Coverage of the Inauguration on Aunt & Sky

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

er as a Murdoch hater this is painful for me ....

while the speeches and oaths were being made both BBC and Sky were fittingly silent .... but when the music was played the BBC talked all over it ....in that very special way they have of repeating everything you have just heard but more slowly with hanging pauses .... BBC just poured their condescending aural graffiti all over the Inauguration ... this being a ritual, has music as an integral, not optional, element in the proceedings

so what was imv a very moving experience of a significant historical event [why can't we have poetry at the opening of parliament and music as well!!!!????] was dumped on by the BBC and presented in a very fitting silence by Sky

[amateur51]

er as a Murdoch hater this is painful for me ....

while the speeches and oaths were being made both BBC and Sky were fittingly silent .... but when the music was played the BBC talked all over it ....in that very special way they have of repeating everything you have just heard but more slowly with hanging pauses .... BBC just poured their condescending aural graffiti all over the Inauguration ... this being a ritual, has music as an integral, not optional, element in the proceedings

so what was imv a very moving experience of a significant historical event [why can't we have poetry at the opening of parliament and music as well!!!!????] was dumped on by the BBC and presented in a very fitting silence by Sky

Less praying, more poetry & music, something new from the Poet Laureate and Master of Queen's Musik for each state opening (make 'em work and provoke us), make it an event to be proud of and less of the reek of mothballs and arcane mystery.

Perhaps Sky has discovered that less is more. BBC TV needs a good kick up the *rse - any volunteers?

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

yep

[VodkaDilc]

Excellent Sky coverage in my opinion. Interesting that they relied on their US correspondents for commentary (once someone managed to silence Kay Burley), rather than sending out a major figure like Jeremy Thompson. Cost-cutting perhaps, but no problem with that.

Regarding the music, wasn't there a plunge down-market? Was it four years ago or more that the likes of Yo-Yo Ma were playing? I recall a debate about the merits or otherwise of the musicians miming in the freezing weather. Do we know if the singers were miming yesterday? I saw the military band, but the choir towards the beginning had orchestral accompaniment with no sign of players. The three soloists later, James Taylor(?) , someone from American Idol and a lady called Beyoncé or something similar, were pretty grim!

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

i saw musicians for all the music played and heard .... the orchestra was not adjacent to the choir

i think they went 'rainbow' for the music rather than 'down' ... my guess would be President Family Favourites ...

[VodkaDilc]

i saw musicians for all the music played and heard .... the orchestra was not adjacent to the choir

i think they went 'rainbow' for the music rather than 'down' ... my guess would be President Family Favourites ...

Was the Yo-Yo year the first Obama inauguration - or was it a Bush one? I thought that there was no music of much merit this year - arrangements of American national songs on the whole. Was it ever any better? It seemed to call out for some Copland (NOT Common Man!) - I wonder if his music ever featured in previous decades.

[Mr Pee]

er as a Murdoch hater this is painful for me ....

while the speeches and oaths were being made both BBC and Sky were fittingly silent .... but when the music was played the BBC talked all over it ....in that very special way they have of repeating everything you have just heard but more slowly with hanging pauses .... BBC just poured their condescending aural graffiti all over the Inauguration ... this being a ritual, has music as an integral, not optional, element in the proceedings

so what was imv a very moving experience of a significant historical event [why can't we have poetry at the opening of parliament and music as well!!!!????] was dumped on by the BBC and presented in a very fitting silence by Sky

I think it's fairly well known around these parts that I do not share in the default Guardian reader's loathing of all things Murdochian, but I might also point out that Sky's coverage of the Jubilee Boatilla last year knocked the BBC into a cocked hat. As did their coverage of the Royal Wedding.

If only Sky News would get rid of Kay Burley. She is dreadful. I have no idea how she got the job in the first place, never mind how she's managed to hang on to it for so long.

[VodkaDilc]

If only Sky News would get rid of Kay Burley. She is dreadful. I have no idea how she got the job in the first place, never mind how she's managed to hang on to it for so long.

At least they keep her to the afternoons - that's the one time I avoid Sky News. Everyone else involved is top-notch. Can I 'come out' as a long-term supporter of Sky AND a Guardian reader?

[amateur51]

If only Sky News would get rid of Kay Burley. She is dreadful. I have no idea how she got the job in the first place, never mind how she's managed to hang on to it for so long.

Well Rupert Murdoch does have previous regarding some women that he has employed

[VodkaDilc]

Well Rupert Murdoch does have previous regarding some women that he has employed

The vision that conjures is not a pleasant one! (Wasn't KB the long time partner of a Sun journalist?)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Was the Yo-Yo year the first Obama inauguration - or was it a Bush one?

YoYo Ma and Itzaak Perlman were involved (playing a sort of Copland dilution by John Williams) at Obama's first inauguration.

I thought that there was no music of much merit this year - arrangements of American national songs on the whole. Was it ever any better? It seemed to call out for some Copland (NOT Common Man!) - I wonder if his music ever featured in previous decades.

Copland's Lincoln Portrait was intended for a performance at Eisenhower's in 1953: it was withdrawn because of embarrassment at Copland's "Leftist leanings". The Fanfare for the Common Man was featured at Reagan's inauguration.

[VodkaDilc]

YoYo Ma and Itzaak Perlman were involved (playing a sort of Copland dilution by John Williams) at Obama's first inauguration.


Copland's Lincoln Portrait was intended for a performance at Eisenhower's in 1953: it was withdrawn because of embarrassment at Copland's "Leftist leanings". The Fanfare for the Common Man was featured at Reagan's inauguration.

That's interesting, ferney. A pretty decisive dip this year then. If the choice is the president's, Obama's tastes seem to have suffered with the strains of office.

(Were there any major 20th century American composers who weren't "leftist" - or who weren't gay?)

[Serial_Apologist]

YoYo Ma and Itzaak Perlman were involved (playing a sort of Copland dilution by John Williams) at Obama's first inauguration.


Copland's Lincoln Portrait was intended for a performance at Eisenhower's in 1953: it was withdrawn because of embarrassment at Copland's "Leftist leanings". The Fanfare for the Common Man was featured at Reagan's inauguration.

I've always felt Margaret Thatcher's reading out the Lincoln Address to be one of the most cringeworthy recordings of all time.

[amateur51]

I've always felt Margaret Thatcher's reading out the Lincoln Address to be one of the most cringeworthy recordings of all time.

It's a complete party-stopper

[Serial_Apologist]

That's interesting, ferney. A pretty decisive dip this year then. If the choice is the president's, Obama's tastes seem to have suffered with the strains of office.

(Were there any major 20th century American composers who weren't "leftist" - or who weren't gay?)

Arguably Charles Ives would not have been considered leftist in his time - but in the context US politics today he certainly would be.