Nocturne: The Romantic Life of Frédéric Chopin

Lucy Parham (piano)

Harriet Walter and Samuel West (narrators)

Nocturne in C minor Op.48 No.1

“In the winter of 1831 …” 
Polonaise in A Op.40 No.1

“We were in his audience …” 
Waltz in C sharp minor Op.64 No.2

“Chopin’s sensitivity …” 
Etude in A flat Op.25 No.1

“Dear Chopin …” 
Mazurka in D Op.33 No.2

“After some considerable effort …:
Ballade No.3 in A flat Op.47

"In the winter of 1838 …”
Mazurka in A minor Op.67 No.4

"My Chopin has been rather unwell …”
Prelude in D flat Op.28 (raindrop)

“My dear sister …”
Prelude in G minor Op.28

“October 1839 …”
Waltz in D flat Op.64 No.1 (petit chien)

“We often shared the anguish …”
Nocturne in D flat Op.27 No.2

"Our life in Nohant was simple yet divine …”
Ballade No.4 in F minor Op.52

For something completely different this is a nice and novel idea.  Reading a small portion of letters just adds to the atmosphere.  We do not have much in the form of letters but of course, I view any musical score as a letter as well.  It is like reading someone's personal diary or having an intimate one on one conversation with someone you want to get to know.  Hardly a talk about the weather or "how about those (insert favourite name of favourite team).

What a week...time to relax at last....No Woman, No Cry

Neil Young "Prairie Wind" (Spotify Premium US)

Hi Clive

That's what I thought. Mrs Sorren doesn't always like me playing music she doesn't know so I'm making the most of her tolerant frame of mind  

More ceaseless negativity, this time on CD:

From the ' record man' York market:

And for me, started out with this:

Apocalypse, Mahavishnu Orchestra. Ripped CD onto NS01 through NDS. I tend to overlook this album, preferring the first three studio albums, but this comes first in alphabetical order on the n-stream application, and so it was played this morning. Suddenly I realise that despite the orchestral bits there's still some fun guitar playing from John McLaughlin.

This was followed by some Gregson Collister:

then:

And just now:

This last one arrived yesterday - not sure yet whether I like it, but that's usually a good indicator for long term enjoyment.

Ozric Tentacles  "Afterswish"  double cd, comp. of early tape releases.

As you say the Forum is an excellent venue , we saw Wilco Johnson there recently.

Having not heard the programme about the toilet circuit, are there many converted toilets like The Forum to form a circuit?

Pat Metheny 'Question and Answer' on vinyl, just as soon as Jazz Record Requests finishes on BBC R3. Although it might be dependent on what's on Jazz Line-Up (can't be bothered to go find the Radio Times!).

On the CDP and most excellent it is too.

Now I have got the system working again I have spent a good deal of the afternoon "fault finding" may system after a power down during last nights storms. After the 250 was switched on it all worked so much better, I did switch it on but the switch obviously didn't latch on properly.   

Bruce Hornsby - Hot House

Crosby Stills & Nash "Crosby Stiils & Nash"

(Spotify Premium US)

 They did mention that the Forum was the only venue on the toilet circuit that was actually a toilet at one point.

However I grew up very near the Forum (in fact one flat we lived in, you could actually see the building from my bedroom) and it was the Royal Tunbridge Wells Brass Rubbing Centre for far longer than it was a toilet. 

Last year's brilliant "Cosmic Machine" compilation of 1970s French electronia, on double transparent vinyl:

Grieg: Folk Dances, Songs

2 x LP - Charly Records (p) 1983 : )

WOP BOP A LOO-BOP A LOP BAM BOOM!

Al  Kooper, Mike Bloomfield, Steven Stills "Super Session" (cd rip to iTunes)

prompted by Richard and Tony's comments on Bloomfield/Gravenites at the Fillmore and having just listened to Stills on CS&N, Super Session is an album I have listened to for more than 40 years.

This is hitting the spot, with the help of a nice glass of white  - Double vinyl.

Paul Rodgers, all analogue recording (AAA) on 200 gram......nice....play it loud! 

Richard

Jeff I think I'll join you in play that album.Seems fitting  to play today on the anniversary of Mike Bloomfields death.

Soul Jazz does put out some exceedingly good compilations G.

Hitting a bit of a groove  - original vinyl.

Hi Steve

I wasn't aware of the MB anniversary date, thanks for that connect.  I will dig out Bloomfield/Kooper at the Fillmore shortly in tribute.

Jeff A

After Paul Rodgers in 2013 now with Free in 1968

Richard

Mike Bloomfiied & Al Kooper "The Live Adventures of ........"

disc 1