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Gainsborough Portraits in Music Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) was an English painter of portraits and landscapes. His innovative and unique techniques made him one of the most remarkable artists of his time. This painting of his children chasing a butterfly exhibits many of the characteristics of his work: light and rapid brush strokes, a freedom of form which gives tremendous vitality to his typical full-length portraits, and a fanciful setting. His career began in Suffolk in the early 1750s, but he soon moved to fashionable Bath, and then eventually to London, where he had been elected a foundation member of the Royal Academy. His great rival in London was Sir Joshua Reynolds, but Gainsborough’s style, methods and business acumen were always to differ from that of the Principal Painter to the King, not least because, as a more easy-going character, Gainsborough often felt that ‘painting and punctuality mix like oil and vinegar’. Gainsborough’s genius was never in questi (more…)

No description for this product could be found, but have a look over at Amazon for reviews and other information.

No description for this product could be found, but have a look over at Amazon for reviews and other information.

No description for this product could be found, but have a look over at Amazon for reviews and other information.

Music for a Country Church A country church in summer, surrounded by a lovely church yard – an atmosphere for contemplation and quiet thought. Quiet songs and slow themes create an opportunity for reflection and for time to stand still for just a moment. Freshly-mown grass, the soothing hum of evening insects, a meandering path by hedges and yew trees: a summer churchyard is a place for contemplation and quiet thought. Perhaps the old, oak door is ajar, and strains of pleasant music can be heard from within the old church – a concert of music for a quiet time, slightly sentimental, full of emotion, but soothing nonetheless. Here is a collection of old favourites, hymn tunes half-remembered, and well-known music by great composers in a programme designed for memories and thoughts of times past, and as a way to gather strength for times future. Nostalgia, sentiment and passion abound in a programme for reflection and thought, with the atmosphere of a country church.

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A rich and diverse programme of music from Britain’s Georgian era, which features the great genius of Handel and his contemporaries. The vigour of the wonderful tunes and harmonies is presented in a varied programme which reflects the robust style.

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We’ll Meet Again. Romantic songs of the war years. Touching, moving, sentimental – and always memorable. These are the songs for the forces sweethearts, left behind when their men went to war. Misty eyes and aching hearts abound in some of the best songs from the 1940s. Featuring the voices of Vera Lynn, Dick Haymes, Dinah Shore, Vaughn Monroe and many more. When the Second World War began in September 1939, the Swing Era was about to enter the second half of its ten-year reign. As the Thirties darkened with, in Churchill’s memorable phrase’ the lights going out all over Europe’, popular music was going from strength to strength. The golden age of popular song dovetailed into a freer, more extrovert form of music primarily designed for dancing and to become generically known as ‘Swing’. The top swing bands not only maintained but also increased their popularity during the war years and the bright, vivacious music they played was the perfect antidote to the chaos going on (more…)

Music for a Summer Afternoon Favourites for drifting and dreaming The perfect programme of relaxing music for a lazy, hot summer afternoon, wherever it is spent, indoors or out, in the garden or on the river. And what could be more fitting than Coates’ ‘Summer Days’ Suite and Stanford’s ‘The Bluebird’? We British are obsessed with weather. Hardly a conversation goes by without this most controversial of subjects not being raised. Even the most reserved by nature of us will use the weather as an ‘ice breaker’ (no pun intended!). To feed our national preoccupation, the televised weather reports have become mini-extravaganzas in their own right. Presenters with jolly personalities regale us with the most detailed of information about conditions, not just for the day in hand, but anything up to a week later. And we learn of hurricanes and blizzards and extreme rain falls etc around the globe on a regular basis. And whilst we are on the subject, there is that perennial questio (more…)

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