Nigel M Taylor

Amazing to meet Paul Brennan, conductor of Bolton Youth Orchestra 1971-1979, for the first time in 45 years. He was an inspiration for me (and many others) as a young player. We talked a lot about the rehearsals and concerts in Bolton and in Paderborn. It was great to reminisce.

40 years ago today, this happened.

‘Singing should be as important as reading and maths in schools’ A new report has called for the Government to put creativity and the expressive arts ‘at the heart’ of the primary school curriculum

"Every primary school should become a "singing school” where music, drama, and visual arts are just as integral as literacy and numeracy, a new report suggests."

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

British Library acquires torn-out drafts of Edward Elgar masterpiece Exclusive: sketches for Introduction and Allegro for Strings had been removed from sketchbook by composer in 1930

Fascinating....
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/f...

Children are starting school unable to sit up or hold a pencil – and I know the culprit | Kathryn Peckham As an early years specialist, I’ve seen the drastic impact of screens replacing physical activity and face-to-face interaction, writes early childhood consultant Kathryn Peckham

"...children enter classrooms with fewer and fewer of the skills needed to begin their formal education. The key culprit...screen time."

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Heartbreaking 💔 news that Joseph Talbot died on Saturday aged 20. The most inspiring young man, he met his massive health challenges with bravery, fortitude and perseverance. His personality and smile lit up every room. I was privileged to know him. RIP J xx

Netley boy saves thousands of sweet tubs from landfill Teddy has collected the plastic confectionery tubs because he wants to help save the planet.

6 years old
"I'm one little boy and it started with one tub and one dream to save the planet, and now look how many we've got."
What a star.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Happy Feast of the Epiphany to all that celebrate.

🎶 On the Twelfth Day of Christmas.....🎶
Not many drummers to be seen or heard today, except perhaps for the one across the pond who consistently drums up bile and nonsense.

Finally put up my Christmas tree

I thought very carefully about how to express the drama of the aria, from the text, to the melody, harmony, tempo, the dynamics, and even where the harpsichord continuo should start. I was delighted with James' and the orchestra's performance. It's one of the best.

"For behold, darkness shall cover the earth...."

A dramatic and staggeringly portentous aria, from Handel's Messiah.

Here's James Bundy with Staffordshire Symphony Orchestra, in a live performance, conducted by yours truly.

soundcloud.com/nigel-t-6194...

Fabulous lunch with Ian Duckworth, and Tim and Hilary Reynish. An immense treat!

Paul McCartney review – extraordinarily sublime and humblingly beautiful Stretching an almost three-hour set from the Quarrymen through to the ‘final Beatles single’ this is like an arena-sized Last Night at the Proms, with Beatlemania

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review for Paul McCartney at the
Co-op Live. What an extraordinary musician, and still going strong. Very hard to believe he's 82.
www.theguardian.com/music/2024/d...

You're right David. I started to learn German nearly three years ago, with a daily lesson and practice of at least one hour a day. It's amazing what can be achieved, even at our senior years! I'm far from fluent, but I can converse with some confidence with my German friends. So it is with music!

Great to catch up with breweychris.bsky.social today. We exchanged tales of recent travel experiences, discussed our respective plans for 2025, and shared stories of our time as pupils at Hayward Grammar School, where we first met in 1969. How time has flown...

Man, 88, passes grade 8 piano with distinction, 67 years after taking grade 7 Ray Eveleigh says playing helps keep his brain active and wife and daughter encouraged him to go for grade 8

What a super story:

“...I would say that it’s the most worthwhile task in life, to make music and do it well.”

www.theguardian.com/music/2024/d...

YouTube video by Roberto Mastrosimone Berlioz: "Symphonie Fantastique" - 5th Mvt. - Leonard Bernstein

Hector Berlioz was born on this day in 1803. What better way to toast his musical genius than listen to his "Symphonie Fantastique".
Here's the 5th movement performed in 1976 by Orchestre National de France conducted by Leonard Bernstein.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cao6...

An amazing sound. How the organist and orchestra connected rhythmically is itself a minor miracle in such a swirling acoustic. But the recording engineer's work is an absolute triumph in such conditions.

YouTube video by MountedCornetV Saint-Saens Organ Symphony #3 (Maestoso) at Notre Dame de Paris 2024 Olivier Latry & Gustavo Dudamel

What an outrageously brilliant sound.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXOT...

YouTube video by Steinway Piano Gallery Oslo How Long Can a Steinway Sing? 🎹 The Ultimate Sustain Test

For all you fellow piano enthusiasts, how long can the lowest C last on a Steinway grand piano?
I was surprised by the answer, it's over a minute!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zox0...

Tinnitus has returned. This time in a constant Ab.
So annoying.

Duolingo progress report. It seems I'm doing ok!

Roy Wood was a genius. So many good songs and tracks from ELO.

I'd support this petition. First heard this in the students' union bar at university in 1978. Musical gloriousness!

Delighted with my new bread machine and especially the book of recipes my son and his wife bought me. This one’s a “French Crusty” and it’s really quite delicious!

Doors open to reveal a view of a vehicle with the logo of a company called 'Wagner Decor'

The firm doing refurb at the National Opera Studio today is On Brand.

YouTube video by bogdan horoba Birmingham Symphony Hall - concert HD - part.8

When an orchestra grabs the momentum of a piece and threatens to run away with it, sometimes all you can do as a conductor is to go with it, enjoy it, join in, and lead the biggest accelerando!
Farandole, L’Arlésienne Suite No.2 by Bizet is such a piece.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDHo...

Songs of Praise - Young Chorister of the Year - Final On the first Sunday of Advent, Aled Jones and the Rev Kate Bottley host the final of BBC Young Chorister of the Year, with judges Katherine Jenkins, Bob Chilcott and YolanDa Brown.

Congratulations to Anna, a worthy winner of BBC Young Chorister of the Year.
All three finalists were fantastic and heartfelt congratulations to them all.
Anna sang with such musicality and maturity, it belied the title of "Junior".
Brava!
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

YouTube video by miketrumpet My Funny Valentine (L. Hart / R. Rodgers) - Corus Brass Ensemble 1988

My Funny Valentine

Posted for no other reason than it's
- a bloody good tune
- a great arrangement
- a super performance

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfnc...