Music To Reach Your Soul - Wieniawski Violin Concerto No 1

Last time I posted some dancing with a definite "Wow" factor.

Today I am posting some music which is not very well known but which I think reaches our souls in terms of sheer beauty and lyricism.

I am playing Wieniawski's Violin Concerto No 1.

Henryk Wieniawski (1835-1880) was considered a genius and was a great virtuoso violinist and composer, born in Poland. His writing is noted for great technical difficulty as well as highly melodic phrasing.  I just love it and in my humble opinion his works rank with the great composers we all know and love.

For those who wish to learn more about him please press HERE.

I became aware of this great man when my Polish mother-in-law brought an LP back from her holiday in Poland in 1976 and I loved this music ever since.  There are two Violin Concertos but today I shall deal with Concerto No 1, although both are equally great.  These works have become more popular in the UK in recent years. 

I found a wonderful Youtube video of SoYoung Yoon playing an excerpt from the third movement, so you can get the flavour of it.  Isn't she lovely and a joy to watch her play -  and her expression at the end bears testimony to the difficulty of the concerto. 


For anyone who wants to hear more I then have set up the entire concerto for you to enjoy. Unfortunately it is in three parts but this does not mar the enjoyment too much. So, get some cheese and crackers and a glass of vino and 'drink in' this wonderful music.  Both concertos are readily available on CD and I for one think they should be in everyone's collection.

And now the full version if you wish.

C'est Magnifique, n'est ce pas?

Strictly Come Dancing Professional Jive

Now for something definitely with the Wow Factor.

For those who don't know it we have a TV programme in the UK called Strictly Come Dancing. For non dancers like myself, who definitely have two left feet, I for one am always amazed and wowed watching these wonderful dancers.  I have great admiration for those who can dance really well like these folk but for me this would be Mission Impossible.

Anyone for a Jive?  Isn't this fantastic? Does anyone know the song?
And thank you Monica at "Creative Beast" - she identifies the song as "Land of a Thousand Dances".



And this is even better!! Quite amazing!!



And the music?  "Rebel Yell" by Billy Idol.  . . . . . very catchy and lively.

Just how these ladies dance like that in high heels without tripping up beats me!

Hang on a minute!! I know someone who may be able to dance this!! Marguerite at Cajun Delights perhaps - are you dancing today, cher? LOL. Perhaps you might be the lady with the long brunette hair! . . .  and the redhead might be one of your dancing pals perhaps.

I wish I could do it - boy, it looks great fun.  But I expect all these dancers worked extraordinary hard to reach this standard and as the saying goes, "Yer get out of this life what yer put into it - nothing comes for free!"

I wonder if I take up Jive dancing whether I will appear as young , fit, energetic, handsome, happy, rich, gorgeous chap LOL . . . . like these highly professional dancers! - aren't they fantastic?  Oh well, perhaps in the next life.

Dave Allen Talks About Holidays

Hi folks!

It's about time we looked again at one of my all time favourite comedians - non other than Dave Allen, sadly now departed.

This time he presents a no holds barred account of the physiology of holidaying with all the advertising 'guff' and sales promotion which more often than not leads to a total flop of a holiday, making us wonder why the 'ell we didn't stay at home.

Well here it is - hope you enjoy it - if there is anyone out there LOL

Royal Wedding Spoof and guess who stole the show!

Hi Folks!

We have had a little wedding here in the UK, just in case it had escaped your attention.
First and foremost, I was surprised my invitation seemed to have been mislaid somewhere. I see the Beckhams and Sir Elton John received theirs - wonder where mine went?  I thought Harry was inviting me as the court jester. Never mind . . . I had to watch it on the 'telly'.

Seriously, for a minute, the wedding was very popular here and UK was almost at a standstill with 25 million people watching on TV. . . . . and an astonishing 2 billion worldwide. You know, I feel very good about this wedding . . . I mean with so many failed Royal marriages, I just feel this one is different and for the long haul.  William and Kate thought long and hard about this and made a commitment to each other four years ago.  May God bless them. Now the serious stuff is over, take a 'gander' at this.

Kate's sister, Pippa Middleton, certainly generated excitement amongst the male community with an incredible 67 tweets per second on Twitter with the full range of remarks from flattering to downright obscene. In fact Pippa so excited the boys she almost caused the entire Twitter system to crash. And to cap it all we read today that she has come as a complete rank outsider from nowhere to be favourite for the UK's prestigious title of "Rear Of The Year". LOL How about that then - hope she wins - she certainly has my vote.

And . . . . I found a highly amusing wedding spoof which you I am delighted to share with you, starring 15 Royal look alikes. Prince Harry loves it and has it on his facebook. Enjoy!

The Philosopher's Football Match Greeks vs Germany

This sketch amused me - it is so ridiculous I just had to laugh out loud.
The Philosophers' Football Match is a Monty Python sketch depicting a football match in the Olympiastadion at the 1972 Munich Olympics between philosophers representing Greece and Germany. Starring in the sketch are Archimedes (John Cleese), Socrates (Eric Idle), Hegel (Graham Chapman), Nietzsche (Michael Palin), Marx (Terry Jones) and Kant (Terry Gilliam).
Confucius is the referee and Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine (sporting haloes) serve as linesmen.^[1] The German manager is Martin Luther. As play begins, the philosophers ponder their theories while walking on the pitch in circles.^[1] Franz Beckenbauer, the sole genuine footballer on the pitch and a "surprise inclusion" in the German team, is left more than a little confused.


The sketch originally featured in the second Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus episode and was later included in Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982).^[2]

Nietzsche receives a yellow card after claiming that "Confucius has no free will"; Confucius says "Name go in book". Karl Marx replaces Ludwig Wittgenstein, but does nothing to advance the game. On the 89th minute, Archimedes cries out "Eureka!" and instructs the Greeks to use the football. Socrates scores the only goal of the match in a diving header from a cross from Archimedes. As the sketch closes, the Germans dispute the call; "Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination, and Marx is claiming it was offside."

This sketch is quite fitting for my blog, Plato's Procrastinations LOL

Dave Allen's Thoughts On Religion

After his last hilarious you tube on Adam and Eve, shown on my previous post, I present Dave Allen's masterpiece on Religion and how a four year old boy was expected by a convent nun to understand several complex theological doctrines including the Trinity and Omnipresence.  It is an absolute riot. LOL

I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did - and of course it is all just tongue in cheek and innocent fun - I think, although Dave Allen did upset some religious people in his time.

Whilst writing I note from my marvellous little book entitled "The Book Of Heroic Failures" reference to a highly popular and exciting production of the Holy Bible.  This was all about the most unsuccessful version of the Bible ever printed.  In 1631 Messrs Robert Barker and Martin Lucas, the King's printers in London obviously failed to proof read the script properly.  It contained several mistakes, but one was 'inspired'.  The word 'not' was omitted from The Seventh Commandment and enjoined its readers, on the highest authority, to commit adultery.
Fearing the popularity with which this might be received in remote country districts, King Charles I called all 1,000 copies back in and fined the printers £3,000.
What a spoil sport!! LOL

More Dave Allen

Dave Allen was well known for his religious sketches. Here is one about creation and the psychology of Genesis with his typical sense of humour in which he wonders why tell a woman, of all people, not to eat the fruit and actually shows her where it was.  I shall say no more except excuse me while I duck for cover!! LOL.

All tongue in cheek of course.

Reminds me of a couple of jokes:
Q. How will we recognise Adam when we get to Heaven?
A. either He will have one rib less than everyone else
or He will have no Navel.
second joke:
Q. How will we recognise Eve when we get to Heaven
A. She will have no Navel either.
or she will have rosy apple red cheeks.


Third joke:
God tells Adam he has created a woman for him to share his life.
Adam asks, "Where is she?"
God says, "Walk along the path and I will lead you to her".
Adam says, "What's a path?"
God says, "It's a small road, at the end of it is a cave and she is in it."
Adam says, "What's a cave?"
God sighs and said, "It's a hole in the side of a mountain! - go in and you will find her."
Adam says, "When I find her what will I do?"
God says, "Don't worry, you will know for I have programmed you - there you have arrived and now go in and meet her!"
Adam says, "OK!"
After 10 minutes Adam comes out wearing a puzzled frown and God says, "What's the matter now?"
Adam says, "What's a head ache?"

LOL

The Two Ronnies - Four Candles Sketch

This sketch by The Two Ronnies was voted the Nation's favourite comedy sketch.
It is absolutely hilarious - see what you think. LOL



Hope you liked it.

The Two Ronnies - Courtroom Gameshow

This is another hilarious sketch by The Two Ronnies.


Oh dear, they do make me laugh.
There are numerous references to UK television games shows.

Dick Emery And The Tramp

Another video clip from down memory lane from one of my favourite comedians, Dick Emery.
Oh he is awful - but we like him! LOL


It's a bit short so here's another featuring Honky Tonks! LOL

The British Army may not be the same again! . . . . or will it? LOL

The Two Ronnies - Mastermind

All I can say is "LOL"

The Casting Agent - Dick Emery

I've found another hilarious Dick Emery clip.
Remember, he's the comedian who says, "Oh you are awful - but I like you!"
But not this time, for he is not playing Mandy but a frustrated drama teacher trying yet again to get her pupil into the acting profession. Enjoy!

The Two Ronnies - The Crossword

Here's another beauty from the Two Ronnies LOL
The Crossword.


Oh I must also mention that the Nun asked for a rubber! Hmm! . . . for the Americans amongst us she means 'an eraser' LOL

Beginner's Luck! Anyone For Squash?

One of my favourite "Two Ronnies" sketches LOL.