Thursday 15 January
Here’s what’s happening at the end of week three. I’m writing this from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, on my way up to Edinburgh – the Dunedin of the North. Since the last update (Bath), I’ve been to Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cardiff, Liverpool (that’ll get an update all of its own…), York and now Newcastle.
Oxford was fantastic! I arrived in the afternoon and had to leave the next morning, but it’s somewhere I’d love to go back to. No factual information for you, but it’s an incredibly old town, based around the university. I REALLY want to go back to university there. It was cold when I was there, and because the sun sets at about 3:30pm it gets dark very quickly, but a lovely town. And the guy who runs the hostel I stayed at is from Dunedin!!
From Oxford I went to Stratford-upon-Avon, went to Shakespeare’s house (he wasn’t in), and went to a production of “Romeo and Juliet” performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Absolutely brilliant. I could have kept on watching it. The cast were superb and it was nice to see Juliet played by an actress of Indian descent. I don’t want to spoil the ending for any of you, but it was very sad.
Shakespeare's house (he wasn't home when I called)
Poster for Romeo and JulietCardiff was ok. It wasn’t my most favourite place to visit, but it was nice to step into Wales, even if only to say I’ve been there. Actually, the best thing about Cardiff was the two music shops I discovered. Sheet music is so cheap over here. More about that later. What I also discovered in Cardiff was “The Kiss” by Rodin. “The Kiss” is a sculpture, many copies of which exist, one in Cardiff. The Cardiff Kiss is a bronze and is now officially my favourite piece of art in the world. I could have stayed there for hours. In fact, if I could, I’d have taken it with me. (Imagine that…coming into my studio…and there’s a bigger than life-sized statue…)
Then Liverpool. For those of you who weren’t sure, I’m a HUGE Beatles fan. Totally my favourite band in the whole entire world, so Liverpool = Beatles’ heaven! The Beatles stuff I’ll talk about in a separate blog, but for now I’ll talk about the non-Beatle-y things. I went to the Liverpool Tate (art gallery). Some wonderful, wonderful works here: Picasso’s “Weeping Woman”, Degas’ “Woman in a Tub” and…a marble Rodin Kiss. I also found another music shop…
To York, where, more than anything, I got lost. No wonder it was such a strong fort. The enemies would have wandered around for days trying to get into the city. Eventually I found my way in. York is one of those English cities with cobbled streets, narrow, windy roads and loads of old stuff. I didn’t really get a good look around at any of the attractions as (a) I only had an afternoon there and (b) I had no idea where I was. The hostel there is on the outskirts of the town and there is a path that meanders alongside the river, then through miles of grass. I went for a walk in the morning, with the fog, the dew and images of “Wuthering Heights”. Very Heathcliff and Cathy.
I’m in Newcastle now. I arrived just after lunch and spent most of the afternoon in a music shop…and very nearly bought a new flute. I had to leave for a couple of hours and think about it, but was very tempted. (Warning: TFSA – Technical Flute-y Stuff Ahead) It was a silver Pearl with a gold lip plate, B foot, open hole, off-set G and…a C# gizmo, which I’d never come across before, but helps with the high C# trill, making them more in tune and easier to execute. It played beautifully and spoke very easily, especially the low register. And the best bit was that it was on sale for only $NZ3000, which is still a lot of money, but for what it was, is a brilliant price. I was very, very tempted. They also had some awesome ukuleles…sparkly ones, Spongebob ones, freaky ones…
But, you flute-y people…I hope you’re practicing because when I get back, there’s a whole lot of new repertoire you’re getting. Sheet music is so much cheaper here, particularly when I find things in the sale bin for only ₤1 ($3). Things like the Taffanel Andante Pastorale and the Monti Czardas (the best piece of classical music in the whole entire world). I’ve got some new chamber music too – the Martinu trio for flute, violin and piano, a duet for flute and bassoon, a Terence Greaves flute quartet (a lot of you have played the trio of his I have “Dance”, “Romp”, “Bourree”, “Gigue”). I’ve also got a whole load of new studies (ha ha ha ha ha – more technical work for you) and lots more.
I’m heading up to Edinburgh tomorrow and will stay there for a few days but until then…here’s the Beatles!!
To York, where, more than anything, I got lost. No wonder it was such a strong fort. The enemies would have wandered around for days trying to get into the city. Eventually I found my way in. York is one of those English cities with cobbled streets, narrow, windy roads and loads of old stuff. I didn’t really get a good look around at any of the attractions as (a) I only had an afternoon there and (b) I had no idea where I was. The hostel there is on the outskirts of the town and there is a path that meanders alongside the river, then through miles of grass. I went for a walk in the morning, with the fog, the dew and images of “Wuthering Heights”. Very Heathcliff and Cathy.
I’m in Newcastle now. I arrived just after lunch and spent most of the afternoon in a music shop…and very nearly bought a new flute. I had to leave for a couple of hours and think about it, but was very tempted. (Warning: TFSA – Technical Flute-y Stuff Ahead) It was a silver Pearl with a gold lip plate, B foot, open hole, off-set G and…a C# gizmo, which I’d never come across before, but helps with the high C# trill, making them more in tune and easier to execute. It played beautifully and spoke very easily, especially the low register. And the best bit was that it was on sale for only $NZ3000, which is still a lot of money, but for what it was, is a brilliant price. I was very, very tempted. They also had some awesome ukuleles…sparkly ones, Spongebob ones, freaky ones…
But, you flute-y people…I hope you’re practicing because when I get back, there’s a whole lot of new repertoire you’re getting. Sheet music is so much cheaper here, particularly when I find things in the sale bin for only ₤1 ($3). Things like the Taffanel Andante Pastorale and the Monti Czardas (the best piece of classical music in the whole entire world). I’ve got some new chamber music too – the Martinu trio for flute, violin and piano, a duet for flute and bassoon, a Terence Greaves flute quartet (a lot of you have played the trio of his I have “Dance”, “Romp”, “Bourree”, “Gigue”). I’ve also got a whole load of new studies (ha ha ha ha ha – more technical work for you) and lots more.
I’m heading up to Edinburgh tomorrow and will stay there for a few days but until then…here’s the Beatles!!
1 comment:
Hmm...all that talk about sheet music makes me feel glad I'm moving to Christchurch...
I'm so pleased - Shakespeare's house looks exactly like the sketch on my book.
Cardiff is a very important place you know. It is situated on a rift in space and time that Dr Who visits regularly to refuel his TARDIS. I'm sure the statue is pretty too though.
I'm ashamed to say, I forgot to check your blog. But now I've remembered. So at least one person will be reading what you say...instead of practising.
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