LOREAT FMAGDALENA MICHAELMAS 2008 CELEBRATING 550 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE:1458–2008

Y in the Meadow A new sculpture to mark the 550th Anniversary of the College

at Willow Meadow provides the setting for anB impressive new art work by Mark Wallinger (right) that was commissioned to celebrate the College’s 550th Anniversary. Two years in development, the sculpture Y was unveiled on St. Mary Magdalen’s Day, 22nd July 2008. The artist says of his work: “The bifurcating forks or tines of Y are like the branches of the College’s ancestral tree or the antlers of the College deer. The repeated figure references divining rods, typically cut from the trees found in Bat Willow Meadow, and the structure echoes the Gothic tracery which is present within the architecture of the College”. Mark Wallinger is best known for Ecce Homo, his life-sized sculpture of Jesus Christ that in- augurated the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square in 1999, and State Britain, his re-creation of Brian Haw’s protest display outside parliament, which won the Turner Prize in 2007. The commission has been supported by Arts Council England and the Henry Moore Foundation, with the generous assistance of Magalen member

Roger Kay (1977) and his wife Izabella. Photograph: Sam Frost; Artist photograph: Marilyn Bowler Coming soon – a new History of Magdalen College And a special offer for members of Magdalen The most important book to emerge from Magdalen history, and it is fair to say College’s flourishing publishing programme is a new his- that this is the first time that tory of the College, edited by Magdalen’s senior histori- history has been comprehen- an, Laurence Brockliss. After many years’ work, he and sively related. Brockliss’ his team of Magdalen authors—including Emily book is a big improvement on Cockayne, Matthew d'Ancona, Robin Darwall-Smith, the only other history of the

Christine Ferdinand, Gerald Harriss, Andrew Hegarty, College ever written, H.A. Photograph: John Gibbons Studios Julian Lock, David Skinner, and Lucy Wooding—have Wilson’s Magdalen College, President Routh produced a meticulously researched and very readable published in 1899, and reprinted in 1998 when there was account of Magdalen College from its foundation in 1458 no obvious successor. The differences are immediately to the early twenty-first century. evident: the new history has more than three times the Magdalen has a long, complicated, and fascinating text of the nineteenth-century volume, and many more continued on p2

FLOREAT MAGDALENA • MICHAELMAS 2008 1 The President’s Garden Heather Clary describes the art and joy of creating a new garden at Magdalen

ne of the things that makes y challenge in creating a new garden planting in 2006 of shrubs, bulbs, herbaceous OMagdalen such a special place is its Mwas to keep the stage used by the plants and roses. Many of the roses which are grounds and gardens. As a keen gardener I College’s theatrical group The Magdalen now flourishing have names which relate to am always eager to get my hands dirty so I Players without its imposing on the garden the College such as Falstaff (Fastolf), Gallica was fortunate that the President’s Garden for the rest of the year. As many gardeners officinalis (the red rose of Lancaster), Alba had potential for improvement, having been before me, I have been inspired by Gertrude Maxima (the white rose of York), Mary cleared of a number of old conifers just Jekyll both in her use of shape and form, and Magdalene (with the Cambridge spelling) and before we arrived three years ago. Winchester Cathedral, the closest link in Working with the Head Gardener, Claire the world of roses to the College’s Shepherd, and her team, I have had a founder, William Waynflete. The garden most enjoyable time creating and would not be complete without the maintaining a newly planted garden. flower most associated with Magdalen, the Lilium longiflorum. Not only are lilies he earliest references to a represented on a rose arbour specially TPresident’s Garden occur on commissioned for the Garden, but the Ralph Agas’ map (c.1578). This shows real plants are now growing successfully an extensive Garden that included in pots having so far escaped the orchards and a fish pond lying to the ravages of the larvae of the dreaded north of the Lodgings, reaching scarlet lily beetle. across what is now New Building and Photograph: The Great Tower seen from the President’s Garden. I wanted the garden to be especially into the Grove deer park. Records R. Fenton (mid-19th century) attractive at the beginning of summer suggest that this garden was well and also in the early autumn to coincide used by the first married President of with Gaudies, performances of plays and the College, Laurence Humphrey garden parties. This seems to have worked (1561-1589), his wife and their 12 well, so that this year’s staging of Wilde’s offspring. When construction of the An Ideal Husband not only had a highly New Building began in 1733 the scented, mauve backdrop of Wisteria President’s Garden was lost and for sinensis in its prime but the footlights the next 90 years, no records of a were complemented by the first flowering President’s Garden exist. of the yellow iris Golden Planet. In the 1820s, President Routh took advantage of the demolition of most hanks to Claire Shepherd and her of Magdalen Hall to include a large Tteam, the garden is beginning to part of the site in the creation of a Photograph:The Great Tower seen from the President’s Garden, July 2008. mature. The odd straying frisbee flying new President’s Garden. Ordnance Heather Clary over the wall (often followed by an survey maps of 1880 show that it covered particularly in her use of colour. I wanted undergraduate who thinks he or she has not most of what is now St Swithun’s Quad. there to be a lot of scent, places to sit and been spotted) has fortunately failed to have Here was situated a very large walled generally a softer shape to what was the same damaging impact as the fox that vegetable garden, a vinery and three essentially a rectangle of grass. slept on the euphorbia for several nights this other glasshouses, as well as numerous spring or the birds that decided to remove all flower beds intersected by winding paths. ith the assistance of the Magdalen the buds from the dianthus. It was during President Bulley’s time in Wgarden team and equipped with ropes, This year the smaller walled section of the the 1880s that the garden was reduced to cans of spray paint and spades, we marked out President’s Garden will be redesigned. I look the size it is today to allow for the and re-shaped the borders, created new forward to inviting you to see the results in building of St. Swithun’s Quad. flower beds and began the first set of new the years to come. Heather Clary continued from p1 illustrations, including hundreds in black- tion on the College’s finances, the chang- it widely accessible, especially to mem- and-white and dozens in colour, as well ing character of its membership, its polit- bers past and present. Therefore as maps and graphs. Wilson’s book ical fortunes and misfortunes, the devel- Magdalen has subsidized a discounted, stopped with the new statutes in 1857; opment of Magdalen music, and the pre-publication price for members only. more than half of Brockliss’ is devoted to growth of an important academic library. the period 1860–2005, so it will include The main narrative is supported by a Until 15th September members can order the very first account of the College’s glossary, appendices, and a detailed copies of the book at a special 50% recent past. Magdalen’s extensive index. discounted pre-publication price of £45. archives and numerous other sources The College is enthusiastically commit- Email: [email protected] have been mined for accurate informa- ted to the project, and wants to make or tel: +44 (0) 1865 276052

2 FLOREAT MAGDALENA • MICHAELMAS 2008 The 550th Anniversary Garden Party on Saturday 28th June was attended by over 2,600 fellows, students, members and their guests. New Building’s Lawn provid- ed the perfect venue for a giant tea party where friends and families relaxed and chatted in the summer sunshine. Jugglers and clowns delighted a large audience of children and their parents on St Swithun’s Lawn. The programme also included

Photograph: Tom Wild Photograph: Tom chauffered punts, tower climbs, organ recitals and an exhibition of the College’s treasures, including the original A Wilde Affair Foundation Charter of the College. As the afternoon drew to a close, the choir sang at Magdalen in Cloisters and at 6.00 pm the bells of the Great Tower chimed out a joyful Quarter his year, the Magdalen Players’ traditional Peel to mark the conclusion of a highly Tsummer garden show was Oscar Wilde’s successful and very memorable glitzy, scandal-filled classic, An Ideal Anniversary Garden Party. Husband. In the beautiful surroundings of the President’s Garden (and with considerable help from probably the best week of weather ever recorded in May), the Irish playwright’s tale of what-goes-around- comes-around was received enthusiastically by night after night of sell-out audiences. The play’s humour is memorably droll, and Wilde is at his epigrammatic best in the exchanges between devil-may-care socialite Lord Goring and his weary butler Phipps:

Lord Goring [taking out old buttonhole]: You see, Phipps, fashion is what one wears oneself. What is unfashionable is what other people wear. Phipps: Yes, my lord. [...] Lord Goring: Other people are quite dreadful. The only possible society is oneself. Phipps: Yes, my lord. Lord Goring: To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance, Phipps. Phipps: Yes, my lord.

hese one-liners, though, are balanced by Tserious drama, as rising political star Robert Chiltern comes close to losing his marriage over a revealed secret from the past. Wilde was a student at Magdalen during the 1870s, so the play seemed especially suited to commemorate the 550th anniversary of the College. For the same reason, a black-tie gala performance was held on the last night of the run, which included champagne, canapés and a speech by Wilde’s great-grandson and Magdalen alumnus, Lucien Holland (1997). No one wants to say it was a work of ideal husbandry – but, then again, it probably was.

Clare Bucknell (2007), Producer Photographs: Banu Ahtam and Donald Whittle

FLOREAT MAGDALENA • TRINITY 2008 3 Great Apes and Religion: Anthropologists Tackle the Big Questions

without paying the costs? For most primates, creationism, and the afterlife), and utilizing the problem of cooperation is solved through the cognitive sciences in order to explain social grooming, which has been shown to these patterns. For example, rather than stimulate the flow of endorphins, chemicals explaining creationism through individuals’ which create a sense of well-being and exposure to explicit stories such as the camaraderie. Humans, however, live in much Genesis myth, Professor Whitehouse argued larger groups. For grooming to solve the that findings from developmental problem of cooperation in humans, we psychology lead us to conclude that humans should have to spend well over half of our are intuitive creationists and that this waking hours grooming one another. explains why so many stories like Genesis Robin Dunbar (right) and Harvey Whitehouse. How, then, do human beings solve the exist in the first place. Photograph: Tom Wild problem of cooperation? Professor Dunbar While he described how current findings et it not be said that anthropology is a argued that, through the development of can offer tentative explanations for many of Lnarrow discipline, as some anthro- language and ‘theory-of-mind’ (a term from the specific patterns, Professor Whitehouse pologists examine Neanderthal crania whilst developmental psychology referring to the also noted how the EXREL project will others examine contemporary media. Within capacity to think about the mental states attempt to explain how socio-cultural this broad discipline, some aim at a better of others), human beings use humour, environments can result in the emphasis of understanding of the particularities of place, communal religious ritual and storytelling to different patterns. For example, creationist culture, and history. Others aim at addressing stimulate the release of endorphins and bring discourses are relatively rare in some questions about human uniqueness in the about bonding within human groups. Our traditions, such as many Afro-Brazilian animal world and the commonalities human uniqueness then lies in our stories, rituals, possession cults, but very prominent in beings in all cultures may share as a result of and jokes, which exist in order to bind us others, including many branches of our evolutionary heritage. together in cooperative groups when social American Christianity. Furthermore, At the Waynflete Symposium on grooming is no longer enough. Professor Whitehouse outlined how the Anthropology on 3rd May, the third EXREL project will attempt to predict the Symposium held at Magdalen to celebrate rofessor Whitehouse’s lecture, entitled future dynamics of religious traditions the College’s 550th Anniversary, the focus P‘Explaining Religion’, addressed the long- around the world, based on knowledge of was certainly on the big questions. After an standing question why human beings both the psychological mechanisms and enthusiastic introduction from Dr Clare practise religion. His lecture outlined how socio-cultural environ-ments involved. Harris, Magdalen Tutorial Fellow in the ‘Explaining Religion’ or EXREL project, a Anthropology, a full auditorium of students, three-year international research effort hese two presentations by eminent fellows, alumni, and guests, including Sir involving 14 universities and funded by the Tscholars on challenging subjects not only David Attenborough, was treated to a pair European Commission, will attempt to solve thrilled the audience and stimulated a of outstanding presentations on ambitious this puzzle. spirited question-and-answer session, but topics by two of Magdalen’s newest While many scholars, including such also showed that addressing anthropology’s Professorial Fellows, Robin Dunbar and giants as Marx, Freud, Durkheim, and Tylor, big questions is alive and well at Magdalen as Harvey Whitehouse. have attempted to explain the existence of it celebrates its 550th year. religion, Professor Whitehouse argued that Jonathan Lanman rofessor Dunbar’s lecture, entitled all suffered from the problem of attempting DPhil Student in Anthropology P‘Why humans are not just great apes’, to boil religion down to one monolithic addressed the enduring question of process and that all such ‘magic bullet’ human uniqueness. Professor Dunbar called explanations, when rendered precise and Sir David Attenborough and The President. Photograph: Tom Wild attention to the common heritage that testable, have failed. human beings share with other great apes Professor Whitehouse but also argued that humans alone, through outlined how the EXREL religion and storytelling, participate in a project will carve a new virtual life of the mind. His lecture focused path forward in the on why and how such a virtual life of the explanation of religion mind has evolved. by abandoning magic- Regarding why, Professor Dunbar con- bullet explanations, sidered the problem of cooperation within fractionating religion communities. What allows primates to live into specific patterns of together without disintegrating under the thought and behaviour pressure of ‘free-riders’, group members who (including beliefs in enjoy the benefits of group membership supernatural agents,

4 FLOREAT MAGDALENA • MICHAELMAS 2008 An Interview with Oliver Taplin, Professor of Classics On a June afternoon at the end of Trinity Term 2008, Classics and English finalist Rachel Lesser caught up with tutor Professor Taplin in his office in the New Building. On the eve of his retirement they discussed his 40 years as a fellow at Oliver Taplin. 1968 Magdalen College and his plans for the future. Senior Common Room Photo Album.

Q When did you come to Magdalen, and in very, very good students here. It is a job that is to make Classics and related subjects of what capacity? is dominated by undergraduate teaching, high standing in the college. It’s not a dying The 14th February 1968 was the day I was and the fact that the huge majority of the subject, it’s not a marginal subject, and sworn in. I came first as a Research Fellow. I undergraduates are really bright and really it’s not a subject that’s only for public- had a year away in America and a year in well motivated is very important. Then this is school boys. Bristol, before I started my Tutorial a fantastic environment. Out of those 35 Fellowship in October 1973. So I have been years, I’ve probably been here [in the New Q What are your plans for this next period of teaching for 35 years. Building] for 25 of them, with Addison’s Walk your life? literally right outside my door, and all the To some extent I will carry on doing what I do, Q What are the most significant changes you greenery right outside my window. When I thinking and writing about ancient Greek have observed at Magdalen and Oxford visit other universities, I cannot help literature and about its reception in modern generally during your time here? contrasting their pokey little offices, with times, particularly its interaction with the In the University as a whole one of the most horrible views out of their windows, theatre. I am thinking that I may write a book positive and obvious changes has been the car parks or whatever. That is a very on ‘Tragedy’ or on ‘Going to the theatre.’ huge increase in the proportion of women – it significant consideration. I am very interested in the practice as well used to be a predominantly male outfit, which as the theory of translation. I really want to tolerated women on the edge. Having Q Have you had any run-ins with the herd of get down to doing my own translations, women in the College – it must be getting on deer outside your window here? particularly of drama, and then it would be now for 50% – has changed the whole feel of I do remember a time not very long ago when very important for me to try and get those the place. It has changed its intellectual they were over on the other side of the river translations performed. I am also thinking, nature just as much as it has changed [in the water meadow], and it had rained for example, of doing an anthology of Greek its social nature. heavily for two or three days, but people poetry, the poetry of love and death. We’ll hadn’t foreseen that it was going to flood. The just have to wait and see if I’ll turn into a Q How has it changed its intellectual nature? staff came in one morning and the deer were significant translator or not. I would actually There’s less complacency, there’s less in there up to their necks. It was at the time like people to think of me maybe as they think competitiveness for its own sake, and there’s when we were having a terrible trouble in the of Richmond Lattimore, or Gilbert Murray, a better, rounded intellectual sense in the press, because Gordon Brown had attacked but we’ll have to see. place, to put it very crudely. A second, more us. And I suddenly saw in my mind, this academic shift, has been the increasing horrible headline, Q Well, I’ll be looking for your translations in importance of what you might call inter- ‘Dead Deer Flot Pass the bookstores. ‘Dead Deer Float Past disciplinarity. I’ve always been interested in the Houses of Parliament’ In five years time we should know. the Houses of Parliament’ [laughs]. other literatures beside classical literature, [laughs]. and I’ve always been interested in theatre. In fact, the garden staff – I came in at 8 Q Do you have any insights to share with More recently I’ve been able to incorporate o’clock in the morning and I saw this – Magdalen students, fellows, or alumni? performance and theatre studies much more managed to rescue every single one of them I do think that freedom is important, both for in my interests than I used to be able to. And and get them back across the river. dons and for students, and I think that over- what we very roughly call ‘Reception’, monitoring is a danger, saying that every- instead of being a kind of marginal hobby, is Q Who is the most interesting person you’ve thing should fit a pattern, and saying that all now a significant part of the way we do encountered passing through Magdalen? the boxes should be ticked. That kind of a things. People used to be pretty territorial: I think I’d have to say Seamus Heaney. bureaucratic authoritarian perspective may ‘This is my subject, you keep out of it’ used to Magdalen was his base when he was be efficient, but it stifles individuality, it stifles be the attitude. ‘And you, that’s your subject, Professor of Poetry. I used to go to all of his adventurousness, it stifles thinking outside I won’t try and interfere in that.’ But now lectures, because he did just brilliant the box. So I hope that this place will be there’s much more ‘Well, how do our lectures. And we used to have drinks in the able to stay independent enough of outside subjects interact? What have they got to Eastgate Hotel afterwards, and that kind of monitoring to give people the elbow room offer to each other?’ There’s more tolerance. thing. We’ve stayed in touch ever since. I see and the air to be able to think laterally, to him in Dublin now and then, or he comes to be able to be daring, to take some risks. And Q What have been your favourite aspects of Oxford. So he’s remained a friend ever since I think this College is quite good at saying being a don at Magdalen, and why have you he was here visiting. He’s probably the most ‘we do the basic essentials well, and then chosen to stay here for your career? fascinating and charismatic person to we do something different as well, we do A leading advantage of being here has been have passed through. something that is more interesting, more my independence: I have no boss, I have no unusual. We encourage the individual, we big-cheese professor whom I have to please. Q How have you most left your mark at encourage the variety, and we don’t expect I’m not within a hierarchy; I have a very Magdalen? people to conform.’ I think that’s good and I considerable autonomy. Also we do have I think what I would like to say I’ve managed hope it will stay like that.

FLOREAT MAGDALENA • MICHAELMAS 2008 5 HOLD HER UP – HARD!! security ahead of Eights. Both crews were Dominique Jackson looks back on an eventful year for MCWBC justifiably confident and, when W2 narrowly failed to catch Regents Park on s I hacked my way through the valuable racing experience at Nephthys the first day, obliging them to row all the Ashoulder-high nettles and brambles Regatta. way over, I felt very guilty that I hadn’t along , armed with only a bicycle More bad weather blighted Hilary prepared them for this exhausting pump and a mobile phone, I asked myself preparations with the Isis often closed and eventuality. how it was exactly that I had got myself training restricted to the less picturesque Yet, they were undaunted – they had into this predicament? surroundings of the gym. Our indefatigable done it once and could do it again. They I cast my mind back to the sunny coach Nic Thomas put the first VIII through went on to bump twice and were rather Saturday of the previous May. their paces at Radley while Matthew disappointed that their final bump was Back on the crowded terrace of Magdalen Werley (2004) supervised as much water within 30 strokes, robbing them of a more Boat House, banner fluttering overhead, time as the seconds managed on the Isis. challenging race. The 1st VIII, up among large Pimms in hand, I was wallowing in tough competition in the First Division, nostalgia for my own long-gone eenly aware of the 2007 anti-climax, rowed over three times but bravely bumped days. I fell to chatting with MCWBC Kwhen was cancelled outright, Merton on the Friday, taking MCWBC to Captain Lauren Adair (2005), a fellow we watched weather forecasts and river their highest ever position on the river. Linguist, and when asked, I offered my levels anxiously. We were not disappointed. services – just to help with recruiting and All those hours in the gym clearly paid off ore recently, six stalwarts joined a perhaps a little coaching. with both MCWBC crews bumping on each Mbunch of the boys on a charity row to Yet here I was, six months on, edging day to win Blades. London (see next page). Boat Club veterans along the boggy banks of the Isis at 6.45 Buoyed by Bumps success, and Susannah Belcher (2001) and Kelly Perkins a.m. on a damp November morning, encouraged by the Men, whose 1st VIII took (1999), the latter ‘on loan’ from her Fellow’s shouting “Can you hear me, Magdalen? the Headship in Torpids for the first time duties at Worcester, joined Alice Brennan Think I’m nearly there!” A stiff breeze, since 1937, MCBC implacable current and keen but novice started Trinity in fine crew, many of them on their first water form, with places in outing, had combined to push the eight both crews keenly into the far bank, just below the Gut. contested on long outings and in gym hen I reached them, I saw sessions. Wimmediately why no amount of In this, the 150th backing down had manoeuvred the boat anniversary year of the free. The bows were wedged firmly at a 15 Boat Club, it is degree angle in the branches of a large heartening to see that willow. With the problem identified, a MCBC traditions and combination of tapping and backing down friendships remain so soon had the boat reversing into the vibrant. The 2nd VIII From left to right: Leila Gafaar (cox), Ben Harrop-Griffiths, Joe Abdalla, Henry Northern, Kizzie undergrowth and out into the stream. were thrilled when Dr Fenner, Mark Haden, Susannah Belcher, Brett Tully, Alice Brennan. Photograph: Peter Nordberg Thankfully, there was no damage done, to Sandy Cavenagh (1948) the boat or to the rowers, although egos came all the way from his Brecon home to (2006) and Kizzie Fenner (2006) in the were bruised as passing crews contributed give us a pep talk at our last water outing galley while Reesha Sodha (2005) and Leila much perceptive advice: “Magdalen! You’re ahead of Eights. Gaafar (2007) took turns in the cox seat. not allowed to park up there!” Our Sandy suggested that, although so much distinctive lily blades can sometimes be a about competitive rowing had changed, ext year, 2009, marks the 30th disadvantage. certainly since his father, J. B. C. Cavenagh Nanniversary of women’s rowing at (1909), rowed at bow in the Magdalen Magdalen. Plans are afoot for special evertheless, all but one of the ‘tree 1st VIII in1912 — the essential business events, celebrations and possibly even some Ncrew’ continued to row. Thanks to of rowing for your College remains rowing. Suggestions, particularly from old brilliant organization and coaching by unchanged. Today’s crews have to manage MCWBC members, will be welcomed by Captain Chloë Strevens (2006), Vice the same tensions, nerves and pressures as new women’s Captain Hannah Caldwell Captains Sarah McCraw (2006) and any Magdalen oarsmen would have felt, (2007), and her deputy, Philippa Balestrieri Caroline Dixon (2006), assisted by James from no matter which era. Charles Cozens, a (2007). We are always grateful for any Solly (2004), we had a 35-strong squad former MCBC captain of a later generation encouragement, but special thanks must ready to uphold MCBC honour at the (1979), also gave up much42% valuable time to go this year to Senior Treasurer Mark Christchurch Regatta. oversee W1 at Radley. Blandford-Baker and to the President and Sadly it was not to be: inclement weather Mrs Clary for their unstinting, and often led to its cancellation. However, a week hether it is the weather, the Pimms or very vocal, support. earlier, two MCWBC crews put in a Wapproaching Long Vacation, it can creditable performance and gained seem all too easy to fall into a false sense of Floreat Magdalena!

6 FLOREAT MAGDALENA • MICHAELMAS 2008 Magdalen Rowers take on Isis to Westminster challenge for Charity Photograph: Susannah Belcher Why Analyse On August 3rd, a mixed MCBC crew completed a 190km row from the Isis to the Houses of Parliament, through 33 locks in 28 hours to raise more than £2,000 Music? for CLIC Sargent, which supports children and young people with cancer. Finally at Westminster, the crew he Waynflete Symposium on Music on narrowly escaped being swamped just as the tide turned. The last leg back to Putney was consequently T7th June was dedicated to exploring a hard going but they made it back by lunchtime, fundamental (though hardly self-evident) aching, blistered but understandably exhilarated. question within the field of musicology: The row was organized by outgoing and incoming ‘Why Analyse Music?’ As a way of coming MCBC Captains Mark Haden (2003) and Joe Abdalla (2007) as a gesture of support for boat club coaches to grips with the experience of music, Nic and Andy Thomas, whose infant son Morgan analysing music—the nuts-and-bolts app- has been ill for several months and has been roach to understanding musical structures— receiving treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital. seems to demand a level of technical To find out more, please check out: engagement far beyond the reach of most www.justgiving.com/magdalenrowtoLondon. armchair listeners. Requiring technical jar- gon, access to an authoritative score and a Roderick Williams accompanied by Susie Allan historical grasp of how composers worked, Photograph: Marilyn Bowler music analysis has unfortunately come under fire for being either an hermetic owhere were the inadequacies of music discussion for specialists, or an ideological Nanalysis more transparently shown enterprise rooted in nineteenth-century than in Professor Jonathan Cross’ (Christ German instrumental music. Church) analysis of the slow movement from Undergraduate tutorial teaching at its ‘Six Tempi for 10 instruments’ (1957), Photograph: Monica Lee finest, however, thrives whenever students written by the English composer Elisabeth are equipped with a variety of analytical Lutyens (1906-1983). Rather than using Charity swim sets tools, and it is a testimony to the strengths formal analysis to explain away every last of music education at Magdalen that detail of Lutyens’s complex score, Cross new British record this topic served to commemorate the (previously editor of the prestigious journal n 8th July Magdalen undergraduate College’s 550th anniversary. Should anyone music analysis) suggested that even the ONicholas Berry (2004) joined two attending the Symposium have asked ‘Well, most sophisticated analytical systems leave Oxford students Lennard Lee and Harry why indeed analyse music?’, the four the sensual experience of listening Fisher in a fundraising swim across the speakers convincingly argued why it unaccounted for. Straits of Gibraltar. Not only did they raise still matters as a meaningful form of Concluding the Symposium, Professor over £1,800 for the children’s charity engagement with musical experience. Laurence Dreyfus gave a lucid discussion of Variety Club, but the trio also set a new Gibbons’ In Nomine No.2 for viol quintet. British record. Dealing with strong currents arol Berger (Stanford) opened the Dreyfus’ intimacy from performing this and dodging huge ships they crossed the Kconference with a masterful discussion music (which over the years drew him into Straits unaided in three hours and 38 of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, one of the analysing the score) helped shed light on the minutes. The students faced even more most over-analysed pieces of all time. tenacity with which Gibbons exhaustively adversity than usual, as they also had to In stark contrast with previous com- pursued various compositional possibilities. contend with a pod of killer whales following mentators (who typically focus on the Although only scratching the surface, them on the final stage of their swim. opera’s harmonic innovations), Berger Dreyfus provided a glimpse into the Duncan Goodhew, one of Britain’s best- meticulously demonstrated how Wagner contrapuntal genius of Gibbons’ mind. known Olympic athletes and a long-time recast Italian operatic conventions to lend supporter of the charity, acknowledged the structural cohesion to his drama. n a fitting coda to the preceding talks, the extent of the students’ success, Next up was Suzannah Clark (Merton), Iday closed with a Lieder recital by the “This is an incredible achievement for who immediately rephrased the Sym- baritone Roderick Williams, who gave them. To be able to swim 22 kilometres posium’s question as ‘Why do I analyse powerful readings of Schumann’s across open water in one of the most music?’ to introduce why she finds the music Liederkreis and Brahms’ Vier ernste perilous stretches of sea in the world is a of Franz Schubert so challenging for Gesänge. In the end, Williams’ commanding fantastic challenge in itself, let alone traditional analytical methods. The over- voice managed to seduce these structurally setting a new British record. The arching concern of Clark’s work, in brief, complex songs away from the trappings of students displayed real drive in their is not to use analysis to understand intellectual abstraction and analysis, and training and were passionate about Schubert anew, but to see how his music back into the sensual realm of live helping what is a truly worthy charity.” has overturned the prevailing theo- performance. To find out more, please check out: retical commitments of analysts through- Matthew Werley www.justgiving.com/gibstraits. out the years. Music post-graduate

FLOREAT MAGDALENA • MICHAELMAS 2008 7 Gunboat Command: The Life of ‘Hitch’ – Lieutenant Commander Robert Hichens, Subject Gaudy: Modern Languages * DSO*, DSC** RNVR, (1909-1943). All Modern Linguists welcome By Antony Hichens. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Maritime, 2007. pp. xiv + 348. £25.00.

Anniversary Event: Waynflete Symposium on Emeritus Fellow Professor Richard Sheppard reviews the English Literature biography of Robert Hichens (1927), the most highly decorated RNVR officer in the Second World War. Annual Alumni Dinner and Magdalen Society AGM * Robert Hichens studied Law at Magdalen (1927) ness, compassion, analytical intelligence, excite- University Reunion Weekend – for all Oxford alumni and like many of his undergraduate generation ment, sadness, outrage and even humour. For the See Oxford Today or www.alumniweekend.ox.ac.uk came from ‘sturdy, solid, minor gentry’. His evo- historian, it has four great merits. First, it gives a lution from comfortably-off Cornish solicitor to stark account of the inaction of the Phoney War, Gaudy for Year Groups 1980–82. No guests * acknowledged doyen of Coastal Forces and the when Robert served in mine-sweepers, and the most highly decorated RNVR (Royal Naval chaos he encountered at Dunkirk. Secondly, it Reception at the British Embassy in Volunteer Reserve) officer of World War II was paints a highly unromantic picture of the bore- Washington DC, USA determined by nine factors: an intimacy with dom, discomfort and danger of life at sea in All alumni welcome coastal waters acquired in small boats; a ‘pas- small MGBs. Thirdly, it charts Coastal Forces’ sion for fast cars’ and their engines; a low-key three-year transformation from a poorly Magdalen College Boat Club patriotism that was fed by his love of the sea; a equipped, directionless side-show into a sig- 150th Anniversary Dinner for Friends and Members desire to ‘avenge’ the wrongs being perpetrated nifcant spearhead in the struggle for naval of the MCBC and their guests * by the ‘barbarian’ Nazis; a concern to defend his supremacy in home waters. Finally, it is deeply family against ‘Hitlerism’; a penchant for getting critical of the innate conservatism of the British Anniversary Event: Waynflete Symposium on things done quickly, aggressively and flawlessly; naval hierarchy: their unwillingness to listen to Education, Faith and Citizenship an ability to command by firm example, with as and learn from those at the cutting edge. Robert, little ‘bawling-out’ as possible; an independent- it seems, expended almost as much effort fight- mindedness; and a will to overcome the fear ing the ‘brass’ as he did the Germans and the New Year Dinner at the Oxford & Cambridge of sudden death by ‘daring the worst’ and out- weather, and could do so with such effectiveness Club in London* All alumni welcome facing it (p. 266). The account consists of un- only because he was not a regular officer. All Speaker: Dr Ralph Walker, edited diary entries (1939-41), collateral materi- established hierarchies, whether military, educa- Vice-President of Magdalen College al, extended passages from Robert’s never-com- tional or commercial, suffer from this systemic pleted We Fought Them in Gunboats (1942-43, problem, especially in societies that are be- Hacks’ Dinner for members who are working in or pub. 1944), and judicious commentary by the devilled by class. Which means that Antony retired from journalism and media author, Robert’s younger son (Magdalen 1956). Hichens’ remarkable biography is also a timely For the non-specialist, the book is a gripping parable of the human and material waste that Invitations will be sent by post for events marked *. read, for Robert writes clearly and fluently, and occur when the arrogance of established power All members and their guests are welcome at combines vivid description with personal frank- impedes rational and innovative thinking. events unless marked otherwise. If you would like to receive an invitation to the Film Update: Stephen Potts (1979 ) to write rowing sceenplay Anniversary Symposia please contact: In our last issue Stephen Potts discussed adapting Philip Pullman’s The Development Office Oxford-set novel The Butterfly Tattoo for the cinema. The film is to receive Tel : 01865 276082 Fax: 01865 286654 its world premiere in Holland in September, with screenings at subsequent Email: [email protected] festivals in New York and elsewhere. www.magd.ox.ac.uk Stephen is now working alongside producer colleagues Rik Visser and Jolies van Emburg on their next project. Another adaptation, it features Photograph: Dynamic Entertainmentr DEH centrally the sport most dear to Oxford hearts: rowing. SOLUTION Bill Ives was awarded the degree of Doctor of Music from the Archbishop of The Floreat Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, at Lambeth Palace on 1 July, in recognition of Crossword No. 3 his significant contribution to church music, particularly as a composer and as Organist and Informator Choristarum at Magdalen College. In Liverpool’s 123NORTHANGERABBEE A 1045678N 10D 10F 10A 10L 10L Y Anglican Cathedral on 17th May he also became a Fellow of the Royal School 10 10 10 10 10 9 10 10 10 10 OOM M IM MM ARENAYOM M M M M of Church Music ‘in recognition of outstanding work as a liturgical composer 10 10 10 1011 10 10 10 10 1011 10 BEGGARREWATTEAUMMM M M M M M M and choral director’. EIEIW10M MM N10 ICHR10M 10M 10M 10M EN 12LORDATKINEOUNCE13M 10M 10M 10M 1014M 10M 1015M 10M 10M Photo: Bill Ives conducting the Summer Concert at Magdalen’s 550th Anniversary Garden Party. SOFATEM I10M 10M 10M DNMI10M 10M 10M V 16CHESHIREM 10M 17 LYNCHE10M 10M 10M 10M Professor Elizabeth Cooke née Coppin (1980) has been appointed as IUDEA10M MM1020 TQOLNO1018M 10M 10M 10M 10M 10M 10M R Law Commissioner. EEIFWUEELLC10M 10M 10M 19 10M 10M 20 10M 10M 1022M 10M 21 22 10 10 10 102310 24 10 The Law Commission is an independent statutory body, formed in 1965 to keep the NORMA LM IM S I NGM M M AGAM M 10 10 10 10 10 1025 10 law of England and Wales under review and to recommend reform where needed. TEMBLBGASONM M M M M M M 26IRREPARABLEOBAT10M M 1027M 10M 10M 10M 10M 10M 10M 10M Professor Cooke will be responsible for property, family and trust-law projects. Her SHEAOILUTROPE10M 10M 10M 28 10M 1032M 10 29M 10M 10M appointment runs for five years from 3rd July 2008. TBN33 30 10M RSIDESTIN10M 31 10M 10M 1035M 10M 10M 10M L Professor Cooke graduated from Magdalen with a first-class degree in Classics. 32SAUTERNESST10M M 10M 10M 10M 10M 1033M IDOL10M 10M 10M

Solution: No. 3 Trinity 2008 Solution: No. 3 Trinity She is Professor of Law at the University of Reading, also serving on the sub-law panel for the UK Universities’ Research Assessment Exercise. From 2006 to 2008 Congratulations to Kirsti Biggs (2007) who she was Chair of the University of Reading Research Ethics Committee. She has provided the first correct solution to the Floreat recently chaired a research team funded by the Nuffield Foundation investigating Crossword No.3. Photograph: Law Commission community of property regimes. Her publications include Land Law in 2006, The New Law of Land Registration, 2003, and The Modern Law of Estoppel in 2000. The Floreat crossword will return in the next issue.

8 FLOREAT MAGDALENA • MICHAELMAS 2008 Design & layout: Rowie Christopher Design Printed by Holywell Press, Oxford