tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post2991223042898616048..comments2024-03-29T15:04:20.549+11:00Comments on ART and ARCHITECTURE, mainly: Edward Elgar's favourite architectureHelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-85315413590066147062014-08-28T11:53:19.365+10:002014-08-28T11:53:19.365+10:00Philip
if Elgar was a hyper-sensitive soul who al...Philip<br /><br />if Elgar was a hyper-sensitive soul who always felt like an outsider, no wonder he was often depressed. Did you know that in 1879 the young Elgar took up a post as bandmaster in a mental asylum, where he worked for 5 years? I did not!<br /><br />See http://cultureandanarchy.wordpress.com/2014/08/27/elgar-at-the-lunatic-asylum/Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-77406758236737124032010-10-24T18:40:42.968+11:002010-10-24T18:40:42.968+11:00Oh, by the way: one of my favourites among Elgar&#...Oh, by the way: one of my favourites among Elgar's short pieces is Sospiri, for string orchestra, organ, and harp. It's very slow and sad (the title means 'sighs') and was first performed on 15 August 1914. It was written just before the outbreak of World War I, so can't be taken as the composer's direct response to the war, but coming when it did it's a reminder that Elgar was not the simple triumphalist-imperialist that he's sometimes still made out to have been.Philip Wilkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04893714514416441572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-55820253443507292052010-10-22T09:32:39.799+11:002010-10-22T09:32:39.799+11:00Philip, I agree with that.
But until Elgar got t...Philip, I agree with that. <br /><br />But until Elgar got to Brinkwells Cottage, he never really settled anywhere. Most people move twice or perhaps 3 times in adulthood. Not 25 times (I am not counting Elgar's work related, non-permanent moves).<br /><br />Even his attempts to _buy_ Brinkwells Cottage fell through, although he only left Sussex it must be admitted because his beloved wife died.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-89921947900361857822010-10-21T18:21:42.699+11:002010-10-21T18:21:42.699+11:00Elgar felt himself to be an outsider all his life....Elgar felt himself to be an outsider all his life. His Catholicism set him apart from the establishment, and his family was lower middle class. He craved the approval of the establishment and the society of the upper classes - and to a certain extent he won the friendship of upper-class people (through his wife, partly) - but, a hyper-sensitive soul indeed, he never felt he was truly accepted by the social set he wanted to be in, and so went around with several chips on his shoulder. His music was appreciated first in mainland Europe - especially the orchestral works like the Enigma Variations and the two symphonies - and when he did become famous in Britain he felt it was partly for the wrong reasons: I think I've read that he disliked the jingoistic ways in which 'Land of Hope and Glory' was used. Brinkwells must have been a wonderful sanctuary for him, and the music he wrote there is terrific, but after Alice died he retreated into his shell and he wrote very little: sad.Philip Wilkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04893714514416441572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-61888425983948676052010-10-21T17:53:32.049+11:002010-10-21T17:53:32.049+11:00Hermes what I know about music could be written on...Hermes what I know about music could be written on the back of a postage stamp! In crayon!! But I do know about class consciousness.<br /><br />I wonder if Elgar's ordinary background influenced his depressive episodes. His own family seemed not hugely achieving but they were decent enough. His Catholicism DID take him out of the mainstream yet his wife, who was very educated, accomplished and well published, loved and supported him anyhow. <br /><br />Perhaps he was just hyper sensitive, even after he was feted all over Europe for his successes.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-59023517056569444492010-10-21T16:02:52.764+11:002010-10-21T16:02:52.764+11:00I personally prefer The Dream of Gerontius though ...I personally prefer The Dream of Gerontius though it, like Elgar was regarded with suspicion at the time. He never became part of the Establishment,largely being self-taught, and influenced by European music.Hermeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00968366076064269729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-7261526427996404272010-10-21T15:52:05.276+11:002010-10-21T15:52:05.276+11:00The UK has truly wonderful place names eg the Pidd...The UK has truly wonderful place names eg the Piddle Brook runs in Worcestershire with two wonderful villages on its banks: North Piddle and Wyre Piddle. And I hope I never have to write to Great Cockup in the Lake District :)<br /><br />I think the thing about Land of Hope and Glory is that there are very few people on this entire globe who cannot hum the tune. Imagine being so influential that your words or tunes were known to all 6 billion of us humans. Even Shakespeare couldn't claim that!Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-38303999919957324822010-10-21T15:35:26.264+11:002010-10-21T15:35:26.264+11:00I think that any place named Fittleworth would be ...I think that any place named Fittleworth would be a great tonic!<br /><br />My father tells the story of how he and his best friend used to whistle Land of Hope and Glory outside each other's windows as a signal to come outside. (Somewhat less noble than its intended purpose, but there you go.)ChrisJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13139508470517226199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-87998580162598438242010-10-21T10:52:39.127+11:002010-10-21T10:52:39.127+11:00Kristin, thanks :)
We rarely think about how gre...Kristin, thanks :) <br /><br />We rarely think about how great artists suffered from depression and overwork. And how rural architecture and gardens might have restored their energy and creativity.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-68540422606438227072010-10-21T10:11:34.776+11:002010-10-21T10:11:34.776+11:00Wonderful and educational post. What an enduring s...Wonderful and educational post. What an enduring studio. Have a lovely night!Kristin Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508574259676709949noreply@blogger.com