Prom 76 - 13.09.14: The Last Night; BBC SO, Oramo

[mrbouffant]

Well, the lyrics were printed in the programme (price £4.00), but you may find it hard to get a copy now. For reasons of copyright I decline to post them here. Personally I did not think them doggerel, though Sir Tim clearly struggled to arrange the words to fit the music. The sentiment is that this country was once great, did not become so without much struggle and pain and lessons learned (or not learned), and (despite current appearances) has yet the potential to become great again.

I found it cringeworthy, tbh, and found myself distressed by the corruption of a noble work, written in very direct terms (because of the nature of the original commission) about an important moment in the life of the country. I only just found out that the choral version was commissioned by the Arnold Estate. I am not sure who is pulling the strings at that end to come up with a decision like that but I found it completely execrable. They seemed to have thought it might be performed at the Queen's 60th Jubilee or at the Olympic Opening Ceremony. Baffling! Thankfully I was able to pull the composer's own recording off the shelf to clear my ears of such an abomination.

[Petrushka]

Well, the lyrics were printed in the programme (price £4.00), but you may find it hard to get a copy now. For reasons of copyright I decline to post them here. Personally I did not think them doggerel, though Sir Tim clearly struggled to arrange the words to fit the music. The sentiment is that this country was once great, did not become so without much struggle and pain and lessons learned (or not learned), and (despite current appearances) has yet the potential to become great again.

All Cloughie needs to do is go on the I-player and copy the subtitles.

Easy really.

[Barbirollians]

One thing - I thought it was a terrific Tzigane at least .

[Barbirollians]

One thing - I thought it was a terrific Tzigane at least .

It is difficult to think of anything less in keeping with the Peterloo overture than those lyrics which were like something commissioned by the Daily Express

[Alison]

It is difficult to think of anything less in keeping with the Peterloo overture than those lyrics which were like something commissioned by the Daily Express

Why did we need any sort of work with constant reference to 'our country' ? I thought music was the international language!

[pastoralguy]

One thing - I thought it was a terrific Tzigane at least .

For me, Ms. Jansen's performance of the Chausson was one of the highlights of the season.

[MrGongGong]

Why did we need any sort of work with constant reference to 'our country' ? I thought music was the international language!

Music isn't a "language" in the same way that a horse is not a table.

[Alison]

Music isn't a "language" in the same way that a horse is not a table.

That wasn't really my substantive point.

Perhaps you liked the Tim Rice lyrics then.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It is difficult to think of anything less in keeping with the Peterloo overture than those lyrics which were like something commissioned by the Daily Express

Except that the Daily Express would probably have supported the massacre.

[MrGongGong]

That wasn't really my substantive point.

Perhaps you liked the Tim Rice lyrics then.

I didn't watch/listen and probably won't bother
anyway,the words, Tim and Rice don't usually fill me with enthusiasm

[visualnickmos]

.....the words, Tim and Rice don't usually fill me with enthusiasm

Nice one!

[gradus]

It was alright and delivered what many people enjoy in a Last Night concert. Those in charge are trying to reach the largest possible audience and they aren't going to stop trying. Personally I enjoy the good-natured second half formula which in any case varies a little from year to year. Rule Britannia, P and C1 and Jerusalem may be hackneyed to most boarders but not everyone has heard them before or even heard of them.
If you don't like it don't watch it, there are plenty of other concerts available.

[Barbirollians]

Except that it has changed - the first half has become more populist and the second half subject to dire innovations like Mary Poppins medleys.

[Petrushka]

Truth to tell, the Mary Poppins songs are actually very catchy and damn good tunes...

... but out of place at a Proms concert.

[gurnemanz]

Truth to tell, the Mary Poppins songs are actually very catchy and damn good tunes...

... but out of place at a Proms concert.

True and I will admit that I joined in (while driving the car) with Feed the Birds tuppence a bag, somewhat amazed that I knew the words, not having heard the song for about 40 years.