Sibelius gets mown down by juggernaut

[dragon]

On Radio 3 this morning at 11 o'clock, the presenter played Sibelius 3rd Symphony. He likened the third movement to a juggernaut moving down the motorway and said something else about huge wheels. My instant reaction was, that doesn't sound right, but I listened on wondering if I had missed something. I hadn't. But he had. Sibelius' music is simply not juggernaut-ish. Juggernauts are fearfull, unstoppable monsters that will mow you down without even noticing that they have done so. No matter how powerfull Sibelius' music is, and it can be very powerful, it never looses its humanity, its awareness of the listener. It is highly communicative music, and endlessly subtle. So I am sorry Mr Presenter, but, to quote Salieri in the film Amadeus, of the Musical Emperor "Actually, the poor man has no ear at all."

Describing a piece of music as a juggernaut is perfectly valid. I was going to ask for suggestions, but it sudddenly occurs to me: Land of Hope and Glory, that is certainly a juggernaut. Obviously highly nationalist pieces fit the bill. That's what I can think of. Can anybody think of anything else?

[Sooz]

I'm not familiar with this piece of music but I will track it down and have a listen. I've read the last two pieces about behavior but I didn't comment because both sparked in-site fighting. This one felt safer.

You put your point across so well in this that I want to listen, to form my own judgement and to see if I agree with you. If the writing wasn't good/informative, I wouldn't have the interest to know.

Generalising, you write with great conviction. You have your opinions and you certainly have a way with you when putting them across. Even in the dog piece, which I disagreed with you for the most part, you did make some valid points.

I like to try and read a cross section of everything. I think I could learn something from you, but I'm guessing that your work would only suit me in short blasts and only now and again.

I realise that this is going to sound twee, but I honestly don't mind some deep, political, religious, or educated pieces, but for the most part I want to be entertained. I enjoy humour. Deb has just posted a poem about a cut finger. It made me laugh. It didn't teach me anything, or tell me anything, but it was funny and well written and it was entertaining.

I think what I'm saying is that there is room for every style of writing on here. You write well, I'd just like to see something lighter from you.

[dragon]

Thank you very much for your positive comments, Sooz. I am very flattered that you want to read more of my work, albeit it in a lighter mode.

First, however, I'd be interested to know if you managed to track down the Sibelius and what you thought about it.

Secondly, here is something lighter!

If I was a hippopotamus, a potamus I'd be
But I'd leave the swamps and muddy pools for the wide Sargasso Sea.
I'd wear a pair of water wings, and rest upon the tide
And flying fish would be my dish and an albatross my guide.

....and this......

The Grumbly Bee

Let the grumble bee grumble, I say
Let him grumble all night, let him grumble all day.
Let him grumble his grumblesome life away.
If you were as fsat and as furry as he
And airborne on wings so unsuitably wee,
Don't tell me you would not grumbly be!

Alright?

[dragon]

Sooz, my reply to your comment ended with "Alright?" which in retrospect I see sounds rude. It was not intended to be. It is just clumsy.