Tuesday, March 14, 2017

... or: Eight Songs for Mad Presidents



 
Peter Maxwell Davies (8 September 1934 – 14 March 2016) 

Eight Songs For a Mad King


18 comments:

  1. Reminded me of my Dad, unfortunately - a very clever man who went quite mad in his last few years, now ended, while I await the same.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hmm ... we might ... seem to ... now and then ... have the same / a similar fear, Andrew.
    Let's not 'await' the same we witnessed, my friend. Let us live and love and (try to) be kind. Plus a wee dram now and then, and a fine dispute / quarrel amongst friends.
    Rubbing my worry stone ... for us. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ...and ask the Grim Healer to be swift and kind when he comes. Cheers (I am in a pub with a pint of Dark Island draught in my hand).

      Delete
    2. I certainly will.
      Cheers (not in a pub, but with a pint of Guinness near my hand :)

      Delete
  3. That makes three of us what with both my parents having succombed in late life. I plan to take a quicker exit should the signs be ominous - if, that is, I can remember where I put the rope.

    Some time ago I read that recent investigations indicate that George III may have suffered from porphyria.

    I know of no diagnoses for current leaders other than greed for power.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rope Susan? I suggest a steady and copious dosing with malt whisky and Orkney ale... Cheers.

      Delete
    2. That sounds more pleasant bar far, Andrew. I shall make sure to have a supply at hand, one that I won't forget.

      Delete
    3. Or Remy Martin VSOP, of course, with a friendly crow for company.

      Delete
    4. So when the time comes: What about meeting in a tiny village? Fine golf course, malt whisky, Remy and delicious beers inclusive; well, and, of course, fruit cake for the eternal Crow.

      As for the "Mad King": Great performance by Kelvin Thomas, would you agree?

      Delete
    5. A fine performance indeed.

      Crow and I will bring the fruitcake and extra VSOP Remy. Of course he'll likely be leaving afterward to find a new child to mentor through an interesting life.

      Delete
  4. 'Troubling convincing' fits it well.
    And lovely to think of Crow 'afterwards'* finding a new child to mentor'.

    * may it be an 'afterwards' not too soon. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ...nor too late (for me, at least). I have seen "too late" and it does not appeal. But of course I will get what I get. Can I influence that? Perhaps... But what is best? To live healthily and get a long slow decline, or live unhealthily and get a sudden stop, or just do what I fancy and take what I get? Hmm. Cheers,

      Delete
    2. As (almost) always, you put it better than I could, my friend.
      As for your question: Despite physically feeling not utterly well, I would right now not like being dead and miss a certain little girl's 'love and laughter'.
      Okay: When "it" comes in time, it will not be too late.

      Delete
  5. What a somber conversation! May I participate?
    As long as the mind is still sparkling, the inevitable physical deteriorating is somehow acceptable. Yes, at times, very frustrating, but often relieved by the discovery of a new step towards the understanding of our human achievements.
    And when the mind is not sparkling anymore, and falls into oblivion, it's my experience (as a nurse) that the people who suffer the most are family members who need to maintain contact with the "mad" one, and care for the person. They would all prefer a swift death for him/her. But, remembering my 87 y.o.grandfather, who so truly enjoyed the chocolate pudding I fed him when I was five, I can affirm that life is a precious gift with many different pleasures. And not all from the mind! Live the moment with all that is left. As you all so wisely concluded!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, thank you, Claude. De tout coeur! I hope I shall remember your words, should it happen I "want" to despair.
      Need I say there will always wait a sweet temptation for you in that tiny village, and a glass of red? ...
      Alright: two glasses. :)

      Delete
  6. One of my favorites. His music brings you anywhere in the universe, never very far from a star!
    https://youtu.be/_fh4Q4X3XAw

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for this one. I had not heard it before. And I think it won't become a favourite of mine. But I appreciate Sir Peter's work and ... his personality.

      Delete