Mid-Summer's Day … and now as time will inevitably wane towards Autumn … we shall ring out the Aluphone bells in celebratory style …
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| Evelyn Glennie playing the Aluphone ... |
… what could be better than to sit in a warm field, the sun-shining down … listening to a “ring of bells” …
… or as I was yesterday evening listening to “a full circle ring” from our local church …
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| 21 Isles of Wonder Music for the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games |
I didn't have a glass in hand … but could see and hear the sea lap our pebbly shore at high tide … which made a change from the tennis balls being heard occasionally over the tannoy system at Eastbourne tennis …
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| The rolling Downs in the summer sun |
… and think about a picnic supper out on the Downs as the sun sets and the year begins to wind down … how time doth flyeth …
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| 4th C relief - depicting an aulos player and his family standing before Dyonysus and a female consort with theatrical masks portrayed above |
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| Aulos (in play) |
… dithyrambs were sung by choirs at Delos … while here the aulos, an ancient Greek wind instrument, reminded me of the Aluphone …
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| Dame Evelyn Glennie - as a percussionist |
… played by Evelyn Glennie at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in 2012 – she led 1,000 drummers … drumming on inverted household buckets and bins …
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| Summer sun on island of Delos painted by Carl Anton Joseph Rottmann (1847-1850) |
I then went down a few rabbit holes – rather more than intended, but so stimulating …
Here's to the next half of 2022 – let's hope we can keep our freedom of thought and mind free from control in the years ahead …
Here you can watch the 'Pandemomium Drummer' Rehearsals in London 2012. (1min: 46 secs)
Dame Evelyn Glennie playing the 'Glennie Aluphone'
Dame Evelyn Glennie playing the Aluphone at the 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony
Hilary Melton-Butcher
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30 comments:
If you work in special education as long as I did you get to try just about every percussion instrument there is - but never an aluphone, I'm afraid. If anyone wants to hear the aulos being played there are quite a few examples on YouTube, like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bty066C2si4
Hari OM
Aye, 'tis all doon hill frae here! &*> Loved those vid clips. Have been fan of EG since... forever! YAM xx
@ John - thanks to the link to the Aulos being played ... amazing sound they created - loved it. The Aluphone seems to be a 'recent' instrument: i.e. - it's only be around for less than ten years.
@ Yam - yes Evelyn Glennie is an amazing deaf percussionist ... extraordinary lady ...
Thanks to you both - Happy Summer Solstice evening... cheers Hilary
That should read twenty years ... not ten ... thanks - H
Another delightful and eclectic mix. And thank you (yet again) for encouraging my mind to wander...
No, no, no - not downhill to autumn yet! I know the year’s nearly half over, but I can’t quite believe it.
I'm rather sad at the sun's turning towards autumn, but we've got a lot of time to go before we get there.
Sounds like a lovely time. Happy Solstice.
Cheers,
The rolling Downs and the island of Delos make me want to lie out in the sunshine and stop being anxious.
Having finally wrapped my tongue around the words,Hilary, I am ready to opt for the dithyramb! Bacchus, wine, fertility.....who can not be drawn to that? Pause for a moment while I go and get a glass of wine. Shall I bring two?
I didn't know anything about the Aluphone! So nice to learn about it here. Hope you have a happy summer, Hilary!
The sounds you hear from your house are so wonderfully summery - I could almost hear the sound of tennis being played myself!
I've never heard of an aluphone - and I watched that ceremony too! Perhaps my attention was elsewhere.
A picnic supper sounds lovely for a summer's eve! Apart from her percussion skills, Evelyn Glennie has a beautiful head of hair. Just had to throw that in. 😉 And thanks for the ancient Greek history lesson - a favourite subject! I love that summer painting of Delos too. 💖
Ahh..love rhe Greek ancient fun which involved wine plus other things that is not G rated. A picnic sounds like fun but it is so very hot here today. I enjoyed the music from different instruments or anything that creates something pleasing
The end sounds sad? I hope everything is okay. I bet Glennie's percussion session was a sight to behold (or rather I should say hear...or maybe both!).
Amen to that last prayer! Hope all is well, Hilary. Time doth indeed flyeth, every year the speed increaseth beyond all reckoning. Take care and have a good second half!
@ EC – thank you … yes a very eclectic mix … but I'm delighted to read you'll be wandering along a few of my suggestions …
@ Anabel - I know ... time goes so quickly ... and finally we have some summery weather down here - I'd like it to last for longer than four months or so ... but it's on its way.
@ Liz – I know it's wonderful when Spring arrives, and then we watch the sun move down towards Autumn – still a wonderful 6 months of lighter days …
@ Sandra - yes ... lots going on - fortunately local ...
@ Hels - the rolling Downs are stunning in this sort of weather - but I'd love to visit Delos with its historical, mythological and archaeological sites ... must be beautiful.
@ David - yes please ... two would be good - but three, so Miriam can join us - and we can happily natter without feeling guilty!
@ Elizabeth – thank you – I didn't know about the Aluphone either, so was happy to learn a bit more … or the Aulos either – that appears on so many ancient Greek vases and amphora …
@ Annalisa – yes it's fun at this time of year … lots going on – and it's wonderful when the tennis is here – but it's full on!
There was an awful lot going on at the Opening Ceremony – so I'm not surprised we didn't spot the Aluphone …
@ Debbie – yes – the picnic suppers are delightful up there as the sun sets on a warm summer's night … You're right about Evelyn Glennie's head of hair … like yours I guess! I know you enjoy your Greek history – so am pleased you noted that and the Delos painting.
@ Rosey – no ... not sad – but time just passes so quickly and I'd love our summer to last at least 10 months!! Yes – I must listen to more of Evelyn Glennie's percussion pieces … she's amazing as a deaf musician.
@ Nila – thanks … we need to let all the world have freedom of their own thoughts … and control of their own lives … I do hope it comes about in the decades ahead. Thank you – we all need a good second half of the year …
Cheers to you all - I'm trying to get past an overwhelming period - sort of on the way - thanks for all your patience ... Hilary
I love your excursions into the long ago past but then I taught about them for many years in teaching 11th grade world history. Teaching was my passion in life and my wife of course recently passed away
It must be wonderful to live close to the sea.
Enjoy.
I guess we have started the slide to autumn (and winter for that matter) but we can still enjoy some days of summer.
Definitely no to 'Downhill to Autumn from here'. Our summer is only just beginning and our Spring was completely MIA!
Thank you for another though-provoking post.
@ Ray - thank you ... I'm glad you can relate my posts to some history; and I remember the loss recently of your wife ...
@ Sandra - thank you - it is wonderful to be able to see the sea so often ...
@ Dan - I'm afraid daylight starts to disappear so quickly - yet it'll rock around - but I'm enjoying summer life right now ...
@ Donna - I gather your Spring wasn't brilliant - and remember my one year in your part of the world re the weather ... thank you re the post - another eclectic mix ...
Cheers to you all - Hilary
For me, this day marks the start of my favourite three months of the year! I cast thoughts of Autumn aside for the time being and make the most of our wonderful surroundings, not just here but beyond. A delightful piece Hilary.
Inspirational!
It's always a very busy time of year for me - so many family birthdays, and a new one just arrived!
Jemima
@ Keith - enjoy these few months ... I know you enjoy being out and about ... have fun - our country at this time of year is just beautiful, if it's not bucketing!
@ Jemima - excellent ... good to see you ... and you too enjoy all the family birthdays, yes I have one, and for you to welcome the newbie into this world ...
Have fun everyone - cheers Hilary
A bloody good post
I love the summer solstice and having so much light. Always interesting to think about all the celebrations that have come before. May the days ahead be filled with lots of positives. :)
~Jess
@ Jo-Anne - thank you ...
@ Jess - yes thank you ... I too love this time of year and we're so lucky to be free to experience our history, as too knowing we can continue to be positive for our future ...
Thanks to you both - cheers Hilary
Ooh, these all sound lovely, especially the full circle ring. Since I read Dorothy Sayers' The Nine Tailors, I've been fascinated by bells and change ringing. The New Mill church in Yorkshire has a great group of bell ringers, I shared a short video the other day! https://www.facebook.com/authorDenizBevan/
Hi Deniz - yes ... it was lovely being peaceful listening to the bells quietly peal away. Your New Mill ones are delightful to hear - thank you. I will now look up Dorothy Sayers' The Nine Tailors in the library to read - thanks for that too. Cheers Hilary
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