Edition 20 Monday 24th August 2020 Welcome to the Twentieth Edition of our Newsletter This is our second fortnightly edition of our newsletter and it is certainly packed with lots of interesting articles from our members! As I have said many times – the newsletter is for the members by the members and it is fantastic to see so many of you step up to the mark and send in interesting articles and photographs. There will be another newsletter in two weeks time on the 7th September however, from then on it will be published monthly. This will give all our members plenty of time to submit any poems, jokes, short stories, craft ideas, recipes, gardening tips etc. Please send any contributions to Karen: [email protected] 1 Music in Our Time This is a regular item so if you have a relevant piece of music which reflects either the season, an event or our wonderful land, please email [email protected] Music Inspired By Spain by Alan Malloy I suspect that many of us have cancelled or postponed our holidays for this year. I have consoled myself by thinking about some of the places I might have visited and high on that list is Spain. I’ve been to Madrid and the surrounding countryside many years ago, but I look forward to visiting other areas in the future. I hope this music transports you metaphorically speaking to these warmer climes. Recuerdos de la Alhambra Written by Francisco Tárrega, ‘Memories of the Alhambra’ takes me to the Alhambra Palace in Southern Spain. In this clip, the piece is played by the peerless John Williams, after a comic start with the late Les Dawson. It is a difficult piece to play well, as the tremolo notes must be played throughout with perfect, even timing, timing, which of course, John Williams does effortlessly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDlQE9djIxE Barcelona This song was written for the Olympic Games of 1992 which took place in Barcelona. The song was sung by Freddie Mercury and Monserrat Caballé. Sadly, Freddie was already suffering with AIDS and died before the start of the Games. It was however used at the Opening Ceremony, with Monserrat singing live, accompanied by a voice recording of Freddie. On the Eastern coast of Spain, Barcelona has much to attract it. From the architecture of Gaudi to the wonderful beaches and bars along the coast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0wdxj8-mAU 2 Carmen This famous, perhaps the most well-known opera is set in Southern Spain and focusses on the fiery hot-blooded Carmen who seduces the soldier Don Jośe. Carmen was written by George Bizet, a gifted pianist and composer who died tragically young, at the age of 36. The opera was not without controversy. The musicians employed for the first performance found some of the passages difficult to play and the chorus found some parts challenging to say the least. This clip is the well-known Habanera, sung by members of the Royal Opera House. A translation of the lyrics would be ‘Love is a rebellious bird’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ_HHRJf0xg Flamenco Music This is perhaps the most characteristic music of Spain. It originated in Andalusia and was strongly influenced initially by the Moorish invaders, and later by Romany culture. The music is at its most moving when sung and danced to accompanied by of course the guitar. The rhythms of flamenco are complex, which adds a vibrant energy to the music. ‘La Barrosa’ is played here by one of the most outstanding exponents of Flamenco, Paco de Lucia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9vNSA0WNlw 3 1 1 This beautiful photo was sent in by Dan Skinner who says: I thought you might enjoy a photo of the locks at Fort Augustus on 8 Saturday, 8th August. One of those perfect days when the weather is warm, clear and still. I had headed out in the morning for a picnic and travelled over the south Loch Ness road, via Farr, Whitebridge, etc and came down the steep hill into Fort Augustus with brilliant sunshine all the way. Although it was busy, it was not crowded like many places these days. I walked up the locks and was struck by how still the water in the top lock was. I purposefully took the picture when people were crossing to enhance the mirror effect. I thought it might be of interest in the news letter, as, in all the many times I have been to Fort Augustus, I have never seen such calm in the locks. It helped, of course, that there were no boats in the locks, but I doubt I shall ever see the top lock as calm as this again. 4 Nominative Determinism by Rhoda Malloy Have you come across this term before? It is the hypothesis that people tend to gravitate towards areas of work that fit their names. It was first used in the magazine ‘New Scientist’ in 1994 after the magazine’s humorous feedback column noted several studies were carried out by researchers with remarkably fitting surnames. As perfect examples, they mentioned two urologists named Splatt and Weedon! The new president of the Royal Horticultural Society was announced last Friday. His name is Keith Weed! His mother’s maiden name was ‘Hedges’! In 1974, a journalist noted an Inspector Barker who was head of the dogs section of Merseyside Police, and a Mrs Serff, of the department of medieval history at University College, Dublin! In 2013, Lord Judge retired as Lord Chief Justice! Other amusing examples include the Department for Education’s chief school’s adjudicator, Elizabeth Passmore! Then there is the former surveyor of the fabric of Westminster Abbey, Donald Buttress! Can you believe there was a policeman who served in the Bedfordshire police force called Robin Banks? It’s true! On holiday as a teenager I met a medical student called Michael Payne, and said I thought he should seriously consider changing his name! Other medical-related names I discovered included Tugwell - a midwife, Breakwell - an orthopaedic surgeon, Smallbones - a paediatric nurse and dentists called Nashar, Fang and Fillingham! 5 Poets Page Please send us your poems, either ones you have written yourself or let us know of a special favourite which we can publish The Walrus and the Carpenter by Lewis Carroll This was a childhood ‘O Oysters, come and walk with us!' The Walrus did beseech. But wait a bit,' the Oysters cried, favourite of mine and it A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk, Before we have our chat; used to be my party piece Along the briny beach: For some of us are out of breath, We cannot do with more than four, And all of us are fat!' at family gatherings! No hurry!' said the Carpenter. To give a hand to each.' They thanked him much for that. Karen The eldest Oyster looked at him, A loaf of bread,' the Walrus said, But never a word he said: T he sun was shining on the sea, Is what we chiefly need: The eldest Oyster winked his eye, Shining with all his might: Pepper and vinegar besides And shook his heavy head — He did his very best to make Are very good indeed — Meaning to say he did not choose The billows smooth and bright — Now if you're ready, Oysters dear, To leave the oyster-bed. And this was odd, because it was We can begin to feed.' The middle of the night. But four young Oysters hurried up, But not on us!' the Oysters cried, All eager for the treat: The moon was shining sulkily, Turning a little blue. Their coats were brushed, Because she thought the sun After such kindness, that would be Their faces washed, Had got no business to be there A dismal thing to do!' Their shoes were clean and neat — After the day was done — The night is fine,' the Walrus said. And this was odd, because, you know, " “It's very rude of him," she said, Do you admire the view? They hadn't any feet. "To come and spoil the fun." It was so kind of you to come! Four other Oysters followed them, The sea was wet as wet could be, And you are very nice!' And yet another four; The sands were dry as dry. The Carpenter said nothing but And thick and fast they came at last, You could not see a cloud, because Cut us another slice: And more, and more, and more — No cloud was in the sky: I wish you were not quite so deaf — All hopping through the frothy waves, No birds were flying overhead — I’ve had to ask you twice!' There were no birds to fly. And scrambling to the shore. It seems a shame,' the Walrus said, The Walrus and the Carpenter The Walrus and the Carpenter To play them such a trick, Were walking close at hand; Walked on a mile or so, After we've brought them out so far, They wept like anything to see And then they rested on a rock And made them trot so quick!' Such quantities of sand: Conveniently low: The Carpenter said nothing but If this were only cleared away,' And all the little Oysters stood The butter's spread too thick!' They said, it would be grand!' And waited in a row. I weep for you,' the Walrus said: If seven maids with seven mops The time has come,' the Walrus said, I deeply sympathize.' Swept it for half a year, To talk of many things: With sobs and tears he sorted out Do you suppose,' the Walrus said, Of shoes - and ships - and sealing-wax Those of the largest size That they could get it clear? Of cabbages - and kings - Holding his pocket-handkerchief ‘‘I doubt it,' said the Carpenter, And why the sea is boiling hot - Before his streaming eyes.