Good morning and happy new year from Bristol

I had a party last night for my students and I sang this bit of silliness at the end, to finish with a giggle. You probably need to be British to understand. youtu.be/m4PxxBaNDNw?...

"Away in" is just the English translation of "Pret."

Getting properly Christmas-excited now. I cannot contain myself any longer, so here, just over a week ahead of time, is the WORD. 3’40” youtu.be/YG2woiVsJrc?...

One more full week before Christmas. Starting with something gentle and restorative, catching my breath so to speak. Shostakovich’s 2nd Piano concerto, 2nd movement. He wrote it as a gift for his son to play. youtu.be/1DFqVqApms8?...

Concert day of baroque loveliness, somewhere near Southampton. Thank God for satnav!

My offering to those of you who, like me, at this time of year, are longing for more sunshine. The glorious sunrise that forms the introduction to this aria from Haydn Creation will have to suffice for now. youtu.be/Mc4DORlzLY4?...

I haven’t shared any music by Amy Beach for a while. Here’s a gorgeous, peaceful excerpt from her Piano Quintet. She was a musical pioneer, born in 1867 and the first woman in America to compose and publish a symphony. youtu.be/9VEYkzQPWBY?...

Today’s musical wonder - JS Bach’s A mi violin concerto (and Monday’s Music Appreciation) Hopefully on a Saturday you have time for it all (13 mins) but if not, try: 0’00 1st mvmt for drive & energy 4’04 2nd mvmt for beauty & stillness 9’23 3rd mvmt for irresistible dance youtu.be/VSwLeKWKtis?...

If you haven’t yet succumbed to Spotify, but still prefer CDs, does that make your listening age 106? Asking for a friend.

No matter how stressed you are, if you press play on this for even one minute, you will feel the tension drop from your shoulders. Utter magic. Chopin’s 2nd piano concerto. youtu.be/nhZm-vr4QZo?...

We don’t often listen to the bassoon as a soloist do we? Here’s one of the best - the gorgeous second movement from Mozart’s concerto. It’s possible he wrote no fewer than five concertos for the instrument, but only this one survives. youtu.be/AJZBfdBeAJk?...

Let silly hacks go and work on their next bit of Westminster gossip. THIS is the main news from that conference. The clearest indication yet, right from the top.

Did I ever mention that singing is good for you?!? 😉 Make it your 2026 New Year’s resolution to join a choir and start singing. The benefits are enormous. www.bbc.com/future/artic...

I’d forgotten how much I adore this piece. Bach’s D minor concerto was obviously written for harpsichord not piano, but as a teenager, I had a recording with piano and it remains a favourite. I’m mesmerised by Polina Osetinskaya’s hands in this performance! youtu.be/osg_WmeLxQk?...

Wow - this guy must be really, REALLY bad with money if an extra £208 per month will “ruin” his retirement. Let’s take a look at his situation based on what he told the @Telegraph Because this does NOT add up! No, this is not a “poor pensioner” scrabbling around for pennies… 🧵1/9

On Tues, our evening Explore group will be listening to Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an exhibition. What a glorious kaleidoscope of colour & ideas. Here’s the whole thing - if you’re in a hurry, skip to the Great Gate of Kiev at 28’56, for a magisterial start to your w/e. youtu.be/rH_Rsl7fjok?...

Just 10k signatures needed now

How about some Florence Price for Wednesday in the form of her piano quintet? Listen to it all if you have time, or the still, spacious andante at 16’30 followed by the joyous Juba at 22’30. youtu.be/rhKWT9I5Cqc?...

I’m starting Tuesday with Dvorak, his heart-felt cello concerto. He was emphatic about its final shape, writing to his publisher, “I give you my work only if you will promise me that no one … shall make any alteration in it without my knowledge and permission.” youtu.be/wBFeeOt_SGY?...

Monday morning joy to get you up and at ‘em! Rejoice greatly from Handel’s Messiah. youtu.be/z1xlYIoekE8?...

Something flutey from Chaminade for Sunday morning. youtu.be/RFPE-a-UlH8?...

A snippet from today’s topic - De Torrente from Handel’s Dixit Dominus. It talks of drinking deeply from the refreshing stream in the context of tiredness & adversity. It’s so beautiful - a perfect way to start the w/e. To put it more succinctly - this is stunning. Listen! youtu.be/9y_God9vNLY?...

Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.

I went to see The Choral today. What a lovely film! It is very moving and, of course, I adore the music of Elgar’s Gerontius. Big recommend.

Purcell’s Fantasia on one note - gentle contemplative music for Sunday morning. The tenor line literally holds on to a single note throughout. (I like the suggestion that Purcell had a mate who couldn’t really play, so this allowed him to take part.😉) youtu.be/GGwQo0qlG38?...

Golly. First Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht earlier in the week and today, Smetana’s Piano Trio. Music appreciation classes where almost nobody knew the music in advance, and everyone ended up incredibly moved and emotional. I don’t think we’ve had so many tears since we met during lockdown.

Smetana’s Piano Trio was written soon after he lost his 4 year old daughter. In a devastating period of around 5 years, he lost 3 daughters and his wife. The highly emotional Trio reflects his pain and anger and deep anguish. It’s the subject of today’s music appreciation. youtu.be/iBIWxRBtT44?...

New season for Clevedon Adult Studies has dropped! I’m talking about Violin Concertos on 21st March - what a gorgeous day this will be!! Bach, Mendelssohn, Bruch, Korngold and a zillion others. Would love to see you there! casaclevedon.org.uk/events/event...

Things they don’t tell you about performing: 1) the night of a gig you’ll barely sleep. May as well plan housework or tax return and make use of the time 2) the night AFTER the night of a gig, you’ll sleep like a fairytale princess. Plan nothing after 7pm, turn the light out before 8pm and lean in.

Have just read that the appropriate way to express appreciation for a fine wine in French is “C'est le petit Jésus en culotte de velours,” (it's the baby Jesus in velvet shorts,) and even though it’s 6:30am I now need to open a claret.

Gorgeous, dreamy Delius for today: Walk to the Paradise Garden. 🎶❤️ youtu.be/SVeaAhYluOc?...

£50 win on the premium bonds isn’t exactly going to change my life, but combined with the Dem wins in the US it’s a great way to start Wednesday.

Some Beethoven for Sunday. The beautiful slow movement of string quartet number 16. Does anyone else instantly close their eyes as this starts? youtu.be/W-FmbDgtgos?...

Yay! It’s nearly time for Korngold’s Violin concerto which is the topic for Tue nt’s(Nov 4th) Music Appreciation. One of my faves - he basically invented the Hollywood sound (think John Williams.) Join us if you need more Hollywood in your concert hall! Link in comments. youtu.be/lcGEGl5bdbk?...

I have to share my recent discovery with you all - the music of Schmelzer. He was a baroque composer and violinist who died 5 years before JSBach and Handel were even born. I hope this beautiful music is perfect to carry you gently into Wednesday. youtu.be/0qb-2iI7m3Q?...

Autumn sunshine in Bristol today

In yesterday’s Music Appreciation, we listened to Liszt’s 1st Mephisto Waltz, which we loved! So here’s some more Liszt but in a gentler vein. La campanella (The little bell) is a technical study based on a tune by the man who inspired Liszt’s virtuoso career, Paganini. 🔔 youtu.be/kkq_3CrvFUM?...

Just been reminded of the music which I transcribed for my masters degree - by Eustache du Caurroy. Some of it was really lovely and was recorded by New College Oxford. Here’s the Veni sancte spiritus. He was writing in 16th and early 17th centuries. youtu.be/ZoDGwPYWskw?...

It feels like a day for Saint-Saëns. He always lift my spirits, and on a wet dark Monday morning it’s what I need. Enjoy his second piano concerto. youtu.be/6bwsJ1GCu9Q?...

Had a fabulous time singing Brahms last night. What a wonderful concert with Swindon choral society.

Rehearsal sounding great! Brahms Requiem with Swindon Choral Society.

Brahms Requiem today - getting in the mood for tonight’s concert in Swindon This second movement is one of my favourite moments in the repertoire - it’s properly spine tingling. For all flesh is as grass.. youtu.be/J1n-obFbKEs?...

If you are in or near Swindon tomorrow, come and hear Brahms’ Requiem! I’m singing the sop solo and it’s utterly gorgeous.

It’s very autumnal now so I thought it would be nice to share some Vivaldi. From The Four Seasons, Autumn perhaps doesn’t get as much attention as Summer and Winter, but it’s beautiful. Mellow like the season. youtu.be/UIdwCrfDNjU?...

Tonight we’re back with Poulenc - half monk, half naughty boy. The 2nd movement of the gorgeous sextet begins with a beautiful homage to Mozart. I know a lot of you loved the Concerto for two pianos - this is in a similar vein. Link in my bio if you’d like to join us. youtu.be/SCLYq93gwSo?...

Here’s the gorgeous adagio of Rachmaninov’s 2nd symphony to start your Saturday with shimmering beauty. It’s just one of the pieces I’ll be talking about in an all-day Rachmaninov workshop today in Clevedon. Close your eyes and let it still your fears and anxieties. youtu.be/ulCn9LokbTY?...

Still half a dozen spaces avail for this Sat in Clevedon - a simply gorgeous day of Rachmaninov. All your faves plus intros to pieces you don’t know so well. We’ll chart the sorrows of his life story and how they shaped his musical voice. I’m so excited! casaclevedon.org.uk/course-booki...

Having a fab day. Booked for a nice Vaughan Williams gig in November. Booked to deliver a music lecture in March on a topic of my choosing. Lovely teaching this afternoon and this evening am leading a music appreciation session on Rebecca Clarke’s Viola Sonata. Topped off with a chocolate hobnob.

We’re listening tonight to the tremendous Viola Sonata by Rebecca Clarke. It’s very English, but there are hints of Debussy here and there. If you ever doubted the viola could occupy the spotlight, you need to hear this. youtu.be/d-M4UznmeCA?...