Mendelssohn Octet in E Flat Major, Op. 20

Now here is one of my absolute favourite pieces of music.  It has particular significance in my life and I played it many times whilst commuting back and forth to the North of England about 25 years ago.  I intend writing a post about this on my other blog at some stage.

This music is quite extraordinary because it was written by a 16 year old genius - non other than Felix Mendelssohn himself.

I have found a good quality performance of the first movement. The work is in four movements. The third is by far the most well known but I like this first movement which I think is wonderful. Enjoy with cheese and crackers.




Since posting a dear friend of mine has found an amazing rendition of the first movement with a double bass adding even more beauty to this masterpiece. Also the performers deal with pizzicato passages superbly. So I am adding this version for those interested (in two parts).





To me the music itself conveys alternating moods of joy and sadness. It seems that way and about three quarters through sheer desperation gains prominence until just before the end when the tempo picks up again the mood changes for the last time to a feeling of hope and joy. Well that's how it affects me. Hope you like it.

Two Funeral Sketches Not To Be Missed

Now we all agree that funerals should be sad and sombre events. We have all attended them and we have all shed tears. Yet somehow, when out of context, I detect some funerals can be vehicles for amusement - that is when things go wrong or when something occurs completely out of the ordinary.

This Dick Emery sketch caught my eye recently and I could not help but laugh! Hmm! sorry!!



And, of course, my mind is cast back to the famous Dave Allen funeral sketch, which I posted over a year ago. I am repeating this so those who missed it have another chance to share the fun.

A Rather Strange Rendition Of Grieg's Piano Concerto

Hi folks! I am supposed to be on Blog Break but I could not resist posting this hilarious video of Morecombe and Wise teasing a world class conductor and pianist - non other than Andre Previn. He takes the joke well and I think he gives as good as he gets.



Hope you likes it as much as I did. I remember watching this live in the 1970s.