Wednesday 6 May 2020

On Becoming a Hermit, Sort of ... Day 50

Day 50
(Tuesday, 5th May 2020)

Apart from our routines - morning Tai Chi, gardening, walking and 'entertaining' the dogs, there is little to report of our personal activities today. There is of course the continuing and rising pressures on the government at their handling of the Coronavirus outbreak in the UK. I still do nonetheless get the feeling we are getting there, inspite of political decision making, not only in our plans to tackle it (e.g. test, test and test, then go and track it down) but also releasing, nay drip-feeding the information that is needed to inform the nation that we are in this for the long term. COVID-19 is not going to "go away", at least until a proven vaccine has been developed and the nation has been inoculated; and assuming the Coronavirus is not like the common cold or influenza that regularly mutates itself, so that each time it inhabits a human body, the latter's immune system is forced to modify its response. 

Clemency Burton-Hill's choice of music for today is: 'The Yellow Cake Review 3. Farewell to Stromness' by Peter Maxwell Davies (1934-2016). A little known fact behind this composition, is that, a few years after Maxwell-Davies had moved to live in Orkney, he became aware that the South of Scotland Electricity Board was intending to mine 'Yellow Cake' Uranium from deposits nearby Stromness. The objective was to fuel a nuclear power plant. Burton-Hill reported that "for sound environmental and ecological reasons, local residents stood in unilateral opposition to its going ahead". 

Maxwell-Davies "poured his objections into this unique work of art". He thereby became an honorary Orcadian. It is often the case that, as well known as this piece is, most people (including myself) do not know this background to the composition. It is well to remember that every artist, be they musician, painter, sculptor, poet or writer, would not be able to create without some inspiration, some spasm of conscience or compassion, feeling or emotion beyond logic. Each tell a story in their own way. Music and poetry are so important in helping us to rise above crisis, to cope with uncertainty and fear. May there always be inspired talent to carry us through.




However you may be affected by anything I've written here, do let me know by leaving a comment below or, if you prefer not to, talk to a loved one, a friend or someone you trust.

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