Jeremy Sings

Every once in a while I search Youtube for classic performances of great artists: Sam Ramey in one of his devilish roles; Domingo in pretty much anything; Jon Vickers singing Wagner; (a gravitational pull toward darker voices). And every once in a while, up pops something completely rare and unexpected, a jewel among the quagmire.

In this case, it is the alluring natural voice and charm of Jeremy Brett, the best Sherlock since Rathbone, singing an English (or is it Irish?) folk song accompanied by harp. The person who introduces him is none other than Twiggy (!) that popular stick figure from the '60's.

Of course, it's not as incongruous as it may first seem; Brett once had to sing to Audrey Hepburn in 'My Fair Lady' and had at least to read the treble clef to play Sherlock Holmes playing the violin.

One can sense the sincerity in everything Jeremy Brett set his mind to; what a pity he was taken so soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrMBdQm9P10&feature=related

Enjoy.

Behind Every Successful Woman...

As an addendum to the post below, I noticed in the Globe and Mail today a reproduction of the Dolores Claman notation of the Hockey Night in Canada song. It looks like a Grade 4 Conservatory student had written it with two fingers. The real reason the song sounds so fantastic is because of the masterful orchestration by that great Canadian arranger and composer, Howard Cable.

Hats off to the business acumen of CTV, but the composer should really dip into her 2.5 million dollars and buy Mr. Cable a nice bottle of Ontario champagne.

Hockey Night in Corporate-land

So the Hockey Night in Canada theme song has been bought by CTV; is there anything else the CBC can possibly screw up? Granted, the woman who wrote the tune lives a good life in London, England, a very expensive town, and she must continue to live a lifestyle to which her famous jingle has made her accustomed.

Renowned choral composer, Derek Holman, told me a couple of weeks ago about the occasional dime he makes from the British Novello Publishing Company. He's been writing music faithfully now for well over 40 years, which is about how long ago the Hockey Night theme was penned.

I suppose I'm trying to make a point here, but I'm not sure what it is.

Also 40 years ago, CBC television was doing wonders with its not insubstantial budget, and followed its national mandate beautifully, putting a great emphasis on live dance, theatre, music, and some earnest Canadian drama. Now, it just lies through its teeth about its mandate (some years ago, a top CBC TV producer told me, "yes, what we ARE doing and what we OUGHT to be doing are two completely different things") and tries to cater to absolutely everyone while forgetting its connection to the past.

The well-crafted, gladiatorial hockey fanfare - perhaps no more costly than Don Cherry's cravat collection - is a case in point.

Moore's Muffet

I'm a big Benjamin Britten fan; his choral music is always extremely well crafted and a joy to sing; his orchestral writing is usually economically savvy and colourful; and his fantastic opera, Peter Grimes (1945), was a watershed for all singing fishermen.

His many folksong arrangements are cleverly inventive, even if some are a bit bizarre. And here to demonstrate the quintessential Britten folksong, is Dudley Moore, borrowing the voice of Sir Peter Pears:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ8ZltDdbUI

If you're a Britten/Pears fan, don't miss this.