Wow… I know I’ve been away for so long, many catch up posts will follow, but just for now: This wonderful present arrived from America this afternoon, the note reads; “She’s small, pale and beautifully formed, she’s got class, looks stunning in red and sounds amazing when you turn her on… The record player ain’t bad either…” Oh he’s a clever, clever man! Even if it’s a wash out at least my summer will sound good… Xx

Camille Saint-Saëns - Danse Macabre

First preformed in 1875, the composition is based upon a poem by Henri Cazalis, which in turn is based on an old French superstition; it is said Death appears every Halloween at midnight playing his fiddle and the dead rise from their graves to dance for him ‘til dawn…

Zig, zig, zig, Death in a cadence, Striking with his heel a tomb, Death at midnight plays a dance-tune, Zig, zig, zig, on his violin. The winter wind blows and the night is dark; Moans are heard in the linden trees. Through the gloom, white skeletons pass, Running and leaping in their shrouds. Zig, zig, zig, each one is frisking, The bones of the dancers are heard to crack— But hist! of a sudden they quit the round, They push forward, they fly; the cock has crowed.

(You’ll perhaps recognise this from the opening credits of Johnathan Creek)