Last Night of the Proms

[oggbashan]

I have just watched the Last Night of the Proms from the Albert Hall and Hyde Park in London, from Swansea, from Belfast and Glasgow.

It is an English tradition. Tonight was the 109th Last Night.

Have any non-UK AH members seen a Last Night of the Proms? If so, what did you think of it?

The Promenade Concerts are a spectacular feast of music through each summer. The Last Nights are not typical. Most of the concerts mix traditional classics with lesser known works and new compositions. The musical literacy of the audiences is legendary.

It is many years since I used to stand outside the Albert Hall for hours to get a ticket to stand inside for more hours. Yet those hours were my musical education. The erudition in the queue was as formidable as any shown on this board. Just admitting to being a queue newbie was enough to have a briefing on what works were to be performed, by whom and what interpretation to expect. If you wanted you could also have a dissertation on the position of the work in the composer's development and the influence that the work had on others. Happy hours.

Og

 

[Icingsugar]

Have any non-UK AH members seen a Last Night of the Proms? If so, what did you think of it?

Only on TV. Made me want to go there in person. It seems like a blast. Thousands of pepole having pure, unadulteradted, unpretenscios fun with music. The way culture should be, I think.

 

[pop_54]

Hmmmmmmmm

Interesting question oggie, do the reast of the world know of and appreciate such things as the proms. I know a fair few Americans do attend the last night events and love the atmosphere.

I attended last night once many years ago at the Albert, freebie ticket with a party from a company I was working for at that time.
Bloody good patriotic fun and nonsense, a good time was had by all, and the music was appreciated, and not just Land of Hope and Glory.

Do you know the PC brigade want it banned as a racist display of Englishness that may offend the visitors.

 

[raphy]

I don't think I even knew these existed!!

 

[MathGirl]

Dear Og,
I've seen it on television. It was great. It seemed to be sort of the English version of the Boston Pops Concerts on the fourth of July, but higher class.
MG
Ps. Rool Brittanniaa

 

[raphy]

Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.
The toughest Burmese bandit can never understand it.
In Rangoon the heat of noon is just what the natives shun,
They put their Scotch or Rye down, and lie down.
In a jungle town where the sun beats down to the rage of man and beast
The English garb of the English sahib merely gets a bit more creased.
In Bangkok at twelve o'clock they foam at the mouth and run,
But mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.

Raphy, Welsh first, but British comes a very close second.

 

[snooper]

Story Idea ...

... a young Promenader is pleasured undexpectedly by a stranger during the clapping part of the sea-songs?

 

[oggbashan]

Re: Story Idea ...

... a young Promenader is pleasured undexpectedly by a stranger during the clapping part of the sea-songs?

That wouldn't be unusual. There is a lot of body contact among Promenaders during the last night including everyone grasping hands for the singing of "Auld Lang Syne".

What would be more interesting is her being pleasured during a softly played section of a concerto during a normal Promenade Concert. It is not done to make a noise while the music is being performed so she couldn't protest or give vent to expressions of pleasure. How far would peer pressure stop her from making a noise?

Og

 

[snooper]

Re: Re: Story Idea ...

... What would be more interesting is her being pleasured ...
(my italics)

I didn't specify the Promenader's sex. A feminine hand inside some trousers is another possibility.

 

[Icingsugar]

Re: Re: Story Idea ...

What would be more interesting is her being pleasured during a softly played section of a concerto during a normal Promenade Concert. It is not done to make a noise while the music is being performed so she couldn't protest or give vent to expressions of pleasure. How far would peer pressure stop her from making a noise?

Og

I wrote this non-erotic style (no genitalia, only general tickling) set on a funeral. Two young lovers who didn't really know the diseased are bored out of their shoes by the lengthy ceremonies and play around, but quielty. That's one place where you are really supposed to STFU.

Ok, there was a little groping too, but quite innocent. It could almost pass as Disney.