could I say that any was better than the others. But the effect that they have on me is akin to scraping one’s fingernail down a blackboard, if not so abhorrent, but listening certainly does something to my nervous system which is rather unpleasant. I’m sorry.