A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth
AT A guess, the best known and most popular Beethoven piano concerto is the majestic No 5, but this one is my favourite. The first time I heard the second … Continue readingBeethoven’s Piano Concerto No 3 in C minor, Op 37
I HAVE been told that when I was four or five years old I was pushing a toy pram around when a neighbour asked to see my doll. Apparently she … Continue readingThe wonderful world of worms
I made the mistake of going to see the Hollies about 30 years ago, must have been around 1990, at the Lewisham Odeon I think. Allan Clarke had turned into … Continue readingThe Hollies: Jennifer Eccles
Written by Bernie Wayne and Lee Morris, this was first recorded in 1951 by Tony Bennett, reaching No. 18 on Billboard’s chart of ‘Best Selling Pop Singles’. The Clovers released a version … Continue readingBobby Vinton: Blue Velvet
This was written in 1968 by group member Howard Kaylan but by agreement it was credited to all five members: Kaylan, Mark Volman, Al Nichol, Jim Pons and John Barbata. … Continue readingThe Turtles: Elenore
This was written by John Beveridge and Peter Oakman and released in 1962 as the B-side of A Lay-About’s Lament, which was a truly terrible number. Record buyers knew better … Continue readingJoe Brown and the Bruvvers: A Picture of You
TWO of the most beautiful pieces of music I know are based on the same Roman Catholic prayer, the Ave Maria or Hail Mary. This is it: Hail Mary, full of grace,the Lord … Continue readingAve Maria
The song was written by Paul Kaufman and Mike Anthony, who don’t seem to have written much else of note, which is a shame because these are among the best … Continue readingJohnny Tillotson: Poetry in Motion
IN the summer I was looking at the flowering plants I have in pots along the south-facing front of the house when I saw a hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum). I … Continue readingA hummer in the summer
This was written by Kal Mann, who was also the lyricist of Elvis Presley’s Teddy Bear and Chubby Checker’s Let’s Twist Again, and Dave Appell. It was released in 1962, reaching No 4 … Continue readingThe Orlons: Don’t Hang Up