Sunday 17 June 2012

John Sampson exacerbates my condition



There could not be a finer day to be suffering from a hangover - the sun is out, but I think it is going to tip down again by the time I reach the street-party that I am supposed to be going to this afternoon.

H.I. went off on her own last night, so I hung around talking, drinking and eventually shouting with friends in the pub until it was too late to go home and cook some dinner, but I did have fun so I am not complaining - much.

An old Scottish friend turned up from Edinburgh as well, because he is due to perform in the annual Widcombe festival event which I have just called a 'street party'.  He specialises in pretty much every wind instrument except bagpipes, and he is something of a celebrity on the circuit, not least for being able to play at least two recorders at the same time.

When I told him that my birthplace was Haslemere in Surrey, he was deeply impressed because - as previously mentioned - that town is the home of the world famous Dolmetsch recorder factory, and all of his instruments were made there.  He sends them back regularly for a service, and pays £60 each to have that done by the original makers.  That's what I call professionalism.

I am going to see if I can find a You Tube video of him playing one of the tunes from the album he gave me a copy of last night, but I may not be able to listen to it for long.  Solo recorders and hangovers don't mix.

13 comments:

  1. P.s. - when I said that he plays two recorders at the same time, I didn't mean the above, I meant that he actually sticks two in his mouth and plays them at the same time.

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  2. P.p.s - I have just had a call from another Edinburgh friend (coincidence) asking if I wanted to go to the pub with him. I said I had only just left it, and declined.

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  3. P.p.p.s - I've just remembered 'Fool on the Hill' by the Beatles, and came to the conclusion that it contains the best use of recorders in popular music that I can think of - nicely in the background.

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  4. I once owned a small 'antique' piccolo that could have done with a 10,000 tune service. It would only play after having been immersed in water; I wonder why!

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    1. It probably came from a band of the Royal Navy.

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  5. I can't wait to send you a T-shirt so it can be seen in the best pubs in your area. Knowing you, you'll get hammered, do a naked dance on the pub counter and leave my t-shirt abandoned on some bar stool.

    I better send you two eh?

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    1. You had better get some underpants printed up instead.

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  6. I bought recorders for all my grandchildren, with strict instructions to annoy their parents. 50% of them rose in the musical world, to play baritone, trombone and flute. The other three still annoy their parents.

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    1. Could have been worse - could have been penny-whistles.

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  7. Depends on the recorder, Tom. A good Dolmetsch tenor is mellifluous (I used to play one in an early music group_) and would definitely sooth any hangover.

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    1. True. Why do they always issue children with trebles?

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  8. I play a fife. Had to perform in several parades when i had a hangover. I wouldn't recommend it.

    Your friend plays the recorder beautifully.

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