A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth
The six Brandenburg Concertos, written in or before 1721, are all gems, but this is my favourite. Here it is performed in Bach’s original instrumentation of three violins, three violas, … Continue readingJ S Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No 3, BWV 1048
CHARLES Wesley has already appeared a couple of times in these columns as the writer of Hark the Herald Angels Sing and O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing. It is hardly surprising … Continue readingAnd Can It Be
I love both of these complete opposites. Posey’s country-flavoured version of Martha Sharpe’s song was her first hit in 1966, reaching No 12 in the US and winning a gold … Continue readingSandy Posey/Nick Lowe: Born a Woman
THIS is one of my favourite Everlys tracks, first heard on their 1960 album A Date With the Everly Brothers and released as a single in 1961 as the B-side to Temptation. … Continue readingThe Everly Brothers: Stick With Me Baby
THIS is one of 12 organ concertos Handel composed in two sets as interludes for performances of his oratorios. This one is thought to have been written in 1746. My … Continue readingHandel: Organ Concerto, Op 7 No 4
THE lyrics of this song are great. For example: He’s so fineGotta be mineSooner or laterI hope it’s not later The whole song can be found here. https://genius.com/Chiffons-hes-so-fine-lyrics It was written … Continue readingThe Chiffons: He’s So Fine
THE German composer Robert Schumann completed his only piano concerto in 1845. It was premiered in Dresden with his wife Clara as the soloist. I think this work has been … Continue readingSchumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 54
RELEASED in 1958, this is my favourite Buddy Holly number. It was written by Holly’s friend Bob Montgomery (they performed at high school in Lubbock, Texas as Buddy and Bob) … Continue readingBuddy Holly: Heartbeat
OUR time-travelling London Routemaster double-decker bus rattles to a halt today outside 23 Railway Cuttings, East Cheam. Wherein resides Mr Anthony Aloysius St John Hancock, lugubrious subject of Hancock’s Half Hour. … Continue readingHancock’s Half Hour
I think this may have been the first single I bought, certainly among the first few. Billy Fury, like Bobby Darin whom I mentioned a few days ago, had rheumatic … Continue readingBilly Fury: Like I’ve Never Been Gone