Philippe Jaroussky: Se L'hore Volano (Landi, Sant' Alessio)

As mentioned in tonight`s sermon: St Alexius under the staircase.

Sitwell and Walton -- Facade with Edith Sitwell and Peter Pears

Many thanks to SmilingPessimist for putting extracts from the Sitwell and Pears version of Facade on YouTube. This is one of my all time favourites although I`ve never met anyone who shares my enthusiasm.

Soggy Bottom Boys- I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow

"Smile, Darn Ya, Smile!" (Billy Cotton, 1931)

Japan - Ghosts

The Kinks - Sunny Afternoon

Just for a change from the Beatles!

"Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries" (Jack Hylton, 1931)

Ste Colombe : Tombeau Les regrets

Noel Coward MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN (1955)

Where the Wild Things Are & Higglety Pigglety Pop! - Knussen / Maurice Sendak / Glyndebourne

I`m more keen on `Higglety Pigglety Pop` (starts at 1.04) than `Where the Wild Things Are`. I would love to see it live but am looking forward to seeing the new DVD release this week.

Billy Ruffian- Most Unlikely Civil Liberties Defender Of All

Stradella- Sonata in D major a 8 viole con una tromba: Allegro

Can`t get enough of Stradella. I wish there was a recording of one of his operas. I`ve always enjoyed his oratorio on John the Baptist and have a Harmonia Mundi disc of some cantatas which is very enjoyable.

Corelli: Sonata for violin "La Folia"

More Jordi and La Folia.

Tous Les Matins du Monde - Improvisation sur les Folies

More on La Folia. I saw this film in Rome in about 1992. By the end there was hardly a dry eye in the house. It got me interested in the viola da gamba and the music of Marin Marais. The gamba parts are played by Jordi Savall.

La Folia

Known in these parts as Geordie Saville. I was lucky enough to see him in a solo concert at the Edinburgh Festival two years ago.

mood indigo - Duke Ellington

I love the trio for two trombines and bass clarinet.

Benny Goodman Orchestra Sing Sing Sing from Hollywood Hotel

Ok so I don`t like swing but I`m brushing up my clarinet playing at the minute and Benny Goodman is always good value. Also one of my father`s early heroes was Gene Krupa. I find that so many of the musicians and writers I like are Jewish.

What A Wonderful World - Stacy Kent

Let yourself go: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

The Great Escape (1963) Original Trailer

10. Handel: Julius Caesar in Egypt (HWV 17) / William Christie

Looking forward to seeing Danielle de Niese at Covent Garden after Easter!

Extreme Sheep LED Art

I thought this blog was going to be purely musical but this is too odd to miss.

Purcell O Solitude, Z 406 - James Bowman

Purcell: Here the Deities approve, Z 339 (2/3) - Pinnock

Purcell - Hear my prayer - Choir of Clare College Cambridge

Purcell - Dido and Aeneas

Victoria - Tenebrae Responsories - O vos omnes

Frode Olsen- Handel: Theodora- Wide Spread his name (Beginning of Act II)

Angels Ever Bright and Fair

Theodora is my favourite Handel oratorio and I always enjoy hearing Dawn Upshaw.

The Bonzo Dog Band - Shirt

Walton`s Facade with Jeremy Irons (Hornpipe)

I wish I could find the Sitwell and Pears version on YouTube. This is the nearest I can find: in other extracts it is sung rather than recited.

Monteverdi Vespers-Nigra sum

György Ligeti - Poème Symphonique For 100 Metronomes

Looking forward to a live performance at this year`s Aldeburgh festival!

Monteverdi - Orfeo - Rosa del ciel

Monteverdi: Pur ti miro (L'incoronazione di Poppea) - Rial, Jaroussky

Monteverdi: Sì dolce è 'l tormento - Jaroussky

Louis Armstrong - Potato Head Blues

Last week saw the 9th anniversary of my father`s death. He wasn`t expecting to die: he went into hospital for a fairly routine op. and things started going wrong. A few months before this happened I`d asked him what his favourite single recording was. His hero was Louis Armstrong and he told me it was his recording of `Potato Head Blues`. Apparently it is the second trumpet chorus after which music was never the same. Although my father played drums in his own band, I could never fathom the attraction of traditional jazz: I just couldn`t stand the banjo or sousaphone. I think you had to be there in the 1950`s to understand the trad jazz revival. His band played at his funeral. We also played this recording.

Umbrella Man-Dizzy Gillespie & Louis Armstrong

Knut Nystedt: Immortal Bach

Xenakis- La Legende d'Eer (1/5)

"Lonh", by Kaija Saariaho

Karlheinz Stockhausen: "Helicopter String Quartet"

Horace Heidt & His Californians - Turn On The Heat

Looking On the Bright Side-Al Bowlly with Ray Noble 1932

Who`s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Henry Hall 1933

Henry Hall: Here Comes The Boogeyman

Paul Whiteman and his Rhythm Boys (w/Bing)-

Groucho and his brothers singing ♫Everyone Says I Love You♫

Busy Bee - Arthur Askey

The Varsity Drag - Jack Hylton 1928

JACK BUCHANAN: Everything Stops for Tea

It ain`t no fault of mine: Roy Fox with Nat Gonella, Al Bowlly

JACK HYLTON ORCHESTRA (1929): Breakaway

Gertrude Lawrence "You're my decline and fall" 1931

Duke Ellington - A Night At The Cotton Club

I`ve always enjoyed early period Ellington, especially with the trumpet playing of Bubber Miley.

Pasadena Roof Orchestra - Egyptian Ella

Ambrose And His Orchestra - Mean To Me, 1929

A Younger Generation

Misery Farm by Tommy Handley

You`re driving me crazy: Jack Payne and his BBC Dance Orchestra 1930

GLOOMY SUNDAY-BILLIE HOLIDAY VERSION

Pasadena Roof Orchestra - Nobody's Sweetheart

Jack Hylton and his Orchestra - Time Alone Will Tell, 1931

Elsie Carlisle - You've got me crying again (1933)

Henry Hall: Here's To The Next Time