> But still, no Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart,
>Beethoven, or Berlioz. Why not? Can we blame the English for everything?
Actually I don't blame them for very much, the Scots have done an excellent
job of degrading their culture without much external assistance. They'll
bawl out drivel like 'Old Scotch (sic) Mother Mine' with gusto but haven't
got a clue when it comes to the vibrant culture of "The Modern Athens" in
the 18th and 19th centuries. The musicians, the painters.
I'm grateful to you for setting me on this tack as I've often wondered
about the dearth of musical genius in Britain until we get into the 1900's.
It does seem that much great talent was just shelved and forgotten. Getting
back a bit in this thread there was mention made of England being submerged
in church music. Calvinistic Scotland did not suffer from this handicap;
typical Presby stuff was the Paraphrases with dreary tunes and words of
pure McGonagallese.Scotland was no place for large orchestras but the music
written for and played in the drawing rooms was really quite something,
place was a hotbed of it. Even Edinburgh's Lord Provost of around 1820 made
significant contributions. We also hade 19th Century gentlewomen of Mrs
Cockburn's ilk, blithely writing songs of the '45 in Edinburgh that are now
taken as authentic Jacobite by most Scots. 'Come Ower the Stream Charlie'
etc. Known worldwide now with many being little gems in their own right.
Even James Boswell's loud mouthed, bullying son made a contribution with
'Jennie Dang the Weaver' and 'Jenny's Bawbee'. Ironically having been
instrumental in re-establishing duelling as a gentleman's pursuit he fell
victim to his own legislation. He wrote such good songs too.
McCuhn's work 'Land of the Mountain and Flood' still appears in the
standard repertoire. He also wrote two operas, his "Jeannie Deans" being a
hit at the time, alas it has joined so many other operas in Limbo. Remember
that it's only recently that many contemporaries of Mozart, Beethoven, etc
have been resurrected, Salieri being a noted example. These guys were
forgotten for over a century yet their nusic is great.
In closing may I heartily endorse your views on living in Queensland.
Le Beannachd
Tom Mc Rae
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