Post 513, A SCENE OR A TUNE

 STAYS WITH YOU.

OFTEN LITTLE ELSE
The actor James Stewart once said no film is ever remembered in its entirety, it is remembered for one particular scene, and without that scene it would never be remembered at all.
He was a smart fella. I have always remembered My Darling Clementine (1946) for the scene where Henry Fonda dragged an unconscious  troublemaker out of a saloon by his heels, and I have never forgotten Richard Widmark, complete with maniacal laughter, hurtling an old lady in a wheelchair down a flight of  stairs in the 1947 film Kiss of Death. For that matter, James Stewart's little horse walking down a dark street on its own in The Far Country is a classic.
I believe the rule applies to music, too.
If my memory serves me aright, years ago there was a musical boffin in America who was called into court to settle highly expensive lawsuits brought by musical tunesmiths of the day agin each other for plagiarism. The boffin would quickly prove that the tune in dispute could not have been plagiarised, it was not modern: it came from the likes of Bach, Purcell, Liszt, Mozart etc.
Over the years entire scores have been produced in such a way
Saint Saens Symphony No.3 - the Organ Symphony - contained the tune that became the theme for that delightful film Babe. The highly mannered film Brief Encounter may have quietly disappeared had it not been for Serge Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto, and television's Onedin Line would surely have been forgotten were it not for The Adagio from Spartacus.
Technically i am devoid of musical nous. Can't read a note. Fortunately there was always music in our house when I was a boy. Both my parents played an instrument - father piano, mother violin - and both were members of respected choirs in the city. So I have a good musical ear. Easily sift the tuneful from the discordant. Heartily dislike the discordant. Am too old to change my mind.

So far as the scene or tune that stays with you applies, I would have cheerfully dismissed both the Brahms and the Shostakovich second piano concertos had the Brahms not been blessed with the magical cello/piano duet and the Shostakovich with that glorious Andante. Peter Donohoe performs the latter beautifully, and would be invited to play it at my personal Last Night of the Proms this year. What? No, of course it won't happen. I'm not an expert: It would be good, though, wouldn't it? Tatyana Nikolaeva was an enormous success playing it on the 1992 Last Night. About time it was aired in that way again. Let's hear it for Peter Donahoe

That's all for now..

        

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Post 512. SUMMER IS HERE.

IT ARRIVED YESTERDAY.

WE WENT TO THE DENTIST.
Mo drove us to Ventnor for the yearly dental check-up. I was OK I think Mo has a bit of tinkering to take care of  and will be visiting again at the end of the month. It was a pleasure to meet up with Tim Fradgley. and his lovely crew again. As experiences go it far outweighed sitting on a beach in the sunshine: I was sunburned in Cyprus over seventy years ago. Now I admire summer from a sensible distance.

TELEVISION.
The High Country. We binge-watched this Australian series. Yeah. OK. Interesting.
FOOTBALL.
England lost to Spain, so the bookies were right. When aren't they?

TENNIS.
Mo watched the Wimbledon finals and said they were good.. I had a sleep.
THE PROMS.

They're back! The 2024 BBC Proms started on Friday, 19th July, with a largely female slant, Clive Imrie, Sandi Toksvig, and Nicola Benedetti were the presenters. The BBC Symphony Orchestra was conducted by Elim Chan. The programme ended with Beethoven's 5th Symphony,. Worth staying with, if only for that. I usually avoid gimmick nights, and modern so-called music is anathema to me: but the orchestra  was in fine form and Ms Chan is a splendid conductor. A promising start.

Come Last Night let's have no nonsense over Land of Hope and Glory.
The lyrics are rubbish, but it doesn't kill anyone.  
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Post 511. POWER TENDS TO CORRUPT.

 ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY.

LORD ACTON, 1887.
Yes, it was on April 5th, 1887 that those wise words were written to  Archbishop of the Church of England, Bishop Creighton, by John Dalberg-Acton, Lord Acton was a historian, politician, writer, and thoroughly worthwhile human being. He was also an English Catholic, which did not always make life easy for him. His words are particularly apposite now.
THE TORIES ARE OUT.
As predicted, it was a Labour landslide and the Tories were swept away. If you are a devout socialist, don't crow. No matter how high its majority, the new government has been left with an impossible repair job. Take a logical look at it. Health, schools, social services, local government, water, gas, electricity, transport: a shambles, the lot of it. No government could put it right in five years. For that matter, I doubt any government will ever put it right.
Perhaps Sir Keir Starmer and his crew have a chance to introduce a smidgin of parliamentary change beyond the customary playground squabbling. But I doubt that, too.

Test 'em: don't trust 'em. 
FOOTBALL
So England is through to the final of the UEFA European Football Championships, Euro 2024. 

Hurray for them. Spain is the other finalist and the bookies favourite to win. Hmm. .

TENNIS.
Great coverage on television if you are a tennis fan: a load of balls if you're not. 

New balls, please.
TELEVISION.
We watched 1883 on Prime Video. It was an ominous western miniseries starring Sam Elliott, Isabel May, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill with a superb team of fellow actors. Wonderful viewing.

HEALTH.

There was talk of another 5 radiotherapy sessions for me at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth. A nice volunteer driver called Paul took me, and a fellow patient, Robert, to the hospital yesterday. I was born and bred in Pompey. Don't know the place now. Talked seriously to the hospital team's spokesperson about my current situation. Heard the possible side-effects of  more radiotherapy. Not for me. I have two life threatening illnesses and, if I last that long, will be 94 in September. The majority of my contemporaries have long departed this world. I'll push on. 
Thanks for the offer, though, Q.A.

Good luck to you and all who sail with you.