miss marie's miscellany

Christmas Day!

via www.youtube.com

Happy Christmas to everyone; I wish you a day full of love and happiness......... and a few presents too! What better music for Christmas Day than the Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah ;-) 

Christmas Eve

via www.youtube.com

This opening movement of the Rachmaninov Vespers(although strictly speaking not Christmas music) seems to fit the mood for Christmas Eve, even if one is not religious. It is such a wonderful and moving piece and to hear a live performance is one of the truly great musical experiences one can have. 

9th

via www.youtube.com

Definitely time for some music! The shops of course are full of all the old musical chestnuts that drive everyone crazy at this time of year; I mean, how many times can you listen to Slade and Cliff Richard without tearing your hair out and leaving the premises quickly?  But there are some Christmas songs which are timeless and this is one which in the hands of the wonderful Nat King Cole is always a pleasure. Enjoy!

Weekend links

 A collection of random links today;  things that I've been reading and looking at in spare moments this weekend.

 

 A funny story about how the composer Elgar was not quite the accomplished trombonist he claimed to be!

I want to decorate the living room.......for the first time in my life, I'm going to paint a room  all-white, so it's bright and fresh.......with this material for curtains?

I've just taken delivery of these trainers, to compliment my winter fitness regime and get me out of my couch potato state. They are so comfortable!

Something for my Christmas list.........or yours , maybe??!

Looking forward to watching my latest DVD rental, The Duchess. I read the Amanda Foreman biography a couple of years ago, and enjoyed it very much;  it will be interesting to see how it translates to film.

If you can't afford those Manolo Blahniks, how about all these shoes instead? 

Hope your weekend was fun!

 

Tea with John Shuttleworth

via www.youtube.com

Whoever thought of getting John Shuttleworth to be the face of Yorkshire Tea adverts was inspired. Pure comedy gold. If you aren't familiar with this gent, he is the creation of Graham Fellows, who was Jilted John in the late 1970's; why he isn't more famous is a mystery to me, especially as musical comedians seem to be in the ascent at the moment, as this article in the Guardian affirms.  Ah well, chacun a son gout, as they say, I think he's hilarious! If you visit the Yorkshire Tea website, there are several other ads to view, as well as some 'outtakes', all will bring a smile, I hope. 

Vivaldi's idea of Autumn

via www.youtube.com

A sparkling and stylish rendition of the last movement of Autumn from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, played on baroque instruments. I like seeing the theorbo, which is the lute-like instrument with the extremely long neck on the right. This piece, and this particular interpretation, makes me smile, it's so full of life and jollity (unlike much autumn - inspired music and poetry which seems to focus on the depressing " it's nearly winter and all the flowers are dead"  sentiments) and as we are well into autumn, it seems perfect to listen to it now. Enjoy!

A splash of red

I thought it was about time I did another colour-themed post;  it's cold and grey and wet outside so I think something bright is called for;  I choose red!

 

I love my  Ipod. I still marvel at how something so small can hold so many songs.

This is my mystery flower from the garden, I've no idea what it is or how it got there, but it's so pretty I'm very glad it is!

Making a cherry cake

Scarlet wool, waiting to be made into who knows what!?

I love these funky ice-cube trays

Dahlia, 'City of  Rotterdam', looking lovely in the garden just now.

Gorgeous sparkling heart-shaped lights, brightening the evening.

Wishing you a happy weekend whatever you're up to!

Elvis on the cello!

via www.youtube.com

I like a bit of Elvis now and then, so when I found this clip of not one, not two but 12 cellists, and not any old cellists, but the cello section of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra playing Love Me Tender, I couldn't resist it. There's some really naff dancing in the film, but the music is beautiful and the playing is stellar. Enjoy!

Ukulele Orchestra at the Proms

via www.youtube.com

I've been listening to many of the BBC Proms, and was very intrigued to hear last night's late night Prom by the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. My early memories of the ukulele are hearing George Formby play it in cheesy black and white films when I was a little girl, no wonder after that the instrument fell out of favour. But it seems to be enjoying a renaissance of late; my 13 year old niece has just taken up the ukulele, so it must be cool! She was certainly looking forward to hearing what they would play. I think it's brilliant that the powers that be have included such a charming and heart-warming concert in the schedule. It was a eclectic mix of songs, music from the early 20th century and some great renditions of classical music. They also invited the audience to bring along their ukuleles for a massed playing of Beethoven's Ode to Joy. You can listen to it all on the BBC iPlayer, but just to give you a taste, here's a clip I found of them at the Cambridge Folk Festival. I bet you will be smiling afterwards!

Trio con brio

I found this cheeky picture of a piano trio au naturel. It's by Beryl Cook. I know her paintings are not for everyone;  I was with a friend in Glasgow Modern Art Gallery and she just didn't like the Beryl picture we were viewing, didn't think they merited being there, whereas I think they are funny and full of life, real life. Victoria Wood sums it up neatly,'Rubens with jokes'.  These voluptuous ladies look so caught up in the moment of their music-making, the shedding of their clothes has freed them from all inhibitions.  This picture makes me smile.