Second Concert Success

I'm late posting tonight for two reasons.
Firstly, I have been visiting my brother after his horrific accident. I was delighted to see him looking so well despite the ordeal, and even walking about, well, hobbling really. It was all rather emotional, (for me), as you can't help thinking how lucky we are to still have him with us, and sadness for the family of the other man. Robin has been waiting anxiously for news and is very relieved to hear of Jonathan's progress. He'd guessed that he was doing well, as the reply to Robin's e mail about understanding the concept of bunjee jumping was, "The bridge doesn't usually follow you to the ground."
The second reason is that I have been waiting for news of the last guitar concert on board the QM2.
In true professional style, Robin put his personal concerns behind him, and gave an excellent performance.
He played:

Mozart Variations

Danza Brasilera - Morel

Misionera - Bustamente

Sons de Carilhoes - Pernambuco

Asturias - Albeniz

Jota - Trad.

Berceuse and Danza del Altiplano - Brouwer

Judging by the whistles at the end, I think the audience enjoyed it.
Robin also informed me that earlier in the day Richard Dreyfuss had been in the same theatre doing a questions and answers session.
As Robin's work has now finished I'm sure he will be going for some R&R.

What a Week....

I've rather a mixed blog for you today.
The first part is great news. Robin docked in Grenada and his case has now been returned to him! He really enjoyed having a walk around the 'Spice Islands', which he said are very interesting, hilly and lush. The weather was fantastic with a cooling breeze. Even better, was returning to the QM2, having a bath, and being able to put on his own clothes!
Now that he has his nail repair kit, he can plan his programme for tomorrow. He did consider changing it, as any flamenco pieces may have proved too much for his nails, especially if he was unable to strengthen them prior to the concert.
Hopefully I'll be able to report back on that tomorrow, but many thanks to all the staff on the QM2 for recharging 'phones/computers, and generally finding him things to wear!
There was a story in the paper today, by Christopher Hope, explaining how many original pictures of the Beatles have been inadvertently thrown out, including the only copy of the photograph for their 'Please Please Me' album. That's a real shame.
This brings me to the second part of the blog and the problems we have been having with our very own photographer, Jonathan Keenan.
He also happens to be my brother, which does, of course, make him Robin's brother-in-law.
On Wednesday evening he was doing a shoot in the centre of Manchester (UK), 30ft up in a crane, when the crane fell over.
He was thrown onto the cobbles below, landing on his head and shoulder.
Amazingly, nothing is broken, and despite severe head lacerations and bruises all over his body, he has now come home.
Sadly, the crane operator was not as fortunate and died the next day.
You can imagine the turmoil the family have been in. At times like this everyone pulls together, gathers around, and takes comfort from just being together. Thoughts of what might have been are never far away.
For Robin this has been particularly difficult as he is so far from home and unable to be here. There have been many 'phone calls, reassuring in all directions, and thankfully, Jonathan is home and starting a period of recuperation.
Robin was able to send him an e mail though, which went something along the lines of, "Don't you know the rules of Bungee jumping?" But that's men for you!
I'm surrounded by artistic sorts, sometimes I think life would be so much simpler if they all worked in a supermarket.
Still, at least Robin is able to take his mind off things on the Island of St.Kitts. I'm sure he'll take a break from his guitar practice to have a look around.

Elgar Again, and nearing Grenada

Poor old Elgar, why won't they leave him alone. Read this article by Amy Iggulden.The fact that people like the music, isn't that enough?
Norman Lebrecht says, "He left three works of great stature, the Enigma Variations, the Violin Concerto and the Cello Concerto, but the rest is of rather medium quality."
In my view, if he'd only composed one of those pieces he should still be classed as a 'major figure in music history.'
Well done to Julian Lloyd Webber, and James Inverne from 'Gramaphone', for standing up for Elgar.
Meanwhile out at sea, there is a rumour that someone, somewhere, has put a suitcase with Robin's name on it, on an overnight plane to Grenada.
The QM2 will be docking there later today.
We don't know if this is true, or if it is in fact his case, because, as yet, I still haven't managed to speak to a 'person' at BA. Still, six days 'on hold' isn't bad, is it?
Until I hear from Robin I don't think I'll believe it, so you'll have to check back later to see if it has arrived.

One Down One to Go

At last I have some musical news to report.
Robin did the first of two concerts last night, and despite his borrowed suit and shoes, managed to give an excellent performance.

It was a 40 minute recital and here's what he played:


Malaguena - (Trad. Arr. Hill)

Six Renaissance Lute Pieces - (Arr. Chilesotti revised Hill)
(Andante - Bianco fiore - Danza - Gagliarda - Se lo M'Accorgo - Salterello

Capricho Arabe - Recuerdos de la Alhambra (Tarrega)

El Noi de la Mare - (Trad. Arr. Llobet)

La Paloma - (Iradier - Arr. Tarrega)

Three Pieces - Dilermando Reis
(Conversa da Baiana - Si Ela Perguntar - Xodo da Baiana)


It went very well and later in the evening an Italian lady tapped him on the shoulder and gave him the thumbs up sign. I think she was referring to the performance rather than his attire.
Today Robin was able to take a break from guitar practice and go ashore in Bonaire, just off the coast of Venezuela, to stock up on a few more essentials.
He even found that one of the Officers on board has the same Apple computer and he very kindly let Robin recharge.
Still working on the mobile 'phone...

A Case of the Borrowed Tuxedo....

You can imagine how I felt to see this front page headline in 'The Daily Telegraph' today. It's almost as if the Telegraph have been following the saga!
As David Millward and Paula Sheppard report, BA are the 'worst airline in Europe for losing luggage'.
They are losing 23 bags per 1000 passengers and most of them seem to be Robin's.
Yes, they were responsible for the lost case and guitar only a matter of weeks ago, and the current missing suitcase.
For anyone in the same position, take it from me, the online baggage tracer is a waste of time. It continuously says, 'No information available', and in the last episode we had, it still said that after I'd finally spoken to someone, and they told me it was on the way to our home!
Trying to actually speak to a person is also a nightmare. If you're lucky, you get put 'on hold' and are able to listen to some soothing guitar music, which was infuriating when it was a guitar I was trying to trace, but now, I seem to just get a message saying all the operators are busy, call back later, then the line goes dead. I'm not surprised with the number of bags they're losing.
It's all very tedious and, as yet, Robin is still struggling with a very limited wardrobe.
That's unfortunate as the first of his two concerts is today.
He seems to be keeping his sense of humour though. I had an e mail from him last night saying that he had managed to borrow a tuxedo, which fit him like a glove - it had 5 arms....
The reception area have also lent him a pair of shoes.
I do feel for him, it's hard enough getting up there on stage and playing the notes, without having to worry about your 'thrown together' appearance!
Robin is also currently stalking the decks of the QM2 on the look out for anyone with an Apple computer. He needs to recharge, and, of course, the charger is in the case. So far, he has found two Apple enthusiasts, but they have older models which don't have the nifty magnetic connector that his does.
So if you are reading this on board and have the right charger, please go and find Robin Hill, otherwise our e mails will dry up shortly...

A Sting in the Tale

I have had no news yet whether the suitcase arrived in time although I suspect that it didn't. I'll update you as and when I can.
Meanwhile, at home, I was pleased to read an article by Amy Iggulden on the Classical Brit Awards. Sir Paul McCartney and Sting have both been nominated for an award in the best album category. I'm sure that this 'classical crossover' can only help introduce new fans to the whole area. So good luck to them both!
There has been so much happening here over the last few days, that I didn't have the chance to tell you about an evening out we had, prior to Robin's latest trip.
It was the Spring Concert at son number ones school. It is a chance for many of the children to demonstrate their musical skills, with many solo performances, on a variety of instruments. The guitar was well represented, and the drums seemed very popular this year...
However there were two highlights for me.
The first, was the recorder group, 'Mary Poppins Medley'. It wasn't so much that 'proud parent' moment, as the antics on stage. As they progressed through the piece one boy started gyrating, completely out of time, and I was trying to remind myself that he was only 10. They all kept playing, right through to the end, although there was quite a lot of smirking going on, which isn't easy when you are playing the recorder.
I found out later that son number one had spotted a wasp crawling up the trouser leg of this unfortunate boy. He had a dilemma. Did he try and knock it out of the way, or could this have been seen as an unprovoked attack, culminating in a very public battle, which wouldn't have gone down well with the Headmaster.
He chose to wait and see what happened. Consequently, the poor boy was trying to shake the wasp out from his trouser leg whilst continuing to perform. All credit to him, not a wrong note was played!
The second highlight was the upper school choir singing 'All Things Bright and Beautiful', arranged by John Rutter.
The arrangement was fantastic and it was beautifully delivered. We were so impressed at the quality, and amount of work that must have gone into training these 9/10 year olds, that we sent a card in to the music teacher the next day. Unfortunately son number one forgot to give it to her. Oh well, I'll tell her next term.

The Robin Hill Saga

And so it goes on.
Robin made it to Chicago, but his suitcase didn't. He's making a habit of travelling very light these days.
He then had to endure another flight to Miami, unsure when, or if, he will get his case back, before the QM2 sets sail.
He spent the night in a hotel, and when he got up early the next morning, couldn't face his travel weary clothes.
The only shop open at that time of day was part of the hotel, so he ventured in to purchase a shirt. No such luck, the only thing they had was a t-shirt, with 'M*I*A*M*I' emblazoned across the chest. I think he's more distressed to be seen wearing it than he is about the loss of 10 days worth of clothes.

There's a bigger problem though. If the case doesn't arrive before 5pm US time, then he won't see it until Thursday when he docks in Bonaire.
Thanks to the security alerts last year, strings, nail kit, footstool, all have to be in the 'lost' case.
Whilst Robin's guitar obviously does have strings on, he needs to change the treble strings prior to every concert. Therefore will need a set of Savarez very quickly.

I read the other day that Fergie, from the Black Eyed Peas, recently suffered a similar fate with the loss of luggage, except they lost all 30 (!) of her cases. How does she remember which case she packed her nail kit in? I'm sure it's tiny compared to the one Robin needs. Which brings me to another point. Every day minor repairs to nails are required. No nail kit, no repair.

So, having settled into his very nice room on board ship, (at least it didn't take long to unpack), he decided it best to assume the case wouldn't appear, so urgent supplies were needed.

With the help of a local taxi driver he found a music shop and got himself some strings and a footstool. He was delighted to see a huge picture of Jaco Pastorius on the wall, and when he asked the shop keeper if Jaco had frequented this store the owner replied, "Hey, he was just a local guy"!

His friendly taxi driver then took him for some basics, you know, toothbrush, razor etc. He even managed to get a few pair of socks, but I, and Robin can't understand why they don't appear to sell underwear in Fort Lauderdale. Anywhere.
If any of our American readers can offer an explanation I'd be delighted to hear it!

So if you have been near Port Everglade, Hollywood or Fort Lauderdale today, and come across a rather dishevelled, unshaven, guitarist, sporting a 'M*I*A*M*I' t-shirt, I hope you were kind to him. If you see him again, will you lend him some suncream.

The Windy City - If You Can Get On The Flight....

The next time you find yourself thinking that the life of a musician is glamorous one, then just remind yourself of the recent trauma that Robin was subjected to, when BA lost his suitcase and Miguel Rodriguez guitar. If you remember, both were returned, albeit after a very tense day.
You would think that was enough excitement to last a lifetime of travel, but, today has seen the next installment.
This morning we were up at 4am so that Robin could catch the first flight to Heathrow. Apart from the early start, this part of the journey was fine.
After the 'lost guitar' episode he vowed not to let his precious instrument in the hold again, and so far, apart from a little hassle, that hasn't been a problem.
However, once at Heathrow, he checked in for his flight to Chicago, and then went for security checks.
Should be fine, there were 4 hours to kill.
Robin stood, impatiently, in the endless queue for the entire time, repeatedly telling the officials that his flight was nearly due to board. Only to be informed that it hadn't been called yet.
Eventually, he told the staff again that his flight was due, and they calmly informed him that he had missed it!!! They'd had him there for 4 hours, can you believe it.
Robin tried to resolve the problem at the airport, and I tried to calm the situation at this end.
The outcome is that they found him a seat on the next flight, which should still give him time to make his connection.
When I last spoke to him he was on board, with his guitar, and starting to relax. In fact he was just about to listen to some 'Chicago' on his iPod.
So whilst it can be glamorous and exciting to travel the world, it's not always easy...

Foulds before Flying ( for Robin Hill )

Yesterday I talked about Robin's 'Concerto Primavera' and it was a coincidence when I looked in The Telegraph today to find an article by Simon Heffer on John Foulds.
John Foulds was born in Manchester, England, in 1880. Manchester is just a few miles down the road from us and, with Walton coming from Oldham, it seems we are a quite a prolific lot up here in the frozen north of England.
Foulds was a composer and conductor who joined the Halle orchestra when in his 20's. By 1906 he had left the Halle to concentrate on composition.
His major work, 'A World Requiem', which commemorated the World War 1 dead, was very popular at the time, but was last performed in 1926.
That is about to change. On November 11th, Armistice night, it will be performed again at The Albert Hall, under the auspices of the BBC, and sponsored by The Daily Telegraph.
I only hope we don't have to wait 81 years for the next performance of 'Concerto Primavera', or any of Robin's other concerti for that matter...
Meanwhile, here, things are a little frantic. There's packing to be done ready for Robin's journey tomorrow.
He is currently in denial about his trip, which is normal, he'll be fine when he's actually on his way. So instead of getting organised he has gone shopping with son number two. That's fine by me, it will save me a job, as he is buying food he won't be home to eat!

Concerto Primavera - Robin Hill

Robin has been locked away in the music room all day practicing hard on the guitar. Whilst he was doing that, I was searching through one of the many piles of paper around the house and came across this:




(You can click on the image to enlarge, but it's a bit of a fiddle I'm afraid, I will try to resolve the problem!)

It is the review for the premiere of 'Concerto Primavera', and as you can see, it went down rather well.
Since then, it has been re-written for guitar and orchestra, and is equally as exciting.
Robin worked very hard that evening, in the first half Hill/Wiltschinsky performed some of their own pieces, and then, Carulli, Sor, Mendelssohn and Petite, before Vivaldi's G Major Concerto with the orchestra.
After a well deserved interval, Robin went back on stage with Simone Rebello and the orchestra for the grand finale.
It was very exciting for me to be in the audience and hear the concerto come to life after months of composing and rehearsal, I think I know every note of 'Concerto Primavera' as well as Robin does.
Maybe I was meant to find it today, Spring, after all, has arrived.

Happy Birthday - Sir William Walton

After Elgar's removal from banknotes here in the UK, I thought I'd better make a stand for another great English composer, Sir William Walton, especially as it would have been his birthday today.
Walton was born in Oldham, Lancashire, but lived the later years of his life on the Mediterranean Island of Ischia. I can't say I blame him, Lancashire is known for its wet weather, which is why there used to be a huge cotton industry here. Sorry Oldham, but I think Ischia would win every time.
In the 1920's and 30's Walton was considered the most important English composer of his generation.
In 1970/1 he composed 'Five Bagatelles for Solo Guitar', as a 50th birthday present for Malcolm Arnold which were dedicated to the guitarist Julian Bream.
In fact Walton was so pleased with the Bagatelles that in 1972 he composed 'Varii Capricci for Orchestra' based on them, which was one of the last pieces he wrote before his death in 1983. (He did actually rewrite the final movement in 1977).
So Happy Birthday Walton.

Meanwhile, Robin has been working hard on finalising two programmes for next week, so the music room door has been firmly shut whilst he prepares. He did emerge to take the dogs for a walk in the Lancashire drizzle though...

Would you like a CD with your Coffee?...

There was a nice article yesterday in 'Slate Magazine', by Daniel Gross, in which he was looking at CD sales, and poses the question, 'If the CD is dead, why are so many companies going into the CD business?'
It has been well documented that generally CD sales are falling due to a preference for digital singles over albums, resulting in the closure of many record shop.
However, that isn't the case for all.
Gross points out that some stores are seeing an increase in sales, and suggests that what's required is a different style of marketing.
The recent signing of Paul McCartney to Starbucks is one example. They already have established outlets, with the facility to sell over the counter, and a large volume of customers each day. I'm sure they must have done their sums and feel it will be a financially viable option.
I have often said in past blogs that a new approach is required to encourage audiences to attend concerts, and, particularly to draw the next generation in. So a revamp of marketing approaches for performance and music sales is what is needed.
Luckily, we spent the morning in a meeting doing just that. It was a productive time and hopefully will 'streamline' the Robin Hill experience when we have it up and running.

Sshh - It's a Secret....

Robin has gone back down to London today. He's there for an important meeting, and no, I can't tell you anything about it at this stage. In fact, I'm not sure when I'll be able to pass on this exciting news, so you'll just have to keep checking in. Nothing like a bit of intrigue to keep you all guessing, and no, I'm not open to bribes...
He decided to go down on the train and I think he quite enjoyed the experience of travelling without his guitar. It certainly makes life easier.
Robin seems to be making a habit of heading south at the moment. If you remember he was in London last week doing his bit to save the rainforest.
Here's the picture to prove it.




Meanwhile, I've been holding the fort at home, as always. I did remember to take a break and listen to 'Tales from the Stave', BBC Radio 4. This week Frances Fyfield discussed the creative process behind Benjamin Britten's opera 'Peter Grimes', with the musical experts Dr.John Evans and Dr.Paul Banks. It's such a delight to hear them thoroughly enjoying themselves as they pour over the score. I recommend it as some lovely lunchtime listening.

'A Walk in the Park' - Robin Hill

All the neural activity yesterday certainly paid off. Whilst Robin was out in the park with dogs and children I had a 'phone call. He said that he had come up with a new piece and within half an hour of getting home the basic score for an orchestral movement was down in print.
It never ceases to amaze me, even after 15 years of marriage, that when Robin says he has some music in his head, it isn't just the main theme, but the entire orchestral score. Sounds like it should be painful!
Let me set the scene for you.
Here was a man, on a beautiful sunny day, enjoying a walk with his dogs and children. This was a precious time for him, as he is frequently away from home, and in fact over the next six weeks will be away more than he is here.
The piece he has composed conveys the mood so clearly, and by the end of the day we were listening to the final product.
It is such a lively, happy and optimistic piece, which really does portray the image of two happy boys running around, in the way that only small boys can, accompanied by two bumbling Labradors.
Then, there is the occasional reflective moment as Robin remembers that this is just a brief time of happiness with his family before going off on his travels. That can't continue though, he has long ago learnt that you must appreciate the moment. So, we are brought back to the happy scene by a long, flowing scale on the harp.
The whole piece lasts a couple of minutes and as yet I couldn't tell you if this will become a larger work. Maybe, next week, we will get a melancholy movement as he jets back off around the world.
You, like me, will have to wait and see.

From Billy Cobham to John McLaughlin

Sunday morning = musical quiz here in Hillhouse and today it was a particularly upbeat affair.
We were given the task of recognising the time signature for two pieces. The first, Billy Cobham, 'Spectrum' from the album also named Spectrum. It's fast and furious and no matter how hard I tried to get in and count, I just couldn't do it. For those interested, I was informed by an amused Robin that it is in 7/8 time.
Fuelled by his success, he put another track on.
John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, 'Miles Beyond', from the album 'Birds of Fire'.
Robin was obviously intent on winning this morning. It starts in 4/4 time but moves swiftly on to 9/4. No, I didn't get that one either.
Incidentally, John McLaughlin appears to be a dog lover as two of his album covers sport Labrador/Retriever dogs, and I was pleased to see we aren't the only ones who allow our dogs on the furniture.
He, and any other dog lovers, may be interested in an article by Roger Highfield, 'Dogs' behaviour - it's all in the wag.' Apparently dogs wag their tails to the right when they are pleased to see you, and to the left when they secretly want to run away!
We have been studying our two canine friends in the interest of science. The results are mixed. Milly, dependable, loyal and aged 7, has a definite right sided wag. Miss Bimps obviously hasn't read the article and has an equal sway in either direction. She, however, is the 'dotty' one, and it isn't as much her tail that wags but the whole body making it difficult to assess.
In the light of my musical failings this morning I sent Robin, (he'd already done a few hours guitar practice), sons and dogs off to the park so that I could play Aretha Franklin, 'I Say a Little Prayer', very loudly, and sing along. No-one sings it like Aretha, and certainly not me...

Rachmaninov - Again!

I've been a bit slow off the mark with this one. A few days ago Matthew Guerrieri over on Soho the Dog wrote about Rachmaninov's great-great grandson, 'Alexander Temple Wolkonsky Rachmaninoff Wanamaker', and how he wants to alter some of the musical scores to enable the family to retain copyright. More on the subject in the Arizona Daily Star.
There has been an outcry, as you would expect, no-one wants to see changes made to music long after the composer has died.
However, I don't feel it is as straight forward as that, and in fact this kept me awake last night! I left a comment on 'Soho the Dog' and will be interested to see if there is a reaction.
The issues I raised looked at things from a slightly different perspective.
The more I thought about it the more I realised that if a family owned a large property that had been handed down through the generations, or even just the family heirlooms, then they would be furious if suddenly after 'x' number of years it was all taken away and put in the public domain.
However, if they discovered that they could retain that property by adding an extension to the West wing, or making a minor alteration, then you would understand them undertaking the work, hopefully sympathetically, in order to continue the line of inheritance.
The other thing is that for the composer, I do feel that they also would want their descendants to benefit from any success they may have had and continue to have long after their death.
It's basic biology that we want to take care of our blood line after our deaths if that is possible. For a few lucky people that is the case.
There is something quite reassuring that a piece composed now may help future generations of that family even though they won't ever meet.
It should be remembered that the original scores will still be around, and there are numerous recordings of Rachmaninov's works available. That can't be undone.
If, as the great-great grandson is suggesting, a composer is employed to make a few alterations, then we can only hope that they will be minimal.
For lesser known composers, I think they will just be pleased that their music is kept alive.

Potholes, Starbucks and Robin Hill Recordings

Let me show you how my warped mind works. I read a headline in the paper, 'Councils filling 1 million potholes a year.' Well, we know from our musical experience that there are '4000 holes in Blackburn Lancashire', which made me think the others are evenly distributed across the country.
From that my mind wondered to Sir Paul McCartney and his new signing with the coffee shop chain Starbucks.
In fact, as Starbucks recently announced, they are launching a new label called 'Hear Music' as a joint venture with Los Angeles based Concord Music Group.
What a coup for them all.
To sign McCartney must have been their dream come true, especially with an album due out in early summer. (As yet untitled.)
If they are looking to expand even further, then look no further.
All we need is the orchestra and recording studio and we're ready!
There are so many fantastic concerti waiting to be recorded for both solo and duo guitar, composed by such eminent composers as Rodrigo, Vivaldi and Castelnuovo-Tedesco.

Robin has performed many of these, either as a soloist, or with the Hill/Wiltschinsky Guitar Duo.
If Starbucks are feeling particularly adventurous, then why not try some new compositions, some of which have been premiered, and some as yet unheard.
Oh, and while they are at it, I take my coffee strong with just a little milk...

Home but not Free

You would think the days Robin is at home would be relaxed and carefree. Often they are, but these are busy times, so whenever he is here, there are plenty of things to fit in.
It's particularly stressful for me as I am still struggling with visa/passport issues, all of which have to be dealt with whilst I have him here with his passport...
It will now be a nail biting time to see if it is returned in time for his next trip.

To add to the craziness of the day son number one and two have been keeping me busy.
Number two needed to make an Easter hat for an event on Saturday. This has required a two stage approach. Phase one: making and painting the basic hat. Phase two: adding flowers, ladybirds and various little artistic touches, all involving yet more paint, some of which actually made it onto the hat.
Later this evening I'm off to cubs with son number one. It's my turn to make the drinks for 45 noisy and excited small boys, and to wash up afterwards. Robin can't be involved with either of these activities as neither paint or washing up liquid are good for the guitarists nails...
So, to help out, and allow me to get on with some work, Robin is having a break from his guitar practice and has taken son number two out for some male bonding.

I was also delighted to receive an e mail from Tom Alban, the producer of BBC Radio 4 'Tales from the Stave'. He was very happy to have found that he had been 'blogged' a couple of times here in the last few days. It's always nice to get feedback, both ways, and it's good to see that the BBC have their eye on what is going on out here in the blogosphere.

Heavy Metal and the Mind - of Robin Hill...

I read an article by Nic Fleming, in The Daily Telegraph, which says, "Intelligent teenagers often listen to heavy metal music to cope with the pressure associated with being talented, according to the research."

The study was carried out on a group of 'gifted' youths by a psychologist from the University of Warwick, Stuart Cadwallader. He feels that the perception that gifted children are more interested in classical music and reading is wrong, and that the students turn to heavy metal as a way of relieving stress.

Statistics can be made to show anything you like really, but I'm sure there is some truth in this.
Whether the fact that many schools, (in the UK anyway), have limited access to classical music has affected the outcome of our youths listening habits is another story.
Heavy metal, rock, R&B etc are all readily available.

Let me show you a picture.




This is Robin playing electric guitar some years ago, and yes, that really is him under all that hair! This was taken at a time when Robin played not only in his own bands, Spring, Force 10 and Hooper, but also with the major artists Deep Purple and Jethro Tull. Whilst not all heavy metal there was certainly an element of very loud electric guitar.
What this says about Robin, I haven't quite worked out...

Meanwhile down in London, The Mousetrap was fantastic and Robin hasn't told me 'whodunnit'. He will be home again later today.

Also, a very big hello to all our American visitors. I'm not sure what has triggered a huge increase in interest over there. The last time this happened it was due to some radio plays of Hill/Wiltschinsky playing Radames Gnattali, but so far I haven't established a reason. If there is one, please let me know so I can follow it up.
Either way, hope you enjoy the blog!

From Rachmaninov to The Mousetrap

I listened to the BBC Radio 4 programme I mentioned the other day, 'Tales from the Stave'. Francis Fyfield talked to conductor Marin Alsop and music critic Geoffrey Norris about Rachmaninov's Second Symphony finally being restored and now on loan to the British Library. The enthusiasm as they looked through the hand written score was infectious and it reminded me of the points I made in my blog the other day.
Future generations won't be able to see the work unfold, with alterations being made, as composers now often work through music software programmes. But, if you read my earlier blog, it does offer some suggestions as to how future historians will still be able to unravel the composer behind the music by looking in a slightly different way.
Meanwhile down in London, Robin is finishing his last day at ExCel, supporting Brazilian Springs in their quest to save the rainforest. The whole team have worked very hard and Robin has played his guitar for so long that I don't think he has any fingerprints left. Actually, he doesn't have any on his left hand anyway, they were worn away many years ago and only string shaped grooves remain.
As a reward for all their hard work they are off to St.Martin's Theatre tonight to see 'The Mousetrap', the longest-running murder mystery in the world.
Well, even Robin has to have a night off occasionally.

The Bank of England - Patriotic - I Don't Think So

As I had my first cup of coffee of the day I went on my usual morning visit to Jessica Duchen's site. She was discussing an article written by Stephen King, it's well worth a visit as I'm sure the comments will be flooding in, especially as the story has now been picked up in Italy. (Well done Jessica!).
King's article left me rather perplexed and resulted in me leaving a long and rambling comment on Jessica's site.
However, the feeling didn't leave me, and I have been thinking it over ever since.
It's all about the recent removal of Elgar from the 20 pound note in the UK. Strange that they should choose the 150th anniversary to do this, but then banks work in mysterious ways.
What made me cross was that King says "his appearance represents a peculiar celebration of mediocrity", and that he should never have been on in the first place.
Let me quote from 'The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'.

Sir Edward Elgar:
"His abundant invention, largeness of vision, and strength and singularity of musical character place him high among European Romantic artists and at the peak of British music of his time. He drew inspiration from the culture and landscape of his own country, resourcefulness from the study of his continental colleagues; and he worked in all the major forms except opera, creating a significant body of symphonic literature, the finest oratorio by an Englishman, and in his popular music a style of direct national appeal."

The list of works covers nearly four pages.

Mediocre is not a word I would use in connection with Elgar, but then maybe King, Head of Economics at HSBC bank, knows something that Groves Dictionary (or musicians bible) doesn't.

Many of the points I raised on Jessica's site I shall probably return to on another day, but one I will follow up now is the British attitude to anyone that succeeds. We seem incapable of appreciating those that do well, whatever their chosen field is, but allow hours of television time on brainless 'reality shows', which really are a celebration of mediocrity.

This is a debate we frequently have here in Hillhouse and Robin has a saying which just about sums it up:

"To the triumph of industry over indolence and merit over mediocrity." Robin Hill.

Oh, by the way, Robin has played for many hours today and is currently dining out in London whilst his fingers recover!

Mothering Sunday Madness

I was rudely awoken at 5am by the alarm clock, not the traditional start to Mother's Day of a lie in and burnt toast, but business is business.
As I waved Robin off to the airport shouting, 'Nice weather for a flight', (it's currently gale force winds and hailstones here), I did feel a twinge of guilt, especially as I crept back under the still warm duvet. However, I was joined by a wriggling and squirming son number one, so sleep remained elusive.
After only four hours sleep and a rather bumpy flight I think a few extra cups of coffee will be required to get those fingers moving on the Brazilian Springs stand at ExCel this afternoon.
If you happen to be there, go along and say hello, in the less formal setting of an exhibition, it's an ideal opportunity to get up close and see how it's all done.
I'll report back later when I have more news.

UPDATE:
I am pleased to say that Robin, guitar and suitcase all arrived safely in London. He had no trouble taking his guitar in the cabin which was a huge relief. Mind you, as it was BA that lost it last week, I don't think they would have dared refuse entry today. Interestingly, they also told Robin that all airlines should now have the same policy. Lets hope they are right.
His first afternoon has gone very well and I should have a bit more to tell you tomorrow.

To Study or Not to Study - That is the Question...

I was listening to a programme this morning discussing the issue of studying and revising for exams.
Apparently it isn't 'cool' to be seen to work hard, however, it is also not that 'cool' to fail your exams. So that leaves the students with a dilemma.
Do they break from convention and get on with their work, become secret studiers, or risk failing exams and jeopardising their future.
The fact is that to obtain success in any walk of life requires commitment.
This is a passage from Robin's book, 'The Guitar Gymnasium'

"I also feel that outstanding performance on any musical instrument can only be achieved through hard and painstaking work. The musician who excels above his colleagues is, generally, the one who has taken more pains. This is also sometimes a surprise to, not only the general public, but also, other musicians, who, also being part of the general public, half-believe outstanding virtuosity and musicality to be innate. This misconception is often fuelled by well-known musicians claiming their practice is minimal, and, indeed, by them trying to make meagre effort a virtue! We all met at school the pupils who claimed they hadn't revised and then came top of the class, believing that a)their peers would think them 'swots' if they admitted they had been up all night revising b) adopting this attitude gave them a 'safety net' if they didn't get good marks c) how much more impressive to appear as a natural genius d) this attitude would also deter would-be competitors who believed themselves inferior."

Robin Hill 1999

So there it is. Whether you decide to do it covertly or overtly, hard work is the only thing that will get the results you want and need.

Robin Hill Turns to South America

Sometimes I can't quite believe how lucky I am, and today is one of those days.
The sun is streaming through the window and I've just been listening to a selection of some of the most vibrant, ebullient, rhythmic, melodic and lively music you can imagine.
See if you can guess the theme, here's some of the composers:
Jorge Morel, Federico Bustamente, Dilamando Reis, got it yet?
No, well here's a few more:
Villa-Lobos, Antonio Lauro, Agustin Barrios and Pernambuco.
Answer:
They are all South American.
The reason is that Robin is deep into his practice for ExCel starting on Sunday afternoon, all day Monday and Tuesday. As he will be on the Brazilian Springs stand we felt a South American feel would be appropriate.
As the whole exhibition is an international food and drink event I'm sure there will be plenty there to satisfy all the senses.
I must now get back to my eavesdropping, all that music and it's not even lunchtime!

Rachmaninov's Second Symphony - Found

As I flicked through The Daily Telegraph this morning I came across an exciting article by Geoffrey Norris, -'Lost symphony in a Co-op bag'.
Rachmaninov's Second Symphony has been found, and since authenticated, in the effects of an elderly collector who has died.
It's a fascinating story which will be discussed on BBC Radio 4, March 20th at 1.30, 'Tales from the Stave'.
Norris points out that the First Symphony is still missing, so keep your eyes open when turning out your attic.
It made me think about future generations and how their searches for lost pieces may take a very different turn. With the advent of music software programmes such as 'Sibelius', many composers now use this convenient method to notate their music. However, this will deny those 'yet to be born' historians a valuable insight into the musical deliberations and the evolution of a composition. Handwritten scores (as with handwritten manuscripts of literary works) often provide an illumination of the compositional process. However, one will still be able to see a piece developing over time if the pages of manuscript are printed out, played through, and alterations made.
My fear is that most musicians are not organised (nor indeed are they generally interested) in filing away 'stages of composition' for posterity.
Their main focus is perfecting their music.
So I'd like to leave a few suggestions for son number one, two, and their descendants.
All those pieces of paper lying around randomly are important. Don't just throw them out. They are the vital link in a chain that will show a work in progress.
Do check behind any cupboard and even under the eaves. There will be more music there.
If you find what looks like a shopping list, do turn it over and check. The chances are it's part of the final movement of 'Primavera', or the middle section of 'Celtic Concerto'.
Don't forget that all those bags full of tapes and CDs tell a story. Many of them contain short clips, ideas, whole pieces, interviews, t.v. broadcasts etc. all of which could prove extremely useful in the future.
So whilst I'm not comparing Robin Hill with Rachmaninov, we do need to consider new methods of tracing living and deceased composers and their music.

The Final Furry

As there is a lull before the final stages of preparation for Robin's mammoth stint at ExCel starting on Sunday, I decided it was time to introduce the final furry.



This is Milly a 7 year old Golden Labrador with the coldest nose imaginable. Her greatest pleasure is to place it firmly on any exposed flesh causing maximum shock. She generally does this to Robin first thing in the morning to announce that she is ready for a walk.
She is extremely loyal and generally sits beside me whenever I'm writing as moral support.

And Relax...

Despite the trauma of yesterday it was pretty much business as usual here. We did take time out to chat over a coffee a little more than usual, most of it conducted in a whisper as Robin was still rather hoarse from straining his vocal cords yesterday. Good job son number one was at school, I didn't want him learning any new words. (Son number two was playing with his lego oblivious of the chaos around him.)
Robin was also spoilt for choice, which guitar to play. The Churchdoor recently returned from unscheduled globe trotting, or the other Miguel Rodriguez freshly retrieved from Paul Fischer's workshop. (Incidentally, we are delighted with the refretting and renewed polish to the neck, it's sounding fantastic.)
I had my own dilemma. What do you feed a man who has just returned from 10 days of 6* luxury dining?
Answer: Home made fava soup.

Missing - Miguel Rodriguez Churchdoor........

I really don't know where to begin to describe the anger/frustration/despair that we are feeling here at the moment.
Robin has finally arrived home from Mombasa but British Airways have managed to lose not only his suitcase but also his irreplaceable Miguel Rodriguez Churchdoor guitar. (For non-guitarists Miguel Rodriguez guitars are highly prized, soaring in value, and, along with the instruments of Fleta, Hauser and Friederich the favourite choice of many eminent guitar players. Yesterday's 'phone calls expressing worries about the safety of the guitar in transit are proving rather prophetic.
To add to the misery his other concert guitar, another Miguel Rodriguez, was still at Paul Fischer's workshop having been re-fretted and having the neck repolished.
You can well imagine Robin's feelings having made three flights, spending numerous tedious hours waiting in a sweltering Nairobi Airport, very little sleep and then, for a finale, a 2 mile run down the labyrinthine corridors of Heathrow airport at 6am to make his connecting flight to Manchester (having been seriously delayed by the endless security checks).
After all that the last thing he needed to see at Manchester airport was an empty carousel.
The relevant paperwork was submitted and a very subdued Robin arrived home.
He only stayed long enough for a cup of coffee before driving back down south to Oxfordshire to collect his other guitar. There's no way he could be without one.
I spent the day 'on hold' whilst trying to find out if they had any idea where this guitar was. They didn't.
Since the terrorist alerts this has been our nightmare situation. Some airlines have relaxed the rules about taking musical instruments on board, but not all. So when travelling on a number of different airlines it becomes impossible.
I'm afraid to say that Robin has now had to make a tough decision. If the airline won't let him take his guitar on board, then he won't be getting on either, and somewhere an audience will be very disappointed.
UPDATE:
As writing I have finally managed to get through to BA and both suitcase and guitar have been found!!!
One, (they don't know which) has arrived in Manchester, and the other is due shortly.
Until they arrive at our home I don't think either of us will relax.
Robin is still driving home from Chipping Norton but is hugely relieved. (We both had a fear that it had been stolen at Nairobi airport and would never be seen again.)
I'll keep you informed...

UPDATE 2:

Miguel Rodriguez and suitcase have been reunited with their rightful owner. One very relieved Robin Hill. The Churchdoor has been unpacked, inspected, and is currently being played. A little cold but I'm sure Robin will soon sort that out.
Many thanks for the comments and 'phone calls of support we have had.
I'm off to open a bottle of wine.

Rodrigo, Frank Zappa, Charlie Mingus and The Beatles...

Sunday morning in the Hill household is traditionally a time to sit back and listen to some music.
Robin has flown from Mombasa to Nairobi and is waiting for his flight to Heathrow.
In between 'phone calls about the safety of his guitar I am sure he is listening to his ipod.
So I felt it was up to me to maintain standards at home. As a concession to an absent father I allowed son number one to take control of the remote.
His initial choice was Rodrigo's 'Concierto de Aranjuez', I was pleased with that. As a very small child he had been so used to hearing Robin practice this piece, for a concert with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, that he used to sing along in his cot.
Then he selected 'Dog Breath Variations' and 'G-Spot Tornado', both by Frank Zappa, and finally a bit of Charlie Mingus.
Not bad for a 10 year old, his dad will be delighted when I tell him.
Son number two only made one choice and that was 'Hello, Goodbye' by The Beatles.
I feel justified in announcing that their musical education is coming along nicely.

Help Save the Brazilian Rainforest

The tradition of musicians being associated with good causes goes back a long way.
High profile artists such as Paul McCartney, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell have all been connected with rainforest preservation worldwide.
So when we were approached by Brazilian Springs, to help promote the work they are doing in aid of the Brazilian rainforest, there really was no hesitation.
The Brazilian rainforest is often referred to as "the lungs of the planet", as it not only reduces global warming by absorbing harmful gases, but also produces 20% of the world's oxygen.
For every 300ml bottle of Brazilian Springs water you purchase, the Brazilian Rain Forest Foundation can buy at least 12 square meters of rainforest. One bottle a day for a year adds to an area the size of a football pitch.
Alongside preserving and regenerating the forest they are also helping local farmers to find alternative farming methods.
Follow the links to the sites for more information and some very nice pictures, and even better, if you are in or around London on the 18/19/20th March come to ExCel and talk to the company yourself whilst listening to Robin play his guitar on and off throughout the day.
They will be on stand No ST4723, or, just follow the sound of music.

Meanwhile out a sea, Robin had the luxury of enjoying an evening as a member of the audience for a change, and watched an enjoyable show with singers and dancers covering songs by Cole Porter and Irving Berlin amongst others.

Anyone for Tennis

Robin takes a break from guitar practice to have a game of tennis. In fact he has two. One of singles and one of doubles.



He's actually very good at tennis, (he should be his father was a Wimbledon umpire for many years) and I'm quite relieved I'm not on the receiving end of some of his serves. There would be many balls floating in the Indian Ocean by this stage soon to be washed up on a beach in Madagascar.

Between tennis tournaments Robin has spent some time composing. I look forward to hearing his new pieces on his return.

Robin Hill Relaxes...

As Robin has now finished his work on board ship he can allow himself some time to relax.
Unfortunately the weather has taken a decidedly misty turn.



What is that in the middle of the picture?
Is it the Mozambique Channel equivalent to the Loch Ness Monster?

There has been plenty of positive feedback from various members of the audience which is always nice. One lady has asked if Robin has recorded 'La Paloma'. He was able to reply that it is soon to be recorded on the next CD.
La Paloma, which means 'The Dove', was composed by Sebastien Iradier who also composed the famous Habanera in Bizet's 'Carmen'. Bizet thought it was a folk melody but later realised his mistake and credited Iradier with the theme.
I'm sure Robin will be making good use of the time practicing La Paloma, and many other pieces, as he has a busy time coming up.
Don't forget the 18/19/20th March at the ExCel London, international food and drink event.
You'll need to look out for the Brazilian Springs Europe LLP stand. More soon.

Music in Maputo

Robin has arrived in Maputo, Mozambique, but seen little of it as today is concert day.
This morning he had a sound check, which was fine, then the rest of the day was spent in practice and rehearsal.
If you have ever wondered what a soloist looks like backstage, about an hour before his concert, well, it's something like this...





The concert itself is 40 minutes long, but done as two performances, and at the time of writing he has completed the first one.
Robin was pleased with how it had gone and amazed, once again, how the Rodriguez guitar just sings out in any situation.
Not time to relax yet though as he still has the second performance.
It's an awful long way to go to play what amounts to one evening recital!

UPDATE:
The second performance has now taken place and went very well. The cruise director said it was 'excellent'. That's great news and I think Robin is off to the bar for a well earned drink.

Robin Hill Docks in Durban

Crystal Serenity docked in Durban today. Various day trips were available, but for a working musician taking a whole day off is not an option, especially as his recital is tomorrow.
He did have a quick trip ashore, mainly to feel land beneath his feet for an hour, then it was back to his guitar practice.
Or not.



This is a rare glimpse of Robin relaxing. After hours of right and left hand exercises what better way to recover than on your balcony, in the sun, being served coffee, and reading a good book.
Incidentally, the book is 'Suite Francaise' by Irene Nemirovsky.
I'm off to make my own coffee, it's the butlers day off...

Reluctant Mariner Robin Hill Turns Poet

As you can see from this photo the sea remains rather rough although Robin said it is much calmer than it was...




It's still nothing compared to one of the early trips Robin made in 2005. He was en route from Honolulu to Japan when they encountered some severe weather. The 40 foot waves meant long periods of time confined to his cabin. So he wrote this poem.


TIGER SEA

This wild, malevolent, livid sea

Is not quite where I want to be,

Cocooned inside the luxury liner,

I affect the pose of discerning diner,

The tiger sea - wrong side of sane,

Spits angry foam against the pane,

My fellow passengers take delight,

In witnessing this savage sight,

They taunt the beast and sip their wine,

Complacent they just drink and dine,

The audacity of the parasite boat,

To ride the tiger's back and float,

At 14 knots towards Japan,

Is more than I can really stand,

Will we arrive safe in the bay?

Or will the wildcat claim it's prey?

by ROBIN HILL

Cast Off From Cape Town

To prove that Robin really is in Cape Town this is the view just before he set sail earlier today. I assume it is 'Table Mountain' in the background.


A rather uneasy looking musician about to do the lifeboat drill....



But now they are at sea and he can concentrate on preparing for his recital.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:

As I mentioned the other day Robin will be playing in London on the 18/19/20th March.
It is part of the international food and drink event being held at the ExCel centre.
He will be there on the Sunday afternoon and all day Monday and Tuesday.
Anyone with an interest in food should have a great day out as there will be stands from around the world.
As for Robin and why he is there, well, it's connected with the Brazilian rainforest, but more details soon.
It will be an excellent opportunity to see and hear him play, with the added bonus of the less formal setting allowing you to ask questions if you want to.
You will need to check your diary and get tickets in advance.

Cape Town Now Calling

Robin has now arrived in Cape Town and made the short journey from the airport to join 'Crystal Serenity'. On the way he passed the Groote Schuur Hospital where Professor Christiaan Barnard made medical history in 1967 when he carried out the first human heart transplant.
The weather so far hasn't been quite as predicted, it's currently cloudy and wet. Apparently the locals find it very difficult driving in the rain and it has a similar effect to the traffic problems the UK faces when it snows!
I'm sure it is only temporary as he said the sun was trying to come out. I was rather amused to be able to report that it is a beautiful sunny day here.
He can however console himself in his luxury suite, with balcony, currently overlooking Cape Town's most famous landmark Table Mountain. (if he could see it for the mist...)
If he takes a walk to the other side of the ship he can see Robben Island. Yes, that is the prison island that held South Africa's first democratic President, Nelson Mandela.
OK, that's the end of your geography/history lesson.
Robin is delighted to be reunited with his guitar, which coped well with the journey, and is no doubt putting it through its paces now.
He had a funny e mail waiting for him from Leeds University. The students have to fill in an evaluation form and under 'any further comments' one of them had put 'Robin Hill's Fab'......

Cape Town Not Quite Calling

As I write Robin is heading towards Cape Town.
He left at 7.30 this morning for a short hop to Heathrow, a total of 147 miles, he then waited 5 hours for his flight to South Africa. For those of you that like facts and figures that journey is 5996 miles and will take 11 and a half hours.
That should allow him to get quite a way into 'Hard Times'.
Still, I'm reliably informed that it is a wonderful 79F there at the moment, so I'm sure that will ease the aching joints of a travel worn musician.
Most people these days are aware of the environmental impact that flying has and we are no exception.
The problem is that when it is due to work there really is no alternative. We do all we can when at home, recycle, walk instead of using the car whenever possible, etc, but it remains an issue we are concerned about.
We have however made a contact that could well help us sleep easier in our bed(s) at night.
It's all connected to the Brazilian rainforest and I'll tell you more in the next few days.
But for now, any of the UK readers in the London area, you could well get to see Robin play later this month.
Watch this space for more details.

Hyperion Records, Carulli and Lovejoy

We had an interesting 'phone call today from Hyperion records.
Back in 1984 Hill/Wiltschinsky Guitar Duo recorded 'Virtuoso Music for Two Guitars' at Pluto Studios in Manchester.
This was their first recording which launched their careers.
Today Hyperion contacted us as one piece from this album had been used in an episode of 'Lovejoy' on BBC1.
For those not familiar with this t.v. programme, it is a series starring Ian McShane, about the shady dealings of an antique expert called 'Lovejoy', based on the novels by former doctor, Jonathan Gash.
As far as I know at this stage the piece they used was Carulli - Nocturne de Salon Op.227.
That's good news.

Podcasts and Packing

Plans are well on the way for the looming trip abroad, although I must confess it feels more like a state of chaos.
Robin is in high practice mode, preparing for the concerts he will be giving whilst away. He has also been purchasing numerous sets of strings, and downloading music, podcasts and the unabridged version of 'Hard Times' read by Martin Jarvis. That should all keep him busy.
Actually, I would imagine that it will be quite reassuring to sit in his room, miles from home, and be able to watch 'Newsnight'.
I, on the other hand, am dealing with more practical issues like printing out travel itinerary, gathering passport etc. and generally packing.
So please forgive me if I'm somewhat brief this evening.

Joyce Hatto and Other Musicians

I read a few interesting points made by A.C.Douglas over on Sounds and Fury about the pianists whose recordings were used on the Hatto CDs and their apparent inability to recognise their own work.

There may be other factors in play.
A lot of musicians don't actually like listening to their own recordings after the last take has been made. In an interview, Paco de Lucia once said, that he 'never listens to his music after recording it as he would always hear things he would like to change'.
If that is the case for the pianists, then they may well not have identified the Hatto 'version' as their own, as they certainly wouldn't have been expecting to hear themselves.
To highlight the point, Robin was once staying at his parents' house, enjoying a relaxing bath whilst they had the radio on in another room.
In the distance he heard 'Canarios' by Gasper Sanz and thought, 'That sounds great'.
Next came J.S.Bach's 'Gavotte' from the 4th Lute Suite followed by 'Bach Prelude in D Minor'. All of which he enjoyed and decided he really must work on those pieces if he was to attain the standard of performance of whoever had made this particular recording.
It was then announced that they had all been performed by Robin Hill! Robin nearly swallowed the loofah at this point...
He had previously recorded an album for the BBC library which was regularly played on Radio 3 and 4. At the time he didn't have a copy, so hadn't heard it since it had been recorded some years earlier.
He was, of course, delighted, but it does show that a musician may not always identify their own performance - until told...

An Hour with an Author

It's always an honour when an author contacts you to ask a few questions and establish your opinion.
Last week Dr.Kevin Dawe, a senior lecturer at Leeds University, School of Music, asked to meet up with Robin.
As he was over at the university today, putting a few students through their paces, they arranged to get together.
They spent a happy hour talking about all things connected with the guitar.
Dr.Dawe's book, 'The World in Our Hands: The Guitar in Music, Culture, and Society', looks like it will be an excellent read.
Robin was able to shed a little light on things from a performers point of view, and left a copy of his own book, 'The Guitar Gymnasium', for Dr.Dawe to read.
Apparently the guitar was chosen as 'No other instrument has travelled the world like the guitar, its presence is found in local cultures across the planet..., and few instruments are as embedded in an almost complete range of musical genres...'
I told you it was a fantastic instrument.

You Can Take The Musician Out Of The Music Room...

To mark the end of half term we had a family outing to a science museum for children.
We got to press lots of buttons, carry out various experiments, talk to robots and generally have a good time.
Oh, son number one and two also enjoyed it.
But whilst you can take the musician out of the music room, you can't take the music out of the man.



Robin managed to find the one thing he could play. Plastic pipes full of various amounts of water that you hit with two small bats.
Yes, he did get a tune out of it.

Joyce Hatto May Result in a Brighter Future

I, like most people involved in the world of classical music, continue to follow the Joyce Hatto saga.
Today in 'The Daily Telegraph' there was a small piece about her husband William Barrington-Coupe and how he has previously been convicted, and jailed, for tax evasion.
This was way back in 1966 and whilst I don't feel we should let 'old' crimes cloud our judgement, inevitably it forms opinions.
Barrington-Coupe has now withdrawn the sale of the CDs, but has said, 'It has nothing to do with any recognition of guilt ...'
Whatever the outcome of this particular case there are bound to be repercussions. Record companies are already looking into the claims that their works were pirated.
As I said before, we know all about that.
Two tracks, that have been widely distributed, composed and performed by Hill/Wiltschinsky but credited to another artist, are still available.
The company has acknowledged their mistake but not actually done anything about it.
Artists themselves are often way down the list in the pecking order which is preposterous.
Maybe this whole affair will give the industry the shake up it needs.
They would after all be nothing without the performers.

The Not So Glamorous Side For The International Musician

As you will be aware Robin is off on his travels again soon. Anyone going abroad has to keep up with their immunisations and that includes Robin. Unfortunately for him, he required a few booster doses, and had those last week.
Today was the turn of Yellow Fever. The injection and not the disease...
I can't believe it is 10 years since we both had that one. It was for a Hill/Wiltschinsky tour in a number of countries, including Venezuela, hence the need for the jab.
It was worth it though, I had a great time taking in the sites of Caracas whilst Robin and Peter rehearsed in their rooms!
So off he went to the travel centre and was issued with a long list of horrendous side effects, which doesn't exactly put you at your ease, before the vaccine was given.
Still, at least it's done for another 10 years, and we have the certificate to prove it.

Update on microphones:
Robin has decided the ones we were testing yesterday are not quite right, so they are being returned. He explained the problem to a very helpful chap and they are now sending three more to see what we think of those.
It's very tempting to just get on with recording, but his guitar has such a beautiful sound it's criminal not to do it justice.

Test Drive a Microphone With Legnani

It has been an experimental day and one in which I have been acting as an unofficial sound engineer.
We have been sent a matched pair of microphones to try out. So, off Robin went to the studio, to see what he could do.
He played Caprice No 33 by Luigi Legnani over a few times, and then went for a take, and another one, and another one, etc. (Incidentally, Legnani was Paganini's guitarist).
We played them back and as yet haven't made a decision.
At one point I asked him to play along with the freshly made recording so I could compare sounds.
As I was listening it struck me that if Robin was having difficulty matching his playing exactly, whilst watching the sound waves on the monitor, then it would be virtually impossible for someone else to try and mimic that performance. Yes I am referring to the Joyce Hatto scenario.
The fate of the microphones hasn't yet been decided, although I suspect they are not the ones.

Flight Case Vs Burkha

Our thoughts have turned to travel as Robin is preparing to go away late next week. The main concern these days is the safety of the guitar.
For the past 30 years he has always taken it into the cabin when flying as it fits nicely into the overhead locker.
However, all that changed with the new rules.
If you remember we had a huge panic here, locating a second flight case that goes around his original case, suspending it on foam.
This was all done over 48 hours, the new case being flown specially from the USA, to arrive in time for a foreign trip.
It did arrive, and has proved itself many times now, but that doesn't make it any less worrying.
Especially as one of his concert guitars is already away being re-fretted.
I was rather concerned when Robin came up with a new and controversial plan. It came about whilst looking at the front page of The Daily Telegraph that featured the 'burkha bomber'... fleeing the scene of the crime under Islamic dress.
Yes, you guessed. He thinks it might just work, he could carry the guitar under the burkha and no one would be any the wiser.
Alternatively, he would be quite happy for the airport authorities to x-ray the guitar, as they always used to, and take it on board. It's hardly a dangerous weapon, well, not in his hands anyway.

Robin Hill, The Halle and The Liverpool Philharmonic

Last night Robin was booked to play at a private function. That is not unusual, but, the day before he found out that it was for musicians.
As you can imagine this made him rather anxious as went on his way.
I spent the evening planning my de-briefing session for his return, and unusually, he didn't call me in the interval, so I didn't know whether to take that as a good sign or not.
Finally I heard from him.
Not only were they musicians, but they were in fact all classical musicians from a variety of orchestras, The Halle and Liverpool Philharmonic to name just two.
I held my breath as I waited to hear how it had gone.
Playing to room of very discerning customers could have been a nightmare.
It wasn't though.
They all thoroughly enjoyed it and at various points in the evening came over to express their enthusiasm.
Robin enjoyed it too, as he got to talk to a room full of like minded people, some of which he knew, and some that he recognised from various performances he has made.
So the de-briefing was off and we had a cup of tea instead.

Mozart's Dog Revisited

Meet Coco (Bimps)

Having met Ramsbottom the cat the other day I thought it was time I introduced you to one of our two Labradors. So here she is, Bimps.
As I've said before, she is actually called Coco, but we always call her Bimps.
This is because Mozart had an English Terrier called 'Miss Bimperl', shortened to 'Bimps', which when translated means 'Spot'.
Mozart must have had a sense of humour to call his dog, 'Spot the dog'.
As you will see our Bimps doesn't have a spot in sight as she is chocolate all over, but she is probably the most eccentric dog you will come across, or some might say 'dotty', hence the name 'Bimps'.
She's an essential member of Hillhouse as loves long, rambling walks, particularly if very muddy puddles are involved, and therefore it provides Robin with the perfect reason to put his guitar down and take a break.
She will in fact sit and stare at him until he does.

Robin Hill and Madeline Bell

The other evening we watched 'Soul Britannia at the Barbican' on BBC 4 and were delighted to see Madeline Bell giving a fabulous performance.
Madeline and Robin go back a long way, from 1978 - 1989 Robin played many dates with her around the globe including the historic 'Talk of the Town', London, for 6 weeks, the 'Sporting Club' in Monaco, 'Gulf Hotel', Bahrain, Cannes, Muscat, Portugal, and many, many more.
Robin always really enjoyed these trips as Madeline is a fantastic professional, always has great musicians with her, and knows how to treat them very well.
The last time we saw her was some years ago when we watched her live at 'Ronnie Scott's', Birmingham. It was actually the first time that I'd met her, but she was very hospitable and enjoyed mulling over old times with Robin in the interval.
It was great to see her on the BBC again.

Record Label - Or Should That Be Libel

I took the afternoon off to go to a family function and on my return the whole world is talking about the late Joyce Hatto. To read all the reports you can go just about anywhere, but here are a couple of starting points. Gramophone, and Pristine Classical where you can hear the two recordings played alongside each other.
These record labels have to be watched. We are currently investigating one that released two tracks, composed and performed by Hill/Wiltschinsky, but are credited to another player......
Nowhere on the CD are the duo mentioned.
Apart from the moral issue, it's rather upsetting, as this particular recording is released through a major outlet.

Rodriguez Repairs and Paul Fischer

Robin is feeling rather glum today. He has two concert guitars, both Miguel Rodriguez. As you may have gathered from reading this site Robin does an awful lot of playing. Every care is taken with both the guitars to prevent damage but you can't stop general wear and tear. From time to time any instrument used at this level will require a little TLC.
His first guitar has reached that point. The frets have literally worn down and need replacing plus a few minor repairs.
This, however, is a trauma for Robin. To be without one of his guitars is very difficult. They are his best friends and go everywhere with us. That makes for 'interesting' family excursions...
The man entrusted with the job is the renowned luthier Paul Fischer, who trained under the late David Rubio, and set up his own studio in 1975. He has had a good look at the guitar and is very impressed by the high quality cedar wood and has now taken on the delicate task of repair.
For Robin, this has meant a six hour round trip, the return journey in an empty car. I think he may need some TLC himself this evening.

Hill/Wiltschinsky Play Radames Gnattali

Over the last few days we have had an increase in visits from the USA and also I've noticed a few requests in local US radio stations for 'Corta Jaca' by Radames Gnattali, performed by Hill/Wiltschinsky on their 'Danza' CD recorded by ASV.
There is a story attached to this particular recording.
Robin had heard a recording of the the Assad Brothers playing this piece and desperately wanted Hill/Wiltschinsky to perform and record it.
Unfortunately the music wasn't published.
After a great deal of detective work Robin got a contact number for Gnattali (in Rio) himself and gave him a call.
They spoke for some time but it was a very frustrating call as he spoke no English and Robin doesn't speak Portuguese.
Nothing was therefore resolved. Sadly Gnattali died some time later, no connection to the 'phone call I assure you.
So after a great amount of work Robin painstakingly took down the music from a recording. This wasn't easy as it is a difficult piece to play.
However, he did it, and Hill/Wiltschinsky went on to record 'Corta Jaca' and 'Schottisch' on Danza and performed them many times, with excellent reviews.
The pieces are taken from 'Suite Retratos' which means 'Portraits'.
Corta Jaca is a fantastic piece composed in a samba style, which is typically Brazilian, with a beautifully meandering rhythmic theme.
The middle section features sparkling virtuoso counterpoint between the two guitars, before the slow lyrical section with chromatic harmonies that heralds the return of the main theme.
Beautiful.

Mistaken Identity - Pascal Roge

I've just read Jeremy Denk: Think Denk and was amused to read that a lookalike is required for the late pianist Sviatoslav Richter. Read his entertaining blog for the full story.
It did remind me of a case of mistaken identity though.
Robin was in a room backstage at The Barbican, London, preparing for a performance that afternoon. Whilst taking a break from his warm up exercises he sat at the piano and played a few notes. He does play piano, but it is generally reserved for personal amusement, composing occasionally, and late night parties here at Hillhouse, certainly not for the paying public.
There was a knock at the door and a member of staff entered.
"We're ready for your rehearsal Maestro Roge."
He knew that Pascal Roge was performing a concerto later that evening, and realised that the unwitting staff member hadn't realised her mistake.
For a second I think Robin was tempted to follow her up to the stage, take his place at the piano, and enjoy the occasion.
But he didn't.
To sit in front of an entire orchestra waiting for you to start performing, not having a clue what you are meant to be playing, is the stuff that musicians nightmares are made of.
What I find amusing is that Pascal Roge must have been in a dressing room that had 'Robin Hill' on the door.

Rainy Days

As it is such a wet day here, and I've had various messages from agents about some forthcoming trips, I thought I'd remind myself why Robin does it.
This was taken in the Cayman Islands late last year. You can see 'Crystal Symphony' in the distance.
So you see, it's not all bad, touring can be quite pleasant.

Domesticity, the Enemy of Art?

Someone once said, and sadly I'm not sure who, that 'domesticity is the enemy of art.'
I'm sure that for a lot of musicians and artists that could well be the case. It's one thing gradually building up a reputation when you are single, and quite another when you have the responsibility of a family. Many disappear as domestic life takes over. However these 'disappeared' would probably not have stayed the course anyway.

For those who continue in the field of music, generally, it is because they have no choice. It is an all consuming passion to play their instrument and to listen to others. It should be remembered that Vermeer, who had 10 children, specialised in painting calm domestic interiors - with never a child in sight...
Very little will distract the dedicated artist from his/her path.
So when family comes along sometimes sacrifices have to be made. Frequent trips away from home are never easy, but the up side is that when not travelling, children see far more of their fathers/mothers than those in conventional jobs. A balance has to be reached.

In our case domesticity certainly wasn't the enemy of art but the engine! Robin has composed some of his best pieces after significant events on the domestic front. His first concerto, 'Concerto Primavera', was composed after the birth of son number one.
Many pieces have been named after various pets that have given us a great deal of pleasure and often the 'spirit' of that pet is shown in the music, 'Molly's Jig' for example is a lively, bounding piece written for our late black Labrador.
So after yesterdays blog when son number two was sick, it was no surprise to me that Robin was able to calmly take himself off and immerse himself in his music!

Robin Hill plays Villa-Lobos

Heitor Villa-Lobos's guitar works are probably the most studied guitar compositions of the twentieth century. Despite the cello being his main instrument, he was very attached to the guitar and told Turibio Santos in 1958 that he 'loved the cello but the guitar was in his heart'. In fact the 'sound' of the cello can be heard in many of his guitar compositions.
As a youth he enjoyed the company of popular musicians and practiced improvised guitar accompaniments to the choro, music in favour in Rio de Janeiro at that time, perfecting his talent to the detriment of his medical studies.
It was in 1924 that he met Segovia in Paris and the two became friends. Segovia encouraged Villa-Lobos to compose more for the guitar and from this came some fantastic music which helped to establish Villa-Lobos as one of Brazil's most respected composers.
Robin is re-visiting some of these pieces after a 20 year gap and thoroughly enjoying himself.
He's playing 'Choros No 1' composed in 1920, and the 'Cinq Preludes' from 1940. There was reportedly a sixth Prelude which has never been found.
So I'm in my element listening to these fabulous pieces as I go about the house.
The down side was that son number two was violently sick all over the kitchen floor -and it's not a small kitchen...maybe Villa-Lobos wasn't to his taste...
Still, at least I could listen to this beautiful music as I mopped fevered brows and kitchen floor.
Well you did ask about the life of a musician.

Is there a Doctor in the House?

Once again there has been talk about clapping between movements of a concerto and whether musicians and/or audience find this a distraction. I've discussed this before, but will say again, that here in Hillhouse the feeling is that historically audiences applaud if they feel it has been an outstanding performance. Robin finds this reassuring, quietly acknowledges the applause with a smile and a nod, then continues, using this encouragement as a motivating force, and providing an even more exciting performance.
Things could be worse.
There is the story of Sir John Gielgud sitting in the audience and watching a play. Part way through he stood up and said, "Is there a Doctor in the house?"
A gentleman rose and replied,"Yes, I'm a Doctor."
To which Gielgud answered, "Doctor, isn't this play bloody awful."
Now that would be a distraction.

New Tuners Arrive

If you remember a blog the other day titled 'Arrangements and Not Venice' then you will know that Robin found some new tuners. They have been making steady progress from California and we were informed that they would arrive today.
Son number two was posted as lookout which kept him amused most of the morning.
With much excitement the Fedex parcel arrived.
The tuners or, machine heads, were immediately installed and I'm delighted to say that they are not only beautiful but are doing the job very well.

Music Blogs and Ginger Cats

Meet Ramsbottom!


Whilst having a look around some of my favourite sites I noticed a strange thing. Many of them have cats and have shown pictures of them in the last few days.
That in itself is not odd but all the cats are ginger and stripy!
So not to be outdone, here is a 'photo of our cat, 'Ramsbottom'.
If it looks like he is being held rather tightly, it's because he is..
I still haven't forgiven him for walking over my laptop the other day and standing on some vitally important key which resulted in all the settings being altered and none of the keys making any sense.
Thankfully a friend diagnosed the problem over the telephone and normal service was quickly resumed.
Why people with an interest in classical music have ginger cats I'm really not sure.
Whilst I have been researching all things feline Robin has quietly been getting on with his practice and working on another programme. He has a return visit to a venue coming up soon, and as it's less than a year since he was there, he feels a new programme is in order.

Accidents Happen and the Music Stand

Today I was surprised to find that someone somewhere had found their way to this site from searching 'musicians stage accidents'. I was intrigued, (and would love to know what they were studying!) so did my own Google.
I was delighted to find that 'Life of a musician - Accidents Happen: Part 1' was the fourth item. Strangely it didn't mention part 2, but that's computers for you.
There it was, amongst various tales of tragic accidents, the 'Dead Musicians Directory' and adverts for life insurance!

Meanwhile Robin was out and about in a small, very nice town, not that far from where we live.
From a hundred paces he spotted a music stand in the window of a shop and made straight for it. He's been looking for another stand for some time to use when practicing at home. (On stage he always plays from memory.)
He was delighted with his find as the stand is able to go quite low down which is an advantage for guitarists.
He went in to make his purchase and felt he had been transported back in time.
A lady, who didn't appear to actually work there, was walking around cleaning everything with a feather duster, including his freshly purchased stand, as he waited to pay.
I was pleased as it's the last time it will see a duster for many months...

Art, Music and the Modern Day

It seems that the world of music is not alone with the intrusion of modern technology. I read an interesting article by Ruth Graham, 'Surreptitious Snapshots', in the New York Sun.
Basically she is saying that museums and galleries have a problem with people taking photographs of paintings and within minutes they are used as screen savers on
'phones and even reproduced to hang on the wall at home.
I can't quite understand why people cannot see that this is not allowed for a reason.
Artists, like musicians, labour long and hard over their work and for every 'home made' copy which hangs on your wall an artist has forfeited his or her royalty, in much the same way as 'home made' recordings or videos of a concert deny the musicians their income. The sound quality would certainly not have been of a high enough standard to allow public release. To me it's just taking the arts for granted, people must realise that to be a performer or artist one must be completely dedicated to that role. It reminded me of a Hill/Wiltschinsky concert many years ago. They played in a very nice venue and after the concert a distinguished gentleman came backstage and said, "Splendid chaps, splendid. You must came and play for us but, of course, we can't afford to pay you.."
They do occasional charity concerts, but come on, they need to earn a living..

The History of the Guitar with Robin Hill

Robin has been over at Leeds University again today. He was asked to go and help during a lecture on the history of the guitar. After the success of last week's concert he thought it safe to return.
The lecture was open to all the non-music students, and was well attended.
One of the lecturers gave a talk and Robin punctuated it with pieces of music from the relevant period.
He started with a couple of Renaissance Lute pieces, moved onto Baroque with a 'Bach Prelude', Classical period with 'Mozart Variations', 'Recuerdos de la Alhambra' - Tarrega for Romantic, and for the 20th century, Villa Lobos 'Choros No 1' and 'Xodo da Baiana' - Dilermando Reis.
For a sample of Spanish music and to demonstrate the flamenco style Robin played 'Rumores de la Caleta' - Albeniz.
Throughout the whole event Robin talked about the various pieces and techniques he uses and also the guitar he was playing. Today he played his Miguel Rodriguez Churchdoor which is a beautiful instrument, literally made from a churchdoor, with spectacular Brazilian rosewood.
Just when he thought he had finished one of the students asked him to play one of his own pieces, so he threw in 'Eternal Dance.'
A good days work.

Sunday Morning with Beethoven

I love Sunday mornings. Mainly because it is the one day of the week when we don't (usually) have to rush around. Also, it's preceded by, more often than not, a late night.
Yesterday was no exception, Robin didn't get home until well after midnight. We then sat and chatted for a while, consequently another late night.
So this morning it was a delight to see clear blue skies, sun streaming through the windows, and Beethoven Violin Concerto in D playing whilst we had our morning coffee.
Not once, but twice.
Both fabulous performances, the first by Itzhak Perlman, the second by Heifetz.
We debated it long and hard but eventually decided that the Heifetz recording just had the edge over Perlman. The playing on both was fantastic, it was just the interpretation that won us over.
But it's so subjective I could easily vote the other way given a different mood or frame of mind.
That's the beauty of music.

Nail Biting Time

Regular readers will be aware that the guitarists nightmare is a broken nail. For years Robin has struggled with many different techniques to overcome breaks/chips/general wear and tear. I've scoured many shops in far flung places trying to track down ping pong balls, (in the early days), silk strips and super glue, not easy if you happen to be in Borneo at the time.
More recently specialised silk and glue has become available and although it does the job is time consuming to apply and therefore not ideal for an emergency repair.
Well, we may have found a solution.
I won't name the product until it has been tried and tested, but so far it has withstood some serious rasguedos.
Another benefit is that they can be cut to shape in advance which would be ideal for urgent repairs in the concert setting.
So we are all keeping our fingers crossed, except for Robin, who is out playing and even he can't play in that position.
So watch this space and I'll keep you informed of developments.

Robin Hill - Jethro Tull and an Elephant

After the recent post about Force Ten a mini reunion is underway. We have stayed in touch with some of the band over the years, but thanks to Paul Griffin have now made contact with Tony Williams. He was the singer in the band and later went on to join Jethro Tull on their 'Bursting Out' tour.
The strange thing is that e mails arrived from both Tony and Paul with photographs attached to show how kind the intervening years had been. That in itself isn't odd but completely coincidentally they were images taken whilst standing next to an elephant...
Robin actually spoke to Tony and discovered that he has been heavily involved in elephant conservation, so that explained one picture.
As yet we haven't established why Paul and his wife Irene were also with elephants but it made a lovely picture.
Not to be outdone Robin raided son number ones bedroom and found a large elephant teddy, promptly took a photo of himself with it and mailed it on to the relevant parties.
So far New York has replied, suitably amused.
Just in case you are getting worried, in between all this tom foolery Robin has actually done a lot of practice...

Arrangements and Not Venice

Today Robin has been working on some new arrangements. It is an essential part of any musicians life to constantly plan ahead and gradually introduce new pieces to a programme.
We once worked out that Robin could play for about 5 hours without repeating a piece and that was just his solo repertoire!
But it is all about balance and selecting the pieces for a programme with care to give maximum enjoyment to the audience.
Consequently Robin is always on the lookout for new pieces, often arranged from other instruments such as the piano, or his own compositions, to keep things fresh.
At one point this afternoon, whilst taking a break, he was surfing the internet.
There was a shriek of delight followed by, 'You must come and see this, it's beautiful'.
I dropped what I was doing, with thoughts of a short break in Venice, I'd just got to the part where we were sipping coffee on the banks of the Grand Canal having just left the Piazzo San Marco, when I arrived at the music room.
Robin was beaming, 'Aren't they fantastic?', well, yes, they were nice, but they were also tuners. You know, the bit on the head of the guitar used for - tuning.
Sometimes it's hard being a musicians wife...