K for Kitty's calling V for Victor

[sovay]

I am fascinated by the closing track of NMC's Britten to America: Music for Radio and Theatre (2013), "Where do we go from here?" It comes from the episode of the same name of the BBC's Britain to America (1942–43), scripted by Louis MacNeice and broadcast in January 1943; it was performed originally by jazz legend Adelaide Hall and I had no idea Benjamin Britten had ever written anything that sounded so much like a Broadway first-act finale. Part of it's the vocal style of Mary Carewe, who recorded it for this centenary project in 2013, but the rest is the song itself and its orchestration. On the page it looks much more straightforwardly—curious yet apprehensive—about international relations. Listen and you can imagine it sung by one of a pair of lovers, questioning the future of their relationship against the backdrop of a world in constant, global conversation with itself. Who knew there was such a thing as the geopolitical torch song? Even its closest relative on this album, the Gershwin-out-of-Kipling-esque "Roman Wall Blues," doesn't sound so much like musical theater. I kind of want the rest of the show it belongs to, which I doubt is going to oblige me by retroactively coming into existence.

Comments

[cmcmck]

The much missed Alex Harvey made a solo album with the title 'Roman Wall Blues' earlier in his career.

https://youtu.be/fhxre5KLfaY

[sovay]

The much missed Alex Harvey made a solo album with the title 'Roman Wall Blues' earlier in his career.

I saw that when I was looking for Carewe's recording!

[shewhomust]

I did not know this - actually, I did not know either of these - version of 'Roman Wall Blues', so thank you for the introduction! (In my head it is altogether jauntier than the Britten version, but never mond...)

[sovay]

I did not know this - actually, I did not know either of these - version of 'Roman Wall Blues', so thank you for the introduction!

You're welcome! I had discovered "Roman Wall Blues" a couple of years ago, but the other was completely new to me.

(In my head it is altogether jauntier than the Britten version, but never mond...)

Britten's version is much more art than folk song. And Harvey's, which alters some of Auden's lyrics, is very much a rock song. I almost wish Bellamy had taken a crack at it.

[shewhomust]

Britten's version is much more art than folk song...
Yes; I try not to be put off by this, but I don't necessarily succeed. A Peter Bellamy version would be interesting - or maybe there's a tune out there, folk or popular, which it already fits.

And Harvey's, which alters some of Auden's lyrics,
Not just me being picky, then?

[sovay]

Yes; I try not to be put off by this, but I don't necessarily succeed.

Mileage varies. I love some of his settings of English and Irish folk songs; I used to perform them. I am much more meh about others.

Not just me being picky, then?

Nope.

[buttonsbeadslace]

I can totally imagine it. It's as if the musical Chess had a counterpart set in the 40s.

[sovay]

I can totally imagine it. It's as if the musical Chess had a counterpart set in the 40s.

Yes!

It really feels like a visitor from an alternate history of musical theater. spatch observed last night that it doesn't even sound that much like 1943 Broadway unless, like, Kurt Weill was involved.

[reconditarmonia]

It definitely sounds a little Bernstein, but '43 is still early for Bernstein! Thank you for the link.

[sovay]

It definitely sounds a little Bernstein, but '43 is still early for Bernstein! Thank you for the link.

You're welcome! Agreed on the not quite Bernstein. I keep feeling there's something it really reminds me of, but I haven't been able to pin it down.