An 'odd' period, the 20's. There were a number of composers of Holst's calibre really trying to find a 'concert' voice to match the era of Motzart and Beethoven, but the public was not in the mood. 'Pop' music was starting, although with much greater restraint than today. Some was quite poetic in a naive way.
Holst was much ignored until the 60's. He had a hymn theme in one of his Planets (I disremember which and I am sure someone will delight in shaking my old brain cells up a bit
) which I, personally, felt would make a great National Anthem. It was taken up by the EU and the Olympic movement.
Now, tell me, was Deanna Durbin a 20's singer or later? Such a beautiful, pure and clear voice. I used to have an old bakalite '78 of her singing 'Deep Purple'. She had a 'range' too and the soprano aspect was reflected much later by.... Shelby Flint... another woman with a purity of tone, but she appeared and disappeared like a shooting star.
I have tried all my life to leave the place better than I found it.
But there are 6 billion other buggers out there messing it up.
I am outnumbered.
But...
YOU don't just make a difference,
you make THE difference.
4th-July-2008
