I return...

... and it is with many apologies that I return to my blogging duties this week. Sorry for the lack of posts recently; last week I was enjoying the dubious pleasure of being rejected by one of England's foremost educational establishments - apologies for deserting my reportage position for this. So I'm back with renewed vigour and vim for the latest installment of Relative Pitch.

Well, last night was a Wednesday and we had a customary jolly time at chez Wexler. Lots of new music last night which is always fun except for the universally acknowledged truth that Monteverdi will always sound 'bish when sight sung, although his Sfogava Con Le Stelle will one day sound beautiful I am sure. It is a lovely bit of music anyways and has the excitement of bits sung in free time. Like rockclimbing with no ropes. Quote of the night re this giant of Italian music came from Maestro Boy who referred to him as "dead naughty" because he was more interested in the lyrics than the music allegedly.

Rather unbelievably (cue apologetic, slightly nervous face from Maestro Boy) we began a new bit of Tormis last night. Yes, everyone's favourite Estonian made another appearance with a new piece just for the ladies entitled A Timid Girl on a Swing. Ending her lament with the immortal words "I'm worth the whole wide world" we can viably make the assumption that this timid girl gains confidence in the course of our ditty. In fact, from timid to arrogant in 39 bars has to be some sort of record. She should write a self-help book - it could change the world. It is actually quite a cool piece and the second sops make 'swing noises' which is fun indeed. According to Maestro Boy this is the last piece of Tormis we will be doing for a while, not, as Robin concluded, because "we have had him killed" but because it is probably time to give him a break, poor chap.

So the St Giles concert approaches at speed. The suggestion (nay, assertion) that we would be performing the Monteverdi at this gig caused startl"d looks all round but especially from Mrs W who said something like, and I quote, 'singing, wha th'... argh.. wha th'... really? .. argh... argh" or somthing like that anyways. Suffice to say that the suggestion made her lose all sense of normal Anglo-Saxon speech patterns. Very funny! The new music is all exciting including "Akanamandla" which is great and we've not touched for years.

Not sure I've mentioned it on Relative Pitch yet but congrats to Peter and Mirren on the birth of their first son. Huzzah! The pictures are very sweet. So I must return to the joys (no really it is a joy) of WH Auden. I hope all and sundry have a great day.

CSW