Unique performance

I woke up at eight thirty to post my link to What'sApp for today's Morning Prayer and reflection, having overslept by an hour. I listened to Thought for the Day on catchup, and was glad I did. Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin in the Fields commented on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's speech in which he talked about his commitment to 'fix' the mistakes made by Liz Truss. He pointed out how inappropriate it was to talk of fixing something as hugely complex and dynamic as a national economy as if it was as simple as mending a toy, or something mechanical. Better to think of the task in hand as one requiring time and patience, like restoring a river valley ruined by industry. 

A point well made, and a reminder of how careless politicians journalists and other public leaders can be communicating with their audience, dumbing down concepts and processes which require more effort to understand. An attempt to be enlightening can so easily end up being misleading instead. I'm reminded of this every time I'm drafting my weekly reflection or a sermon. 

I was nearly late for the Eucharist at St John's after breakfast. There were just four of us today. I couldn't pick up groceries for the food bank collection beforehand, but as the church is staying open on Thursdays until midday now, in case people want to come in for a warm and a chat, so I was able to go to Tesco's after coffee and get two week's worth, since we were away last week. It's been too mild recently to give reason to people not heating their homes to come to church for the morning. Things may be different if the weather turns really cold, but so far we don't know to what extent this will happen with unpredictable weather all year round.

Clare cooked us a veggy stir fry with mussels for lunch. I spent the afternoon recording and editing next Thursday's audio. We had an early supper, then walked over to the Royal Welsh College for a special recital. Renowned veteran singer Benjamin Luxon accompanied by pianist grandson Joshua, a student at RWCMD. Ben is 85 and long retired from performance due to hearing impairment, but he's still full of energy. He still performs as poetry reader, narrator, musical director and master class teacher. As he said himself, "Keep performing until you no longer enjoy what you're doing." I say Amen to that.

He delivered a long dramatic narrative poem called 'Enoch Arden' by Alfred Lord Tennyson. Richard Strauss wrote a rich musical accompaniment for its recitation, which Josh played. Ben's wife, daughter and granddaughter were seated in the row in front of us. The resemblance between the three generations of women was striking! Like them, Josh also has long jet black hair down to the middle of his back. And why not when you're a gifted pianist?

The performance was emotionally powerful if to my mind occasionally flawed by his pronunciation. Unfamiliarity with his Cornish accent however may have added to my difficulty in decoding his speech. I'd like to hear this poem performed by Welsh Actor Michael Sheen, who has similar Celtic passion and amazing clear diction. Also present was David Willison, Ben's piano accompanist for thirty eight years, with stories of his own to tell during the post performance Q&A. It was a privilege to be present for a work so rarely performed by a unique grandpa and grandson musical duo.

We walked to the town centre to catch a bus outside the Holiday Inn, and one pulled up just as we got to the stop, so we were home by twenty past nine. It meant that I could finish the audio editing started this afternoon, and feel satisfied to get that done nice and early. And so to bed.