Random thoughts or comments...

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 18 Feb 2015, 16:43

Blimey, how much was the Bluthner?? I like real glimpses of real life in chocolate box towns. My fave was a pretty cottage with a dead armchair and THREE, count 'em, THREE old Christmas trees in the front (very small) garden.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 18 Feb 2015, 21:54

I couldn't see into the shop, it was just after closing time but it looked like THREE HUNDRED and something. Obviously unaware they're sitting on a pot of gold - it won't be there for long, that's for sure.

One always associates Stratford with high culture and Shakespeare of course so to see decaying council estates there are quite refreshing to a tourist.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 20 Feb 2015, 20:22

We know all about Scheidt but in this month's Pianist magazine, there is a page of Ludvig Schytte in the music pages in the middle. I've had the magazine by the side of my bed for a couple of weeks and this morning was the first proper chance I had to look at it. Maybe in honour of the composer, I should take it into the lavatory.....

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 21 Feb 2015, 20:09

We studied anthems by Schutz, Schein and Scheidt at skool. We were forever being told to stop sniggering every time she said it. We were also threatened with disobedience marks if one more person said 'Bless you' when she said Khatchachurian.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 21 Feb 2015, 21:10

We had Khatchaturian at school, the interpretation of Masquerade by classical/rock crossover group Sky and Emerson Lake and Palmer performing Pictures at an Exhibition. An excuse for one of the teachers to bring all his old prog rock albums into school and play them at lunchtime.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 22 Feb 2015, 13:02

Still no church newsletters published for the third week now. I believe there has been a Pentecostal/evangelical military coup there and the authorities have imposed a news blackout. We'll never know how our vicar's sis in Zimbabwe is, or how he's doing out there, even if he's back in Britain yet. And whether the Easter flowers appeal has been launched yet as now we're into Lent. Six weeks of playing miserable hymns await, Gill (and Mabel, Ms.Fosdyke, and dedicated church organists from one end of Yookay Island to the other).

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 22 Feb 2015, 14:17

We had some good ol' ripsnorters today; one of my faves, 40 Days & 40 Nights. Lovely chord progressions. And I got to play it twice in 2 consecutive churches!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 22 Feb 2015, 18:19

I've just seen it on Youtube, recorded appropriately enough at a church on Lent 1. It is a bosting one indeed - it was tune Aus der Tiefe you played??

I've also looked it up in my Church Hymnary book.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 22 Feb 2015, 20:03

From the local Church Twitter:

Lots of things in this weeks newsletter. We will keep you posted on when it's all on the website !

That'll probably be another few weeks then. The Parish awaits to hear the word from its Mother Church..... Fanny Fosdyke may be 'mewn ffordd teuluol' as they say in Wales or 'up the duff' as they say in Tipton.

And Archbish Justin was doing what is known as a 'recipe for life' event in St Martins in the Bull Ring tonight, again advertised on the Church website. A missed opportunity to speak to him about estrangement from my local Church and the rather un-Christian attitude of at least one of the musical directors of the Diocese...

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 23 Feb 2015, 17:51

Maestro Plaestro!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 24 Feb 2015, 15:00

Well at long long last, we have some word from our Parish Church via its website. Three newsletters were published this morning and two things I learned:

1. on a sad note, the sister of our Vicar sadly passed away a few weeks ago. A memorial service organised by the Birmingham Zimbabwean Anglicans will take place in memoriam (which I cannot attend of course, but I have a tremendous amount of respect for Father and I really feel his grief at this time).

2. The reason why I cannot attend has BROKEN THE ORGAN!!!

St Jason’s Choir
Invite you to
“Songs of Reflection and Praise”
On Sunday XX March
Time: Xpm
Retiring Collection for our Organ Repair Fund
Refreshments in the Hall to follow

Mabel would be interested as she used to be regular organist there before old Gertie Gumdrops wangled her way in to the job. But apparently it's only half an organ. You know I'd be happy to fundraise to get it repaired if not for the person in charge of it.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 25 Feb 2015, 06:26

Gawn quiet again???

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 27 Feb 2015, 19:11

I cannot TELL you how much I hate computers. And it's mutual.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 28 Feb 2015, 19:38

A nice break from the plastering, some music theory work. This time it's grouping quavers/SQs together in compound time, rewriting ungrouped loose notes with beams and correctly grouped into 2 3 or 4 dotted beats.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 01 Mar 2015, 09:31

Last night in bed, my wife wondered whether Fanny Fosdyke still had her two cats. I said I hadn't a clue whether she still had Geoffrey and Oswald. They are both two tone cats (like my Sophie Anne) and unlike her, they are really lovely meowleys.

Suppose she has a stick insect called Cedric or a gerbil called Percy. Maybe she's even got a duck billed platypus called Gervase, I said, with that my wife laughed herself to sleep.

Now, she's wiggling her fingers for money in the services of Dieu, and I'm sat here writing this. Now you know what middle aged couples get up to in bed....Hope there's at least one Welsh hymn tune today Gill, happy Dave day.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 01 Mar 2015, 16:31

Nope, and one extremely weird one that nobody could sing (including me - I was in the choir but had no music) but was balanced out by Orlando Gibbons. Scrummy.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 01 Mar 2015, 16:59

Had an extended piano practise this morning, focused on two tunes in particular where you have to change both hands positions without looking down. I'll post a pic later but to give an idea on one piece it goes from a RH position of D F# A (135) up to A C (24), which sounds easy but you're changing LH position as well without looking down. I cannot stop myself from over/undershooting in one or both hands.

Yet again, she wouldn't let me go to church. I might start a church of my own in my piano room every Sunday!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 01 Mar 2015, 19:21

Talking of which, I've just had 6 attempts at Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven from my easy play Eleanor Franklin Pike book, and I STILL cannot get it right. I think I'm being too eager again. But I did start the melodic exercises of IYSR grade 1 today.

Maybe Allah in his wisdom does not want me to play His organs

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 01 Mar 2015, 20:20

Allah doesn't HAVE organs. The hindus have those dinky one-hand harmoniums though, they're quite fun...
If you don't want to look down, try feeling for a sharp group to locate the note you want, like you have to with feet on organ pedals. And practise learning the feel as well as the sound of intervals too.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 02 Mar 2015, 07:03

Sorry I didn't have time last night to post any pictures but it's in CTM 1. My homework piece also has a lot of spatial stuff (LH 5 on C below middle C to 4 on G above it to 3 on middle C, all staccato and without looking down)

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 02 Mar 2015, 16:39

It feels impossible to start with but you'll look back and wonder why you thought it was hard - honest!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 02 Mar 2015, 18:23

Ceiling complete, now it's time for the walls to get the Maestro Plaestro treatment:

and as it's behind a door with a huge protruding handle that might smash into it, I thought I'd warn meself by putting me a little nodyn bach ar y drws am rhybudd:

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 03 Mar 2015, 12:30

Up for 7.30 for another bonding coat on this morning. First wall ready for its skimmage on Thursday.

The name's Bondingcoat. James Bondingcoat. Licensed to be slightly less awkward as a plasterer than as a pianist

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 03 Mar 2015, 19:11

I still reckon there might be a future in plastering for you!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 03 Mar 2015, 19:24

Gill the Piano wrote:I still reckon there might be a future in plastering for you!

I only do it because I HAVE to do it as tradesmen seem to find some sort of excuse to evade doing jobs that they think is too small. Plus I say it's handy having a wife that works for a well known DIY chain store.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 05 Mar 2015, 12:38

Gill the Piano wrote:I still reckon there might be a future in plastering for you!

Okay. Most definitely not! Here's why...

1. I do not persistently think about football, sex, or football and sex whilst I'm working (usually music, leftie politics and God)

2. I do not posess extreme right wing political leanings based upon what I may have read in 'The Sun' or seen on either Farcebook or Twatter

3. I listen to Radio 3, Magma, klezmer or world music (got Fela Kuti on at the mo) not Jeremy bloody Vine.

4. I charge £0.00 per hour

5. I drink coffee as well as tea

6. I admit to being not terribly good at plastering!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 06 Mar 2015, 07:38

Nice new photo of the interior of the local Church has emerged on Instagram - nice and tidy but everything looks so blooming cluttered up. Have the powers that be at St.Jasons not heard of the feng shui effect? I mean fancy having organ console (Fanny Fosdyke's throne of power), upright piano and font huddled together in one corner!

Last time I went there (Queen's Jubilee weekend '12) there was what looked like brown mould on the white painted ceiling, also its temperature was slightly closer to that of Siberia than heaven. But I suppose even if it was 25 degrees in there, the congregation would still have their coats on - probably need to have the tea and biscuits BEFORE the service rather than afterwards - and introduce an option of starchy and substantial Ready Brek for the septuagenarians and octagenarians (the majority at St.Jasons).

Update: encouraged by what I've been told this morning, I've started to learn an Easter hymn, it's Green Hill. Will have to have a bit of a farage around for the most famous one, Christ the Lord is risen today (a-a-a-a-a le-loooo-ya). I went to the Easter service in 2012 and Mrs.Fosdyke played it.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 06 Mar 2015, 19:08

FFF. Just get on with your practise. My driving instructor used to make me drive up Green Hill in High Wycombe. He used to sing 'There is a green hill far away without a garden wall' if I got too near the kerb.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 06 Mar 2015, 19:46

Mine always used to sing '...with your partners, up against the wall' (famous rugby song (so I'm told!)) because whenever I did something wrong behind the wheel, I used to say 'balls' as a habit.....

He also used to see other driving instructors around and about and invoke childish nicknames for them. Test examiners, he used to particularly take the wee out of...a complete anarchist waiting to get out of shell, I think!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 06 Mar 2015, 21:10

The next full wall to get the master plaster treatment. I wish it was plasterboarded rather than lathed, but I'm not going to make more work. Tradesmen do that:

Then I have to bond and skim a 5cm gap at the top of the other 2 walls and then it's just filling in cracks on those walls and sanding down in readiness for painting. And I'm now against the clock on this one. My wife is off for a week from the 15th and I'm not doing any work for the duration of that week. Plus no work next Tuesday (piano lesson) or possibly Friday (keep fit, if I'm not too exhausted).

No dingfarting around on church organs this time!!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 06 Mar 2015, 21:34

Gill the Piano wrote:FFF.

I had a nosey at her Farcebook attention-drawing module the other day and there's this 'selfie' of her for Breast Cancer Awareness with an expression on the face one could only describe as 'sur la toilette' not having a great deal of 'bon chance'

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 07 Mar 2015, 17:21

For the second time today I've gotten myself covered in muck, plastering in the morning and cutting the grass for the first time in 2015 strimming and weeding in both my back garden and my neighbours. I'm not going to be able to move tomorrow morning and I want to put another bonding on the wall tomorrow (took me 3 hours this morning). The woman at Keep Fit says I have my lean/list/call it what you will back, so I'm expecting my back to go at any moment now.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 07 Mar 2015, 23:04

Just done the Popmaster Quiz (Ken Bruce) online and got 26/30 (not sure if that's a Merit or Distinction).

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 08 Mar 2015, 13:29

Just popped up to Morrisons and Fanny Fosdyke's black car wasn't outside church meaning one of three things 1) she's got the day off 2) her ambition has led to her getting a Musical Director post at a church in rural Worcestershire 3) she's got a new car.....

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 08 Mar 2015, 15:45

d) her car's broken down e) she walked f) she got a lift f) her broomstick was in the porch out of sight....really, STOP wasting your brain on that stupid woman.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 08 Mar 2015, 18:28

She wouldn't walk over 2 miles at 7.30 on a Sunday morning (for the early service as well) with a kit bag full of musical ammo. She doesn't have one but TWO motorcycles (neither were outside church this morning) one called 'Lady' and one called 'The Duke', very macho and tough indeed. Yes she IS a stupid woman, she is not qualified to teach apart from a B.Mus. In my opinion she should not be teaching at all, BUT she has the power, she is Musical Director at my local church (which is one of the reasons why I cannot go) and she has insulted me, a paying student - but far worse, she has destroyed my confidence as a musician and as a person by telling me that I am 'the awkwardest person she has ever had the misfortune to teach' and for sitting there gloating whilst I cried because I could not play Gymnopedie no1. And she's there every Sunday like Ms. Prim and Proper at the bloody organ console.

Only humour helps me to cope with what she has done and has not been accounted for.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 08 Mar 2015, 19:10

Did I ever say she has posted on the 'other' forum in the past, you know the one. Some of her posts are quite interesting, including one about a rogue adult pupil who, shall we say tried to chat her up (pupil must have been highly enrogued if that was the case) whilst not showing for lessons, sending odd texts and calling her 'darlin' - wonder if Mabel's ever been called that in the decades she's been teaching??

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 09 Mar 2015, 15:51

Ah, but now you have both confidence and a proper teacher - so FFF.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 09 Mar 2015, 17:54

Well, Fanny Fosdyke in all her snootiness will, one day have to stand before the mighty Allah and declare the incidents and times she did everything I have explained to youse in great detail, the words, deeds, the lot! Allah in his mercy and wisdom will take care of her, that's for sure. Which will leave me to continue learning the

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 09 Mar 2015, 20:21

The fact is, it just happens to be where it happens to be...

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 11 Mar 2015, 10:49

Mabel has her annual end of term concert on the 12th July this year, so whilst 'Orange men' will be taking to the streets of Belfast aggressively exclaiming at the top of their voices how Protestants and Catholics cannot possibly live together in godly peace and harmony, I shall be performing in front of an audience at a venue in the south of Birmingham (and possibly being filmed doing so). It's a combined kids/adults one and if Karen is too shy to play, or even Mabel's boyfriend then I shall be the oldest performer. Last one of these I did was in 2012.

Would be lovely to do Gymnopedie, quite a big challenge for me but there is a possibility Fanny Fosdyke could come as she's in Mabs' adult choir. If she does, I intend to prove to her that I'm NOT an awkward student, as she thinks I am, rather than walk away. She wasn't there in 2012.

Mabs even complimented me on my notation writing. I think it's a scrawl and is done in quite a dark place but so she says, quite a lot of her theory students are very untidy!!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 12 Mar 2015, 16:14

At last, with 3 1/2 weeks to Easter, Sainsburys down the road has this year's supply of Eleven Balls cake in.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 12 Mar 2015, 19:09

Went to a garden centre today; they had what they called 'Small Easter Cake', but it was a simnel cake without enough balls... Happy small Easter.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 12 Mar 2015, 21:28

Waitrose balls cake is £1 cheaper than Sainsburys, strange as it may seem. New homework piece coming along fine. I just cannot wait for the 12th July

Anyone fancy coming to Brum to see me play, or organising a flash mob to throw buckets of flowers at me on stage???

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 13 Mar 2015, 21:51

Listening to a golden oldie, 'Developing The Future' by The POD, Val Podlasinski, who was an associate of Robert Moog.

Love the way the tune changes tack in the middle, making you think the end is not far away, but it just keeps on going and going.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 14 Mar 2015, 19:59

dave brum wrote:Just popped up to Morrisons and Fanny Fosdyke's black car wasn't outside church meaning one of three things 1) she's got the day off 2) her ambition has led to her getting a Musical Director post at a church in rural Worcestershire 3) she's got a new car.....

She hasn't got a new car, she has an EXTRA one. Just been to Waitrose, driven straight past her front door. Just how much does she charge for lessons?? And how much is she creaming out of the Church of England???

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 14 Mar 2015, 20:00

FFF. Get on with yer practice.

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 14 Mar 2015, 21:03

She has made me very cross Gill. Sorry.

Post by **Gill the Piano** » 15 Mar 2015, 16:49

Rise above it!

dave brum · Post by **dave brum** » 15 Mar 2015, 19:21

How? It happened in 2012 and here we are in 2015 and I'm even crosser about it. I think the fact that a) it's keeping me away from what is my local Church and b) her Church is unaware of exactly what she has said and done to me, which is hardly reflective of the persona of God.