Hotel Mark

Okay, so who’s heard of Psoas abscess? No? Six months ago neither had I. That is why I am now under the physiotherapist. No, I don’t call them physical jerks..Later this week I also start gym work. In order to get these damaged back muscles better working, so that at least ONE part of my body gets to work again anyway..

Trivia point..Psoas abscess killed Napolean. I Who needs likes of Wellington!

Thought I would have a go at blog advertising. The retro commercials are interesting, so perhaps I will try it. http://www.blogsvertise.com if anyone fancies a try at it.

I had the pleasure of seeing guitarist Richard Durrant in concert earlier this month. The concert format he uses is “The Guitar Whisperer”…Richard once toured with group Sky, John Williams late replacement.

The concert is a mixture of classical guitar favourites, electric guitar multi tracked, and Richard’s other beloved instruments, the Banjo, Ukulele.

The concert setting was impressive under the lighting, with the array of instruments in a circle, creating an atmosphere of playing beneath the stars. The first half was classical works, beginning with Spanish classics “Recuerdos de la Alhambra”, the evergreen evocation of the Alhambra palace near Granada, by Spanish composer Fransisco  Tarrega. After that came ”Asturias” or Leyanda by Albeniz, “Cavatina” by Myers, “Sakura Variations” the charming variations on a Japanese folk song.

It’s always a wonder to me how the guitar can “vocalise” in many accents. For example, Spanish music played by Pepe Romero for example is so typically steeped in the Spanish accent. Yet Romero playing Latin American music does not always have the latin accent brought out by players such as Diaz or Rojas. This is NOT to say it sounds inferior, just the way the idiom comes accross. Julian Bream’s renditions of albeniz and Granados I think  peerless, but even this does not bring out the Spanish flavour. I think of them as classical interpretations of these works. Durrant has a gift of bringing out the musics natural idiom, even adding his own personal touches to Alhambra and Leyenda.

Then came a suprise, as the performer took up his banjo, inserted two clothes pegs under the strings, and proceeded to play a Bach prelude! Followed by a Bach Cello suite on the Ukulele. The Banjo exuded a much higher quality sound than I have been accustomed to hearing, and the Ukulele sounded much like a Baroque guitar, far removed from George Formby Banjo-Ukulele! Following that was a more recent Cuban composition for guitar, steeped in the tradition of the Rumba.

Second half, apart from Gomez Crespo’s charming Inca folk song “Nortena”, was mostly electric guitar, featuring the old Sky track written by Herbie Flowers, “Westway” inspired by traffic moving along a main highway. Lastly, Durrant’s interpretation of Steve Reich’s “Electric Counterpoint”, which included two previously recorded tracks for backing. An off the cuff encore followed, mostly audience requests.

Richard Durrant is an engaging performer, who clearly enjoys mixing with the audience, meeting and talking to us in the interval. All in all, an enjoyable night.

So, picking up my guitar for the first time this week..Shame on me..Always a good start is Twelve Inventions by Peter Nuttall. Student reportoire, but some very nice short pieces in there. In particular, the mini suite is lovely, as is Impromptu and Mexicana. A pupil of Brian Whitehouse, classical guitar centre Birmingham, has recorded these works.

My neighbour tells me Nuttall taught her to play guitar, even if only strumming. Small world.

As currently I need to examine career options, I find myself pondering life and times as a carer. On one hand, to the outside world, it often seems a personal sacrifice to dedicate one’s life to the nursing or personal care of another, even a loved one. In my own case my Father. Over the years I have noted the “rather you than me” attitude from some other people.

 I’ve seen it many times though, when you give to another, you receive more in return. As such, there are cases when the carer has just as great a need of the caree. I am now encountering the “other side” of the DHSS..The first question I got tended to cause some resentment on my part, even though normally I don’t take these things personally. That question being..”Is there any reason you can’t work?” To interpret at face value, the implication that things one does as a carer is NOT considered work.

I wonder how we come accross to would be employers after years of “time out” caring. It’s not as though one can apply for a job at Natwest, for example, and can boast, if that’s the right word, years of previous banking experience with likes of Barclays ect. Other words, we are lacking in recent commercial experience. To the outside world, we appear to have opted out of society, and now are knocking on the door to re-enter. But are we locked out, or locked in? Do we actually want to re-enter commercial society, if it means our loved one’s have now departed? Nearly always, it’s a financial neccessity, even if it means facing up to being thought of as just another unemployed statistic.

I liken the scenario to that of two instances of “Spartacus”, first one scene from the film, which relates to the caree. In the film it was escaped galdiator Spartacus intention to free fellow slaves, form a gladiator army, march to the sea, fighting battles along the way, and buy ships to flee the land of slave tyranny, and escape to their homes accross the sea. In this scene in my mind, he is joined by a dubious looking Arab Sultan, to negotiate a price for the ships in which to escape. After concluding the bargain, the Arab, worried that by the time he assembles the ships the slave army will be wpied out, tells Spartacus,before leaving, “You do know, don’t you, you are going to lose?” Spartacus replied “we are not going to lose.” Arab; “You have no chance..They will send one army after another against you until they defeat you! Let me put it another way..If you could look into a crystal ball and see you are going to die, would you go on with this?” Spartacus; “Yes.” Arab; “Even though you know you are going to die?” Spartacus; All men lose when they die. But when a free man dies and a slave dies, they lose different things. When a free man dies he loses the pleasure of life. When a slave dies, all he loses is his pain. That’s why we’re fighting them, and that’s why we’ll win.”

My interpretation of that into the careree’s situation is not to do with euthanasia, or even death, but merely to go on living. All the gladiator army could do was to fight to go on living. If they fought and died they were also free, so they could not lose.  Sometimes, where there is loss of one’s faculties, or loss of dignity, if there is only one thing you can do in your life, make sure you enjoy doing it. If you can only sing a song, make  sure you can be heard singing it.

The second scenario is not the film Spartacus, but the actual story of Spartacus. Unlike Kirk Douglas film icon, Spartacus actually succeeded in marching accross the mountains, to freedom. They defeated all before them, until the end of their journey was in sight. YET, instead of marching home, they incredibly turned back and marched again though Italy, until eventually meeting their end at the hands of the Roman legions. Why then, did they do that? When it was within their power to escape, why not do it? And to choose almost certain death instead?

My interpretation is that they were a gladiator army. If not that, in the free world, what would they be? Nothing. At least, that is the temptation to perceive oneslf in the eyes of the free world. Spartacus was the gladiator leader, a major figure to his army. Yet in the free world, just another man, perhaps…. And so to the ex carer, looking to re-join the commercial world..

Trains chaos yesterday, first time I’ve travelled by train and got held up be an accident. Lorry hit a bridge we were supposed to transverse. Held up half an hour, then passed accross the bridge okay, got to a later station, Shrewsbury, and then we were told, service ends here, then a case of, OFF, finished, finito. So had to wait for a later train. It reminded me of the old Reginald Perrin quote, “11 minutes late, escaped Cheetah on the line at Marble Arch”, only this time more like “30 minutes late, bridge attacked by lorry driver at Newtown.”

Interesting couple of days in the metropolis when we finally got there,  but I’m usually glad to get back to my rural retreat..But for how much longer, is the question, as soon my home will be for sale. I’m sure the recent credit crisis in the UK banks will help my case no end..The art of timing..

…to ramble about day to day life such as supermarket, cleaning the car, ect, especially as I tend NOT to do the latter even when it needs doing… The guitar though, will feature often on here, as over the years, the instrument has been a part of myself.

I have played at restraunts, receptions, hotels mostly. It’s nice to meet people and share music with. I hope to share my concert experiences, add reviews to those attended, add resources.

I am returning to music and to professional life after years of time out due to working as a carer. That being, one who provides care, support, where it is needed. Other words, keeping people out of nursing homes if that is their desire. In a nutshell, I fell ill in Spring this year, with an abscess which damaged my back muscles, so can no longer do the lifting, and need to find something different.  I’m at a crossroads at present. Contemplating career change, home change, life change. The latter sounds a bit like the male menopause, so perhaps needs redrafting. I admit I’m a blogging novice!  

To introduce myself, my name is Mark Antony, classical guitar enthusiast from United Kingdom. Here in my little corner of the world wide web I hope to share my interests, passions, and maybe a little of myself too on the way..

If you are a musician, writer, or just enjoy listening or reading, I hope you will join also, to discuss, share ideas, resources. Welcome.