Alphabet associations - I

[Flay]

Indeed?

Suck on this then: a J to link Samson, Solomon and Brian (with Deborah and others, for that matter, Occasionally)

Not sure where to start here. The names don't help. Perhaps Life of Brian? Is "suck" relevant perhaps?

But "Occasionally" has a capital O. I wonder why?

As you were...

[vinteuil]

... there once was an Occasional Oratorio


But if "suck" is part of the clue, I expect "jujube" * to be the answer

* "Due to the hard, dense, and resinous nature of Jujubes, the candies are often eaten as a type of hard candy - "sucked on" rather than chewed. Individual Jujubes can be allowed to gradually rehydrate in the mouth with gentle chewing. When frozen, they become brittle, and break when chewed on. It is due to their density that the 1996 Gummi Reviews published by NewTimes, Inc., stated that "Jujubes are a nearly inedible delicacy, that have less in common with gummi bears than prehistoric amber droppings have with old insects".

[Nick Armstrong]

Perhaps Life of Brian?

... there once was an Occasional Oratorio

Both these are elements which will help you to the J...

The 'suck' motif responded to Dr F's request for jugulation - I had the mental image of swallowing a razor blade...

To be honest, vindepays, I find your reference to jujubes jejune

(Is that the first time in human history those two words have been used in jujuxtaposition, I wonder... )

[mercia]

Doctor Flay set a question last October involving John Du Prez
I wonder if he comes into it

[Nick Armstrong]

Doctor Flay set a question last October involving John Du Prez
I wonder if he comes into it

Not to my knowledge. Who was/is he?

[Flay]

(Is that the first time in human history those two words have been used in jujuxtaposition, I wonder... )

Probably

But hopefully never again!

May I put a tenner on the counter?

[mercia]

Not to my knowledge. Who was/is he?

fair enough
John du Prez aka Trevor Jones helped turn Life of Brian into an 'oratorio' called Not the Messiah (apparently)

[Nick Armstrong]

oratorio

That word is however significant

[Flay]

That word is however significant

Not James Bowman then?

[mercia]

I had been assuming that with Samson, Solomon, Deborah and Occasional we were dealing with Handel - but perhaps another composer has had a go on all these subjects

John Milton is an occasional link and so is Newburgh Hamilton, but not in every case

[Nick Armstrong]

I had been assuming that with Samson, Solomon, Deborah and Occasional we were dealing with Handel

You are right

Who pops up in all of them, and in Life of Brian?

[Nick Armstrong]

Newburgh Hamilton

He / she / it is a new one on me!

[mercia]

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

oh dear, we ought to have this by now

the only Js I can find in Life of Brian apart from Jesus [who wouldn't be in an Old Testament oratorio] are Judith (Iscariot) a couple of Johns and Joneses

I don't know if North Korea is currently hacking into wikipedia but it keeps breaking down on me

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

the only Js I can find in Life of Brian apart from Jesus [who wouldn't be in an Old Testament oratorio] are Judith (Iscariot) a couple of Johns and Joneses

Stone the Blasphemer!

[Flay]

How about Not the Messiah, a the "one-night only ‘humorous oratorio’ based on The Life of Brian, featuring guest appearances by fellow Python members Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Carol Cleveland, Neil Innes and co-Spamalot creator, John Du Prez, conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra"??