Plagiaristic malaise...any experience?

[Sabledrake]

Mlle > good to see you posting again, sweetie ... I hope you have time to write more stories soon, because nobody quite makes the monitor smoke the way you do!

So, can you get us discount tix? Mad love for Wagner and other thunderous classical music!

Sabledrake

 

[oggbashan]

Everytime you tell stories like this, Ogg, I wish I'd known you then.

Perdita

I wish I'd known you then. Most of the young ladies came to the opera or ballet once just for a different experience. Only one really enjoyed herself and went on to become an aficionado - she married and moved to Saudi Arabia, not exactly a great place for opera then.

Sometimes, if the young lady had liked what she saw, I'd take her round the corner to the pub where the performers went. One of my friends was amazed that a few of the stars knew I who I was.

I'd get phone calls at work from the opera house management if they had too few bookings. 'Could I fill the first two rows for tonight? Free?' With a few phone calls I usually could even if those attending had no idea what they were going to see. I contacted some unusual groups when desperate - the Firemens' Union; a Police Choir; some London schools. Nurses Homes were usually good for at least a dozen people each, nurses and their SOs.

Every week I received dozens of free tickets for BBC TV and Radio shows. Some of those were difficult to use. Who wants to spend an evening watching politicians arguing?

That was the 1960s. There was so much happening in London that I could have been at some performance or other every night and the most I'd pay would be the equivalent of a dollar.

One of my friends was into pop and folk music. I'd visit the clubs with him (and usually accompanied by young ladies). Through him I met most of the UK names in pop music, performers, agents, record producers, etc.

One night I arranged for a rock band to go to see Orpheus and Eurydice. They thought it was 'weird, man' but they were improvising a capella to some of the themes as I drove them back to Chelsea. I had some odd looks from the stage that evening and even odder looks from the regulars in the theatre's bar. I was wearing a conventional dress suit. My 'guests' were dressed in the current Carnaby Street fashions.

To some extent I'm still doing it. Last year I took my pensioners' group (who were not convinced it was a good idea) to a museum of keyboard instruments. The pensioners could try all the instruments. Most managed 'Chopsticks' but one played Gershwin's original piano Rhapsody in Blue on a fortepiano dating from Beethoven's era. There was a concert in the afternoon with friends of the proprietor performing. My pensioner pianist played Scott Joplin as part of the concert and then accompanied a 13-year-old visitor as she sang Spirituals. She hadn't known she was going to perform either.

Some of the pensioners were overjoyed with the experience even if they had previously said 'I don't like classical music'. All of them were enthusiastic about the homemade scones and cakes provided for the afternoon tea and joined in the singing of wartime songs (led by the 13-year-old) while they ate.

I wish I had more time for music. I can't perform but I can organise.

Og

 

[oggbashan]

Still off-topic.

There are more children playing musical instruments competently than at any period in our history yet our Government imposed national curriculum is reducing the time for music in schools.

In the word of Homer Simpson: Duh!

Og

 

[Guest]

... one played Gershwin's original piano Rhapsody in Blue on a fortepiano dating from Beethoven's era.

I began to hear it in mind's ear as I read that. Decision: if I ever get use of a time machine I will meet you in London in the 60s.

Perdita

 

[oggbashan]

I began to hear it in mind's ear as I read that. Decision: if I ever get use of a time machine I will meet you in London in the 60s.

Perdita

But that happened in 2003, Perdita. The place is Finchcocks, near Goudhurst in Kent.

Og

PS. I remember London in the 1960s because I was one of the few not spaced out on drugs and drink.

 

[Guest]

I realized that, Ogg, should have separated my sentences. See you next holiday.

Perdita

 

[oggbashan]

Link for Perdita and...

...any other musical Literoticans:

http://www.finchcocks.co.uk/

Og

 

[MlledeLaPlumeBleu]

Hey X-ine (otherwise known as Sabledrake ;.)

Hey babe! As far as tickets go, I will see what I can do.

As far as writing goes, I've been hard at work on my novel(s)
but I miss writing trashy effluvia, so I will probably pop up with
something soon, *laugh*

As for your latest, I thought it was great. You win
the prolific award, too. You're a dynamo.

How are the cons going? Are people receptive to Naughty and Dice?

mlle