The end of summer

[Roehre]

There has been no summer evening when it's been warm enough to sit outside without donning thick fleeces and boots. Generally I like Autumn, mellow mists and fruitfullness, frosts followed by brilliant blue skies, tree colours a riot of orange and red, hips and haws and berries. I pray we'll get some of that before we slide into yet another awful winter (snows started end of November here last year and continued through January of this year!)

As I don't like summer at all I am very happy autumn is arriving, and I cannot better Anna's description of it.
A winter without much snow please, minus 17C on a couple of consecutive nights isn't my cup of tea either, but just a dusting of snow and a week of two of frosty days (a frosty week followed by a week or so of 10C followed by a week of frosty weather again would even be better, as that kills off a lot of insects and some vermin).

For me Bruckner 8 Adagio, Brahms 3 and 4 and horn trio as autumn music, apart from the works mentioned already with "autum" or autumnal associations in their titles.

[amateur51]

Not 'classical' but I love 'September Song,' sung by that man with the gravelly sad voice.

Now could that be Walter Huston whose recording is played here for Joan Fontaine by Joseph Cotten on his iPod?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ioI_qlhR6o

Or could it be super-smoothie George Sanders apparently recorded in his bath with full string orchestra?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTh6AA_kKeU

but wait! 'gravelly' you said?

what about Jimmy Durante, filmed apparently on the set of Hitchcock's Rope, with full choir?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-ldVj34Sfo

You pays your money ...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

]When is it ? As every year 21st September

If you mean it begins on the equinox, this is likely to be on 23rd September in most years.

[Serial_Apologist]

Now could that be Walter Huston whose recording is played here for Joan Fontaine by Joseph Cotten on his iPod?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ioI_qlhR6o

Or could it be super-smoothie George Sanders apparently recorded in his bath with full string orchestra?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTh6AA_kKeU

but wait! 'gravelly' you said?

what about Jimmy Durante, filmed apparently on the set of Hitchcock's Rope, with full choir?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-ldVj34Sfo

You pays your money ...

Sarah Vaughan's 1953 version is the best one, for me!

[salymap]

Thanks a lot AM and S-A I shall play them all later but think it's Walter Huston.

[vinteuil]

If you mean it begins on the equinox, this is likely to be on 23rd September in most years.

... or perhaps on one of the Quarter Days :

29 Sep
25 Dec
25 Mar
24 Jun.

I note that for the lawyers among us, Michaelmas Term starts Monday 3 October

[barber olly]

If you mean it begins on the equinox, this is likely to be on 23rd September in most years.

No, I learned as a child that all the new seasons started on the 21st and have stuck by that since, even though solstices and equinoxes may be a day or two off these!

[vinteuil]

No, I learned as a child that all the new seasons started on the 21st !

... ah, but was the authority on which this belief was based? Perhaps you have been living under a delusion all these years!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Season

[barber olly]

... ah, but was the authority on which this belief was based? Perhaps you have been living under a delusion all these years!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Season

I am more than happy to continue to live with it!

[Panjandrum]

I think you'll find the equinoxes fall between 20 and 23 of their respective months. But don't take my word for it.

[Anna]

The downside of Autumn of course is November, the last month, grey, grey, grey, mist that never lifts, persistent drizzle, all is gloom and darkness, everything in the countryside looks dirty and muddy and drab and barren, leave home in the dark and get home in the dark, lights have to be on nearly all day, forget what the sun looks like. You long for Christmas and lights, tinsle and jollity. Those sort of days put me in mind of the song Stormy Weather. I like this version of it by Etta James. Suitably depressing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgdJjvWIlJg

[Serial_Apologist]

The downside of Autumn of course is November, the last month, grey, grey, grey, mist that never lifts, persistent drizzle, all is gloom and darkness, everything in the countryside looks dirty and muddy and drab and barren, leave home in the dark and get home in the dark, lights have to be on nearly all day, forget what the sun looks like. You long for Christmas and lights, tinsle and jollity. Those sort of days put me in mind of the song Stormy Weather. I like this version of it by Etta James. Suitably depressing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgdJjvWIlJg

But get a sunny late November or December day, and the low-slung sun, illuminating tree trunks and last remaining leaves... there's nothing more beautiful. And how about winter berries - which seem somehow brighter at that time of year than at any other? I enjoy the fusty outdoor smell of that time of year, too.

[Anna]

I enjoy the fusty outdoor smell of that time of year, too.

Conkers!! What a wonderful smell they have, and kicking up piles of leaves is fun, they smell nice as well. Thanks for reminding me about the smells! You can smell frost as well and smell that snow is coming.

[Segilla]

Summer's Last Will and Testament - Constant Lambert.

[barber olly]

But get a sunny late November or December day, and the low-slung sun, illuminating tree trunks and last remaining leaves... there's nothing more beautiful. And how about winter berries - which seem somehow brighter at that time of year than at any other? I enjoy the fusty outdoor smell of that time of year, too.

Your bit about the sunny days in November and December is spot on, and having the good fortune to live in Cornwall, a coastal or beach walk in the sun is an unmeasurable bonus to counteract the dying light as we approach the winter solstice. St Michael's Mount always looks good but the sun adds to its appeal.