Music: Who Wants To Live Without It?

Music has always played a major part of my life, ashad a session - mind you he always had a bad head
from the earliest age I can remember classical musicthe next day!
constantly playing in our home. Dad had a lot of 78sAfter I left home and joined the British Armed
and an electric player which required frequent needleForces, I have to say my mates were not too
changes. In fact I used to watch him change themhappy about Grieg being played in the barrack room.
religiously every eight plays - not something he wouldSame problem as my dad had - different music. So I
let anyone else do!!had to use earphones to listen to him. But when 'The
As children, we used to give singing recitals -Who' came on - now, that was a different story -
especially at Christmas times!! I am grateful for thethen we used to get into trouble with the Duty
exposure our parents gave us to music - even if dadSergeant for playing the music too loud!!
was a bit single minded when, in the late 50's myAnyway, over the years, I have developed a passion
brother Kenneth, bought home a recording of a newfor all types of music and my collection of vinyl
rock-n-roll singer called Buddy Holly I think dadrecords has now grown to include Amadeus Mozart
thought it was not proper music and that the recordthrough to Led Zeppelin. But, I guess if I had to pick
couldn't possibly be up to the same standard as hisjust one piece of music to take to that desert island
Beethoven or Mozart recordings!!it would have to be:
He used to have constant discussions with KennethMozart's Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra No1 in F
about playing them on his' radiogram. And as for theMinor, Op 73
Beatles and Rolling Stones records I wanted to play aMy favourite recording of this outstanding piece: (only
few years later - no comment!!one of several!)
Both my two brothers were taught to play classicalDeutshe Grammophon 136550 SLPEM (stereo - 1968)
music on the piano by our Aunty Win. For myself; itKarl Leister, Clarinet, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
was 1962 and I was far too interested in my Uncleconducted by Rafael Kubelik.
Frank's brand new MGB roadster to concentrate - tryI bought this recording whilst stationed in Germany in
as my mum did to encourage me!!1970 - since then I have obtained other fine
My eldest brother, Robert, turned out to be a highlyrecordings of the Concerto, but I find Karl Leister's
accomplished musician - playing the French horninterpretation of the Adagio(in particular) perfectly
professionally for many years. Kenneth, my othercaptures Mozart's objective of writing the most
brother, in later years, would get all his beer boughtprofoundly expressive movement for a solo
for him in the NAFFI bar, bashing out songs when weinstrument.