A one-off: I suddenly felt like sharing some gentle Bach for this Sunday evening - so here it is. The Sarabande of Suite no 1 (without repeats - sacrilege, but it wouldn’t have fit otherwise), filmed by @gmisserlis on an I-phone. Hope it sounds acceptable...
So sad to hear about Jessye Norman. What a personality - and what a voice. She really was larger than life, in every way - charismatic and thrilling, with an unforgettable stage presence. Too young to go - but leaves us with glorious memories...
A London black cab driver just told me that cabbies now refer to £10 notes as 'Pavarotti'. 'Why?' I asked (not at my brightest). 'Because it's a tenner...'
George Gershwin b otd 1898:
"True music must repeat the thought and inspirations of the people and the time."
"Feeling alone won't do the job. A man also needs technique."
"The extraordinary thing about my mother, she's so modest about me."
Jean-Philippe Rameau b otd 1683. Music appears to have been his life: "His heart and soul were in his harpsichord; once he had shut its lid, there was no one home." I still love the story of him rebuking the priest singing last rites at his deathbed, for singing out of tune.