Other Reviews 2006

ANECDOTES PUBLISHING - Re-kindling the Spring fire

*ANECDOTES PUBLISHING

There have been many firsts on the Fringe this year. This was our first book launch

Arnold Bax - 1883-1953 was a pianist and romantic composer much influenced by things Irish, especially Yeats. Knighted in 1937 he was appointed 'Master of the King's Mucick' in 1942. The work most recognised by the general public would probably be 'Tintagel' but he wrote much else besides including seven symphonies, concertos for violin and arrangements of many folk songs.

Be prepared, the book launched here by Dilys and Paul Gater will tell us much more than that for Dilys is a medium and the book interleaves research on Bax's life with interviews with his spirit.

For our launch Dilys explained how Sir Arnold had come to her in trance and Paul talked of his research. Their explanations were punctuated by quite exquisite performance of two of Bax's pieces by David Owen Norris and readings of his thoughts from the other side by George Telfer. George is no stranger to Fringers and his delivery was everything that we have come to expect from his Gielgud and Burton.

Your reviewer enjoyed the music very much and will certainly seek out Bax in the future. He found Bax's words conveying meanings to be interpreted by the listener, much like horoscopes. He enjoyed the imagery of the patterns of music to be found in the tips of seagull's wings and footsteps in the snow but had the nagging feeling he had heard them somewhere before. Understandably Dilys is often questioned on the validity of her communications with the spirit world. She is of the opinion that true artists must possess a spirituality that means they don't need to ask these questions. Your reviewer is clearly no artist then.

Anecdotes Publishing is a small publisher run by Dilys and Paul and has published 90 books, not all by them. Anecdotes can be reached on 01538 373227 or through dawn@anecdotes567.freeserve.co.uk. The book is a paperback costing 9.95.

John Wilson

KING STERNDALE SLIDES WITH MUSIC - King Sterndale Slides with Music

11 July - Church Hall - Kingsterndale

(Including tea and biscuits)

Approx. 12 People attended this event.

After a warm welcome from the (very dapper) church Warden, Ken, we settled down to an evening of innocent pleasure with John and his slide collection.

From the excitement of a first trip in a light aircraft, to the Derbyshire countryside mid summer and some fantastic pictures of Austrian Tyrol.

It's a world away from the slick technologies of gaming and The Matrix, but somehow listening to classical music and looking at slides in a church hall - is somehow a welcome change, and -well - it's just so very English a pastime. John didn't talk through each slide, but just gave us an introduction before the various continents.

As the comforting clunk of the projector progressed, (John frantically manoeuvring the slides), we listened to some gorgeous and well chosen music, from Strauss to Satie and Saint-Saens.

Waltzing through the Austrian countryside, there was a moment of tension as 'cow sniffing walker's boot' almost seemed to get stuck, but this was soon rectified.

There was a bit of audience participation as the man next to me (who hosts slide shows of his own) jumped up once of twice to adjust the focus when the world went a bit blurry.

The slides of Dubrovnik (taken just before the catastrophic war) were particularly poignant. 'Danse Macabre', as John said, seemed to eerily prefigure the storms that would soon besiege that land. The shadowy figures in front of a dawn sky now look like photojournalist images of militia men - though at the time they were obviously just men.

The only comments for improvement are: that the slides could do with a clean up, and that some could be cut out (there were some random ones - like one of a car park!) to shorten the show a bit. Other than that I thought it was great.

So the evening drew to an end, and we wended our way home after a walk down the lane and some horse stroking.

What a gentle occupation for a glorious summer's evening!

Next show - Thursday 13th at 8 pm (3 - proceeds to the Church)

Heidi Errington