Christmas 2020

I woke at 0630 and opened the few presents I have had. At least it is a case of quality and not quantity and those who bought them are from people who love me and I love them.

In previous years, Christmas Eve is the night when vegetables are prepared: not this year. I have not been to midnight mass for many years and it is a service I would never have gone to had I not been an organist for many years.

It is a very different Christmas this year. I have not had a tree for 5 years as it is not worth bothering with just for me. In many ways it is just another day to get through.

Herd Stupidity

Before I begin, COVID-19 sounds like a horrible illness and I hope I do not get it.

It struck me that people are like sheep. Essentially stupid and easily influenced. I was walking down the street yesterday and could smell tobacco smoke. Walter Raleigh brought tobacco to England in the late 16th century (1586).

Consider how smoking took the world by storm. Even in my youth it was widely done and I spent many a Friday evening (after bellringing) in the pub with friends secondary-smoking the fog with which smokers had filled the room. Even when I started teaching there was a smokers' corner in the staffroom: terrible!

I accept that smoking is addictive because of nicotine but I also believe people took up smoking because it was the thing to do. The weakness of humans is that they want to do what everybody else does. This creates a social group and folk like to have an identity and sense of belonging.

All clothes fashions are the same. Flared trousers were once all the rage: you get my drift. It was once the fashion to go to church; but they say that died out in the 1960s with the Forsyte Saga on TV.

In 2020 the new craze is to wear a mask. It is now a fashion item. I am not going to debate whether it is, or is not, necessary to wear a mask; I will leave that up to others. I will say that people are stupid and follow a trend: we even have a label - FOMO. Getting the newest phone or whatever status symbol is current is what people love to do.

This may be a ramble, but I suspect there is more than a grain of truth in it.

The inmates are running the asylum

 Oh dear oh dear.

House Building

Continuing my theme of things I believe are wrong I should like to cite house building. In my area far too much farm land is being given over to housing. Also, new road building leaves pockets of land which cannot be farmed and which will ultimately be filled in with housing.

I realise that the are very recent new regulations aimed at revitalising town centres and I hope these work. I doubt they have been brought in because we cannot go on importing food (food miles etc.) and letting down farmers in the UK who - let's be honest - have had a very raw deal.

Not everyone can live in the countryside.

Covid-19

I am not sure how long the video below will remain on YouTube but it is excellent. (URL is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=motIW2Y42vQ)

From the comments it has attracted I agree with these points:

• Why were facemasks not brought in at the start?
• The Second Wave. Prepare for the Final wave, where the British wave goodbye to their country.
• The only second wave coming is what the migrants are bringing across the channel.
• Concerts and sporting events and even outdoor cookouts and parties with more than 10 people were not allowed but BLM protests were okay.

Such a lot wrong with the world

Everything spewed out at us by the media is really depressing. The world has changed. Honesty and integrity are gone. Recent events include...

• Statues being removed by yobs (irrespective of the rights or wrongs or an individual statue)
• Paramilitary [FF] marches (when such things are illegal)
• Illegal Immigration and accommodating these illegals in 4 star hotels! No doubt they will not be returned to the country of origin (if it is even known) and will get all the health and other benefits (hand outs) of living in the UK which are not available to native people who have paid their NI and Tax for years.
  
• The handling of Covid-19 and the way some (too many) people seem not to care about distancing and wearing a mask.
• Halal Certification - what's all that about and why?
• The slaughter of animals according to Halal rules wuth no stunning: what is the RSPCA doing about this?
• Choirs closing because of the need for 'diversity'.
  

We are f*cked as country. People who break laws do not seem to be brought to account unless it is some minor law or regulation that a normally law-abiding person has infringed.

Trust in the BBC is at an all time low too.

Problem Solving

I have hinted in previous posts that aspects of my life which have hitherto kept me very busy have - in recent years - started to lose their attraction.

• On line Bellringing
• Real Bellringing
• Other Interests

Although I bought a digital church organ in September, since lockdown I have not played it every day: I really should. Sometimes it is a major struggle to turn it on, change my shoes, and started playing.

However, I have just done an hour or more on a new piece by Stephen Burtonwood. I hope to record this for Fagus Music soon as the piece is due to be published soon.

In many ways it was not a hard piece (the first movement is more tricky) but I spent a great deal of time on the registration: that is, the selection of stops and the ways in which one changes from one choice to another. In years gone by this would often be done by hand or with some basic playing aids. These days we are blessed with pistons and general pistons.

As usual one weighs up the possibilities and tries them out. I think I have found the solution.

It struck me as I finished, that what I enjoy in life most of all is problem solving. So, when many people rave about the music church bells create (which has never interested me) I focus on the mathematical patterns. In music I like to solve problems.

I had some very cruel mathematics teachers at school: away from the subject they were fine. I passed my 'O' level but hated maths. Later on, I did an Open University degree in maths to put this ghost to rest. More problem solving rather that mere arithmetic.

No emails

I broke with my normal pattern today which has been to spend time on the computer whilst I drink my post-breakfast cup of tea. I then tend to stay on the PC until coffee time (10:45) after which I get dressed. This decadent behaviour all started in lockdown.

Yesterday I looked up the weather forecast and decided I would go to Whittlesey Cemetery to take more photographs of the next area of the cemetery on my plan: I have done all the 'old section'.

I set the alarm for 07:05, got up, dressed, made a packed lunch and flask of coffee and was in the car at 08:00 for an hour's drive. I was taking photos by 09:03 and it started to get quite hot. I left at 11:00 and was home by 12:00. All in all a good morning out which I needed.

I ate my packed lunch at home and turned on the PC. No emails, no Facebook messages. I was expecting a few replies to queries I had sent out. Nada, zero, none.

People do not seem to want me unless I can do a job for them. Thus I had an email yesterday suggesting that I crack on with plans for the school play music. It was nicely phrased and not unexpected but I do not get many "How are you?" emails.

Perhaps I am just a boring person.

The novelty has worn off

When I discovered Ringing Room (RR) I was dead keen. I joined a Facebook (FB) Group on which practices were advertised and I met some nice people. I invited several as friends on Facebook.

When I gained confidence with RR, Zoom, Google Meet, Jitsi and whatever, I organised practices of my own and people turned up. However, we did not spend time on the things I wanted to ring because too many people turned up and I did not want to keep people waiting. The Accidental Ringer has mentioned this.

My next step was to organise private practices to which I only invited my FB ringing friends. This worked OK but still more than 6 turned up and I felt I was denying some a ring. There must be many private practices going on. An early one I went to was organised just like they would in a tower.

The main issue with RR is that people think they have to mute everyone because of potential feedback issues. If all ringers wear headphones this does not happen. If all are muted then one cannot say anything such as "another dodge 3 then go up", or "I'm lost!".

Further issues are poor broadband, people not really knowing a method and a poor sense of rhythm. Fine if folk want to learn a method that is good, but I would do my home work on Abel first and not turn up cold.

In other practices when many attend, people try to ring Maximus. Even plain hunt maximus is hard if 12-bell experience is lacking and, if the rhythm is affected by hesitations, then it is not enjoyable.

I have been to a practice and then into a breakout room but it hasn't been ideal.

Sadly, I seldom go into RR now and I wonder when I shall ring on a tower bell again.

If I could find the Chinese guy or gal who let Covid-19 out of the laboratory, I'd happily ring their neck.

Maths and Music

There is a correlation between maths and music. In my teens I bashed my way through Jongen's "Toccata" pretty well. It was one of my teacher's party pieces and I sought to emulate him. (Hear him playing it here)

There is one really awkward bit, if one thinks about it too hard. The hands have been doing septulets, then the left hand changes to sextuplets and finally to quintuplets: it is at this moment when I get stuck. I have analysed the maths for the purpose of slow practice. If each beat is divided into 20, then the music below can be represented by the chart below that. Sorted eh?

Jongen "Toccata" page 5 bar 4

The above bar (first 3 beats only)

I shall just leave this here

I very much agree with Paul.

Music during Lockdown

I broke up from school at the end of last term and have not been back: I am having a foretaste of retirement without the travel.

This blog is called 'Keys and Reeds' because I play the organ and I took up the clarinet ten years ago. I don't play the clarinet any more, probably because I lost impetus when I was having cancer treatment in 2018. I did Grade 5 and I also did Grade 2 saxophone. When I took up the saxophone again in the summer of 2018 I developed severe tendonitis in my thumb, although that could have been due to too much photography: taking hundreds of photos of gravestones can do that.

I bought a digital organ in September last year and it is very useful. However, it has been sobering to realise that I am only just regaining the technique I had when I was in my late teens; of course my body is also much older so I have lost flexibility in my hands - although regular playing is proving to be beneficial. Also, once you reach 40 one's vision gets worse and it is not realised how much one looks around the organ console when one is playing, or how one reads ahead: it means that one has to do extra practice to compensate.

Still, I have today had a good hour on the organ (a good hour is better that a bad 2 hours) and I feel I am making progress on the pieces I want to video. One of these I have been learning on and off for 20 years; maybe 30.

I have also taken up the treble recorder which requires less wind pressure but has caused me to struggle with new fingering patterns.

I was quite fed up yesterday when I was tying to video one of my party pieces from my teens. Also, I had arranged to chat online to a colleague who did not turn up at the agreed time. I am also amazed that local bellringers have not been in touch.

I have plenty to occupy me as I believe we will not be going back to school this term. We shall see!

What is the point?

When people are admitted to this country, what is the point of lockdown? We are too soft as a country and they will get all sorts of financial aid and help.

My mother is paying for her own place in a care home: no freebies for her!

Mirror images

One annoying aspect of 21st century life is the habit folk have of filming themselevs in mirror image. Thus if they are playing a piano or organ, the high notes appear to be on the left when someone views the video. Yesterday I saw a cellist holding the bow in her left hand. Surely in the 21st century we can get this right!

A new experience

Recently The Ringing Room has been developed for bellringers. I popped in for a session yesterday.

Before I did so, I wanted to acquaint myself with Zoom, even though I have used Skype and Google Hangouts (Meet) before. A friend obliged and I felt comfortable.

It was a useful first experience and we all discovered how the website works. It is not like real ringing but at least one can interact with others. There are several bellringing programmes which you can use on one's PC or device to ring in solitude but the social aspect of ringing is something many do not understand.

Bullying online

Just a quick follow up to my post yesterday. Somebody posted on Facebook that they were going to have a disco locally by setting up a sound system in their garden from 6pm to 9pm - "for the children". I didn't hear it if they did so I was not affected.

Their Facebook posts and replies went as follows:

• Can’t wait for the moaners
• Set some fireworks off and really get them moaning
• or “rocket sky bombs” as one miserable woman said
• with everyone safe and dancing in their own garden??? Sounds like nothing to moan about.....
• I wasn’t moaning but some sado will

 You may have your own views.

I am a curmudgeon

So, we have the weekly clap for the NHS started by Annemarie Plas (if that is right. See here). I am all for solidarity and have my own reasons to be grateful to the NHS as my one (!) blog reader will know.

I have not clapped yet, but felt a little guilty last night as my next door neighbour - who is a nurse - was outside her door clapping as I closed my curtains.

I am uncomfortable, generally speaking, doing what others tell me to do just because 'everyone is doing it'. OK I do share things on Facebook if I think they amuse me or may amuse my 20 or so friends on there. I do not repost things if they say "Let's see how many people will repost this" or "I bet this doesn't get reposted". Isn't that moral blackmail?

No, the worst thing about the NHS clap is that it has stopped just being a clap. It seems to be an excuse to make a load of noise. Well, if you want to bang a saucepan so folk can hear you that is one thing. Around here, there the Clap seems to have turned into an opportunity to get out amplifiers and sing songs loudly. Sorry, but this invades my privacy. And what is the point of the fireworks? Luckily I have only seen these on the local Facebook page but I have heard the general racket.

I am happy for people to continue to clap but I do not think one should feel pressured into doing so. I just hold the NHS workers in my thoughts. I do not pray, I merely appreciate what we have in this country.

Bah, humbug.

We're Doomed

Private Frazer used to say "We're Doomed"

Well, if we are (and I hope we are not) it will be because people are just stupid. I am not myself immune from the stupid bug but there are hoards of folk, including politicians, who have acted and spoken with little thought as to the consequencs.

Paul Joseph Watson (below) sums it up well - as he always does. Stupid people do not follow the rules, then they change their tune.

To my shame, I posted on a blog I follow that I remembered the fuss over the Y2K bug and likened the current situation to that. I fell into a trap because I feel the media people do hype things, and news is not news unless there is plenty of speculation involved (this is why I do not listen to PM on the BBC). So, when we should believe what we hear, they have already lost their credibility.

What we need is accurate reporting. Stop crying "Wolf" and get people to understand what is best. Stop dragging up experts who contradict each other.

I was taken in

During the Brexit fiasco I was completely taken in by Jacob Rees-Mogg. I thought his calm erudite manner was good. What did he achieve? Where is he now? As far as I can see he liked to pontificate in his posh 'dulcet' tones. I was fooled.

However, I am currently very impressed with the new Chancellor Rishi Sunak who oozes confidence which does not seem fake. He talks well, has a no-nonsense approach and, for me, is a calming influence at this critical time.

Well done that man.

Also, Boris is doing a good job and does not come across as the buffoon some people have made him out to be. I do not believe Teresa May or David Cameron would have commanded the same authority as either of this guys.

Just saying!

Guitar Stand

We have several guitars at school for which I have bought stands. We were lacking one stand so I decided to make one in the carpentry shop (I run the evening woodwork activity).

I am rather pleased with this.

We are an island

So they want to control / eradicate and generally keep Coronavirus at bay?

No they don't. What they want to do is have life as per normal and attempt to prevent it from taking hold in the UK.

News for your Boris. We are an island.

If the worst comes to the worst we should close the channel tunnel, stop all incoming flights and shipping and isolate ourselves. There will be problems with trade, food imports and much, much more so my solution is pretty half-baked: but it could be a solution.

Many years ago my father told me that what saved us in WW2 was the English Channel. Having built the tunnel all sorts of things can get through but, so far, rabies has not.

Taking communion - hygiene

I have never particularly liked taking Holy Communion. It just happens that, as an organist or choir director, I have usually managed to receive communion early; before the congregation and the choir. This has meant that the chalice has not passed many lips and not too much saliva can have found its way into the communion wine. I have not had communion for a very long time as it is not celebrated at the school chapel where I preside.

When I fill in as an organist during the holidays (wherever it is) I do not go to receive, but that is another story.

This post has to do with advice read out at the church where I played today and all over the county, if not the country. The last time anything like this happened it was as a result of the fear of AIDS. Back then there was the silly advice that 'germs' cannot live on the silverware from which communion vessels are made. I ask you!

Today the advice has reasonable parts: no tincture, the host NOT to placed directly into the mouth of receivers but into their hands. Also, when exchanging the Peace (which I hate anyway!) the right hand is to be used for shaking hands, reserving the left one for receiving the host at communion. This is silly. I am right handed. Were I to receive communion I would - as I have always done - place my right hand over my left.

I am afraid that I do not trust people and hygiene. Stay away!

Tuba Skinny

Over the last week or two I have discovered Tuba Skinny and I cannot stop watching them. How I wish I could play like that. Shane Cohn is superb and the clarinet parts are always exciting. In fact they are all great. They also feature Erika Lewis whose voice is really cut out for this style of music.

Visit TUBA SKINNY

Diction

I listen to Radio 4 Extra a great deal. Yesterday they had a programme (Funny you should ask - but that link may not work after a while) featuring some old comedians (Sid Colin {who he?} John Junkin, Barry Cryer).

I was struck by the clarify of diction and superb pronunciation of all their words: a real joy to hear. It got me thinking.

I regularly say to my choir at school (and to the school as a whole during hymn practice) that the letter 'T' is falling out of fashion. If you listen to the radio of TV you will noticed that t's are often dropped within a sentence but often at the end. Thus, "Get out" becomes "Geh ow". It is called T-glottalization.

Later I heard some programme in which 'modern' people were having a discussion and it struck me that my brain was actually working overtime to decode what they were saying; so poor was their diction. I guess we do not notice this (well, I do) from day to day but the juxtaposition during the day of 2 radio programmes made this clear to me. What will diction (and the English language) be like in 50 years time? I shall not be here to find out.

Don't get me started on 'the' (thuh) becoming 'thee' before a vowel. Others have noticed!

And where have Blogger put their spell checker?

Hilary Hahn

I love Hilary Hahn! She is a great character and fantastic violinist. She has appeared on some for the videos by TwoSetViolin and is totally natural and fun loving.

I guess many Classical musicians look serious but have a sense of humour. Even me!