A couple of weeks ago I attended the proms at castle Howard, the orchestra played Adagio of Spartacus by Aram Khachaturion. Yes I thought I’d never heard of it before too! Turns out an excerpt from this piece was used as the theme tune for a program called The Onedin Line, one of my dearly departed mothers favourite tv programs. This brought back some memories, and sat in front of a live orchestra I must admit I had tears rolling down my cheeks. The rest of what they played was stirring in fact quite excellent. I attended this event annually ,and for those who think they wouldn’t like, or don’t know classical music, you probably will have recognition of most pieces or parts of , as they play fairly popular mainstream stuff. By mainstream, I mean you’ve probably heard it on an advert.
It's very true that most people would only know some tunes by the TV adverts. Air on a G string for instance. A beautiful tune, but we are immediately reminded of an advert for Condor cigars. That's sad.
Just been on YouTube watching Abba belt out Dancing Queen. Can't beat it. Out soon to meet my pals in the old town, they laugh when I tell them what I listen to. Enjoy your satday lads n lasses.
I've had the privilege of seeing a few good classical concerts and operas, and thoroughly enjoyed them. I've also just had the privilege of witnessing Abba warming up. You could hear the drums from Nando's.
I went to my old manager’s funeral a couple of months ago. It was a pretty sombre affair as you’d imagine. He was a serious man, but with a bone dry sense of humour. We had been very close at work and I’d met his wife a few times, but never either of his sons. Anyway, after a very emotional service it came to the time for his coffin to be wheeled away for cremation, and up pipes Air on a G string. I was struggling not to laugh as he’d told me once or twice that if he was going to be burnt then he wanted that playing and I’d never believed him. So at the wake I got chatting to the son who’d organised the service and said how nice it was that he’d played it and mentioned nearly laughing and that it’s what his dad would have wanted. He was quite offended and it turned out that he (too young to remember the advert) didn’t know his dad wanted it and had picked it because he felt it was a nice piece of music and really appropriate. We both looked at each other and shared one of those moments of spooky recognition, though it was obviously just a coincidence. We got on really well after that. True story. And it is a nice tune
I think people really under estimate ABBA. Their level of ground breaking innovation was unpresented. Bands pave the way for future generations. With no Clash there'd be no Stone Roses. With out the Beatles there'd be no Oasis. Without ABBA there'd be no Steps or S-Club 7
Would honestly rather pull out the few teeth I have left than listen to another second of Mama Mia…. There is a live version of it on at Harward house, had to pass by there on my way to and from the airport…. **** me there was a crowd… Fools all of you !!!!!!!
I was just going to reply to that post saying we’re both been international award winning drunks with the annual title changing hands between us
