Reply to elaine's "Churchill" music query.
Aug 8th, 2005, 08:31 AM
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Reply to elaine's "Churchill" music query.
I can't find the posting, but here's my reply for what it's worth:
Hi elaine,
Although I would have to see the series again to identify the specific piece, I know that "The First Churchills" incorporate a lot of music by England's pre-eminent Restoration composer, Henry Purcell (1659-1695), and I am fairly certain that the music used for the end credits is by him. If the opening music is not also by Purcell, it is in the very same style. Purcell composed incidental music for many Restoration plays that are now forgotten; among them The Fairy Queen, Dido and Aeneas, Diocletian and King Arthur. In fact, the end credit piece may be the same one that 20th century composer Benjamin Britten used in an adapted version for his “Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra”, but, again, I’d have to listen to the end credits again to be positive. Sorry not to be more specific but maybe this will at least point you in the right general direction. You may have to listen to several music samples to hit on the right one.
Anyway, I love "The First Churchills"! It was Masterpiece Theatre's first series, and although it did not do that well critically - Alastair Cooke didn't regard it very favorably in his book - I think it is fascinating, but then, I've always been interested in that era anyway. Maybe some people find it too talky and Restoration politics simply too baroque for modern tastes!
Wish I could visit Blenheim, too, elaine. I believe the present duke still lives in a wing of the palace.
Happy listening!
Hi elaine,
Although I would have to see the series again to identify the specific piece, I know that "The First Churchills" incorporate a lot of music by England's pre-eminent Restoration composer, Henry Purcell (1659-1695), and I am fairly certain that the music used for the end credits is by him. If the opening music is not also by Purcell, it is in the very same style. Purcell composed incidental music for many Restoration plays that are now forgotten; among them The Fairy Queen, Dido and Aeneas, Diocletian and King Arthur. In fact, the end credit piece may be the same one that 20th century composer Benjamin Britten used in an adapted version for his “Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra”, but, again, I’d have to listen to the end credits again to be positive. Sorry not to be more specific but maybe this will at least point you in the right general direction. You may have to listen to several music samples to hit on the right one.
Anyway, I love "The First Churchills"! It was Masterpiece Theatre's first series, and although it did not do that well critically - Alastair Cooke didn't regard it very favorably in his book - I think it is fascinating, but then, I've always been interested in that era anyway. Maybe some people find it too talky and Restoration politics simply too baroque for modern tastes!
Wish I could visit Blenheim, too, elaine. I believe the present duke still lives in a wing of the palace.
Happy listening!
Aug 8th, 2005, 08:51 AM
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I believe that you want to post your reply here:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34657989
Best wishes,
Rex
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34657989
Best wishes,
Rex
Aug 8th, 2005, 09:57 AM
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Well, since you are (perhaps) not quite as addicted as some of "us", (and thus not here constantly)... you might not know this...
... but there is nothing "strange" at all about your not finding it by doing a "search". The search function has no ability to find any post since May 4 of this year, and there is no projection yet from Fodors as to when this will be fixed.
... but there is nothing "strange" at all about your not finding it by doing a "search". The search function has no ability to find any post since May 4 of this year, and there is no projection yet from Fodors as to when this will be fixed.
Aug 8th, 2005, 11:38 AM
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Rex, someone else named Kate was already kind enough to post my answer on the correct thread. I didn't know about that May 5 keyword search limitation. Hope Fodors fixes this soon as it certainly limits the usefulness of this forum. Thank you for enlightening me!
