Spectator Crossword N0. 2681 By La...
Crosswords2 mins ago
Elgar Vs Smith ?
http://www.telegraph....ational-disgrace.html
Telegraph today reports
“£20 Elgar note withdrawal 'a national disgrace'
The arts will no longer be represented on Bank of England notes from this Thursday – a decision branded a "national disgrace" by a music academic
The older style £20 note bearing an image of Sir Edward Elgar ceases to be legal tender at midnight on Wednesday (June 30), replaced by a new note featuring the Scottish economist Adam Smith.”
Smith expounded, in The Wealth of Nations, how rational self-interest and competition can lead to economic prosperity and well-being. It also provided one of the best-known intellectual rationales for free trade and capitalism. Smith also wrote other philosophic works .The Wealth of Nations is considered one of the great achievements in human intellectual history". P. J. O'Rourke describes Smith as the "founder of free market economics".
Whilst
Elgar gave us the Pomp and Circumstance Marches (with Land of Hope Glory lyrics since added), the glorious (played on Remembrance Day) Nimrod, Enigma Variations, masterpiece First Symphony, the Cello Concerto, the Violin Concerto, and many more great works. “… Anyone who doubts Elgar's genius should take the first opportunity of hearing The Dream of Gerontius, which remains his masterpiece,”
Do you agree with Prof Jeremy Dibble that: "The withdrawal of the Sir Edward Elgar £20 note is a national disgrace” - and the view that Elgar was the greater of the these two British giants ?
Telegraph today reports
“£20 Elgar note withdrawal 'a national disgrace'
The arts will no longer be represented on Bank of England notes from this Thursday – a decision branded a "national disgrace" by a music academic
The older style £20 note bearing an image of Sir Edward Elgar ceases to be legal tender at midnight on Wednesday (June 30), replaced by a new note featuring the Scottish economist Adam Smith.”
Smith expounded, in The Wealth of Nations, how rational self-interest and competition can lead to economic prosperity and well-being. It also provided one of the best-known intellectual rationales for free trade and capitalism. Smith also wrote other philosophic works .The Wealth of Nations is considered one of the great achievements in human intellectual history". P. J. O'Rourke describes Smith as the "founder of free market economics".
Whilst
Elgar gave us the Pomp and Circumstance Marches (with Land of Hope Glory lyrics since added), the glorious (played on Remembrance Day) Nimrod, Enigma Variations, masterpiece First Symphony, the Cello Concerto, the Violin Concerto, and many more great works. “… Anyone who doubts Elgar's genius should take the first opportunity of hearing The Dream of Gerontius, which remains his masterpiece,”
Do you agree with Prof Jeremy Dibble that: "The withdrawal of the Sir Edward Elgar £20 note is a national disgrace” - and the view that Elgar was the greater of the these two British giants ?
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"I have The Dream of Gerontius......the Jaqcueline du Pre recording of the Cello Concerto" JJ - You are a Lady of Taste !
"I haven't read The Wealth of Nations" - neither have I but Im told its a book for bedtime - but obviously not for you, with having the Italian BF
"So ... I'll vote for Elgar" just you and me - everyone else still to be converted ?
Jno - "Elgar's economic theories were rubbish and would have led the country into financial disaster and a crisis of capitalism. Whereas Smith's .......... music was rubbish.......and it seems some not so happy with his gordon gekko ideology too !
"I haven't read The Wealth of Nations" - neither have I but Im told its a book for bedtime - but obviously not for you, with having the Italian BF
"So ... I'll vote for Elgar" just you and me - everyone else still to be converted ?
Jno - "Elgar's economic theories were rubbish and would have led the country into financial disaster and a crisis of capitalism. Whereas Smith's .......... music was rubbish.......and it seems some not so happy with his gordon gekko ideology too !
I do try, olddutch
My Gerontius is the Hallé Orchestra, with John Barbirolli.
It has a slightly melodramatic painting of an angel and "hordes" on the cover. I have to confess, I bought that recording because of the cover.
(I know, I know ... you don't have to say it!)
But the Cello Concerto ... well, I don't know why they even bother to sell any other recordings !
My Gerontius is the Hallé Orchestra, with John Barbirolli.
It has a slightly melodramatic painting of an angel and "hordes" on the cover. I have to confess, I bought that recording because of the cover.
(I know, I know ... you don't have to say it!)
But the Cello Concerto ... well, I don't know why they even bother to sell any other recordings !
"Not only is Anna Nicole dead, Adam himself isn't looking too well".
Jno - if you look on the back of £20 note Smith looks like hes got a bad dose of Hyperthyroidism (particularly Graves disease) - which seems to be a grave condition ? Elgar on the back of his note, looks a lot more spritely and deserving to be there ?
Jno - if you look on the back of £20 note Smith looks like hes got a bad dose of Hyperthyroidism (particularly Graves disease) - which seems to be a grave condition ? Elgar on the back of his note, looks a lot more spritely and deserving to be there ?
Old Dutch, I plead guilty on both counts and I totally concur with your views on Elgar's music, but we WERE talking about a bank-note after all. Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, I say, and I fail to see much of a connection between sublime music and filthy lucre. So, Adam Smith on the £20.00 for me .
Quizmonster - I’ll try another try
"I fail to see much of a connection between sublime music and filthy lucre" - Well as I see it the connection is already there - Elgar has been on the back of the note being withdrawn today since 1999 - its the tradition to put Great Britain’s like Faraday or Shakespeare on Great Britain’s bank notes - its boils down to which Great Brit should be on the note - under consideration here was a choice of only two - namely Elgar and Smith
“….the things that are Caesar's” (Caesar being her Majesty on the front) does not have to be “a filthy lucre person” - it should be the Great Brit who inspires you the most when you open your purse ?
If you look on the back of £20 note Smith is not “a flower to be looked at” and looks like he’s got a bad dose of Hyperthyroidism - a bit of a grave yard look - whilst Elgar on the back of his note, looks a lot more sprightly and presentable along with a lovely view of the west face of Worcester Cathedral which might well draw you to thoughts of Elgars music.
Now be honest Quizmonster, which out of the two Great Brits Pictures, from an aesthetic and inspirational point of view, would you prefer to see when you open your purse - Elgar or Smith ?
"I fail to see much of a connection between sublime music and filthy lucre" - Well as I see it the connection is already there - Elgar has been on the back of the note being withdrawn today since 1999 - its the tradition to put Great Britain’s like Faraday or Shakespeare on Great Britain’s bank notes - its boils down to which Great Brit should be on the note - under consideration here was a choice of only two - namely Elgar and Smith
“….the things that are Caesar's” (Caesar being her Majesty on the front) does not have to be “a filthy lucre person” - it should be the Great Brit who inspires you the most when you open your purse ?
If you look on the back of £20 note Smith is not “a flower to be looked at” and looks like he’s got a bad dose of Hyperthyroidism - a bit of a grave yard look - whilst Elgar on the back of his note, looks a lot more sprightly and presentable along with a lovely view of the west face of Worcester Cathedral which might well draw you to thoughts of Elgars music.
Now be honest Quizmonster, which out of the two Great Brits Pictures, from an aesthetic and inspirational point of view, would you prefer to see when you open your purse - Elgar or Smith ?
Quizmonster, below a “pinched” post
“Look at the circumstantial evidence that led to the 1st Scotsman being portrayed on a B of E note.Up until the annoucement on 30th October 2007 all our notes had prominent English pesonalities depicted on them. Likewise Scottish Bank notes had only prominent Scots. Because Mervyn King had a very close relationship with Gordon Brown - full of mutual admiration etc believing him to be the best chancellor this country has ever had, it would seem that Mervyn King decided to honour Gordon Brown by putting him on the £20 note! However this was too transparent and another great Scottish economist Adam Smith had to be selected with a wink and a nod.The announcement was made in Gordon Browns constituency in Kirkcaldy where Mervyn King was giving the annual Adam Smith Institute lecture.Even Alex Salmon cynically observed that although Smith was to be on the back of an English Banknote the Scots already had him portrayed on the front of The Clydesdale Bank £50 note and was a bit demeaning.I contacted the B of E at the time to find out why Adam Smith was selected when he alredy appeared on another British note instead of say Nelson or Brunel, because outside of economic circles Adam Smith was little known to the English. I was told it was to upgrade the security features - and besides Adam Smith was British anyway.My compaint that this was an elitist choice (Yes it was Mervyn Kings choice alone without consultation with anyone else)not a popular one fell on deaf ears.”
“Look at the circumstantial evidence that led to the 1st Scotsman being portrayed on a B of E note.Up until the annoucement on 30th October 2007 all our notes had prominent English pesonalities depicted on them. Likewise Scottish Bank notes had only prominent Scots. Because Mervyn King had a very close relationship with Gordon Brown - full of mutual admiration etc believing him to be the best chancellor this country has ever had, it would seem that Mervyn King decided to honour Gordon Brown by putting him on the £20 note! However this was too transparent and another great Scottish economist Adam Smith had to be selected with a wink and a nod.The announcement was made in Gordon Browns constituency in Kirkcaldy where Mervyn King was giving the annual Adam Smith Institute lecture.Even Alex Salmon cynically observed that although Smith was to be on the back of an English Banknote the Scots already had him portrayed on the front of The Clydesdale Bank £50 note and was a bit demeaning.I contacted the B of E at the time to find out why Adam Smith was selected when he alredy appeared on another British note instead of say Nelson or Brunel, because outside of economic circles Adam Smith was little known to the English. I was told it was to upgrade the security features - and besides Adam Smith was British anyway.My compaint that this was an elitist choice (Yes it was Mervyn Kings choice alone without consultation with anyone else)not a popular one fell on deaf ears.”
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