Alphabet associations - I

[Nick Armstrong]

Yes indeed. In fact it's a sort of 'two for the price of one' because the "Farewell to Arms" I originally thought of was the haunting little cantata by Finzi ("His golden locks Time hath to silver turned. O Time too swift! Oh swiftness never ceasing!")

Cheers Taps and Am51, good morning gents. But I think Ofca must have it!

[Nick Armstrong]

This song (and some Dire Straits in general) is a guilty pleasure of mine, much to Mrs T's chagrin.

Was vaguely into DS but more memorably for me, one of my most intense musical experiences was hearing Knopfler and his Notting Hill Billies (awful title ) at Ronnie Scotts - basically just him and 3 or 4 other guitar players producing the most exhilarating intricate music. We had a table near the front and the impact was unbelievable.

[Tapiola]

Was vaguely into DS but more memorably for me, one of my most intense musical experiences was hearing Knopfler and his Notting Hill Billies (awful title ) at Ronnie Scotts - basically just him and 3 or 4 guitar players producing the most exhilarating intricate music. We had a table near the front and the impact was unbelievable.

This sounds like my kind of thing and in the right kind of place too. Mrs T describes this type of music as "insufferable noodling"

For insufferable noodling, check out a band named Earth and their album "The Bees made honey in the lion's skull". Utterly dreadful.

Off out now for the day, so I will catch you guys later.

[amateur51]

Gents?

I must come in here more often, innit

[Norfolk Born]

But I think Ofca must have it!

Well, that's very generous, I say, very generous. I'll 'B' back as soon as I've devised summat.

[Nick Armstrong]

Gents?

I must come in here more often, innit

You must, you must! I'd love to have a crack at a witty conundrum devised by amateur51

[Norfolk Born]

A four-part B question.
These four chaps have the same Christian name:
No. 1's 23rd has an Australian state bird on the cover;
No. 2, the son of a Jewish wool merchant, led from the violin (but not in the classical field);
No. 3 appears to have been in Lisbon, or Faro perhaps, in this month in 1958;
and the fourth, who is associated with the same instrument as No. 1, will (God willing) be 91 next month.

[Angle]

1 Jansch ?
2 Ambrose ?
3 Kaempfert ?

I had no idea that so many famous people were the sons of Jewish wool merchants.

That's my lot for today. Someone else must provide the B word. The weather is wonderful and I need to be out and about.

Isn't Anna back yet ?

BTW Caliban - I actually got as far as The Chocolate Soldier and knew about the Arms and the Man link but didn't have the wit or enegery at 1.30am to make the connection! And how I remember "Lay down Your Arms and Surrender to mine."

[Norfolk Born]

A quick hat-trick for the Liverpudlian! You clearly know what the B stands for, but presumably wish somebody else to post the answer and thus reap the reward, namely to set 'C'. No. 4 claimed to be able to 'teach you to play in only a day', or words to that effect. If somebody would like to come up with his surname and the common Christian name, I shall then be pleased to explain everything. T'committee can then decide who gets to set t'next question, like.
EDIT: No. 4's Boogie reached No. 10 in the UK singles chart in 1959. (If nobody gets the answer by 3.00 p.m. BST, or anybody who knows it is too ashamed to admit the fact, I shall reveal all and award 'C' to Angle, seeing as he's already most of the way there. )

[Nick Armstrong]

Well I'm still at a loss! Hope a newcomer will come and snaffle the question rights, if Angle doesn't want... e.g. amateur51...!

[Norfolk Born]

The Black Swan is the State bird of Western Australia, and also the name of the 23rd album released by Bert Jansch (once a member of Pentangle). Bert Ambrose, unusually for a dance band leader, was a violinist. Bert Kaempfert released an album called April in Portugal in 1959. And Bert Weedon will (D.V.) be 91 in August.
Over to Angle for 'C'.

[Nick Armstrong]

Way outside my comfort zone, Ofca! I've never heard of any of them.. (Actually, now you mention him, Bert Kaempfert ... Was he also a band leader? I'll look him up)

[Tapiola]

Gents?

I must come in here more often, innit

[Tapiola]

Way outside my comfort zone, Ofca! I've never heard of any of them.. (Actually, now you mention him, Bert Kaempfert ... Was he also a band leader? I'll look him up)

I'd got Bert Weedon from Ofca's secondary clue. Can't believe the man's still alive. Thanks for this information Ofca.

[not long back from the Sunday jaunt and full of Dire Straits (esp Brothers in Arms), courtesy of Caliban. Takes me back to a strange and terrible time. Must be the whole cheap potent music thing]

[Angle]

Back now having been down to the sea today but now I see no C. Perhaps I must go again. Si?

Well to fill the time, here is a quick C


one for higher education
one for countryfolk
one for the godless, perhaps

Each is a piece of music

Who? What? C?