Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Pigale
You might be surprized to know that people have written music "in the style of", especially someone who wrote "Haydon" (I think) or "Mozart", H.C. Robbins-Lansdon or some such name But he didn't try to pass it off as theirs!
I think people have tried to finish unfinished symphonies, too. I expect Jazzy could tell us as she knows a huge amount about music.
Thanks Elle. I love making things, and am. I'm proudest of my book (if you ask Norah to pass on my email I'll tell you about it).
Must go play with Play Doh

Ok, Ros, I'll do that - I would love to hear all about your book!
You are certainly multi-talented! I am utterly useless - not a creative bone in my body!

On the subject of emails -

I think I would like If you would ask Norah to send me your email addresses - so that we might remain in touch if (Heavens forbids !) the Forum runs across more problems; you never know! There might also be certain subjects we cannot discuss on the Forum because too personnal for everyone to see.

Rosalind, I suppose if someone is a talented musician, it might be tempting for him to finish great composers' unfinished works - but in that case he must nonetheless have a high opinion of his own talent ! Don't you think so ?

Pigale
I heard Mr Robbins-Landon talk once, he had spent his whole life studying those composers and i found him most impressive. I found his music impressive too.

I think it's a bit like some of the competitions in a magazine whose name I forget. You would be asked to write in the style of....Having read all of C.P. Snow's Strangers and Brothers sequence several times, I reckon I could have a bash at him or of an Aubrey novel (since sailing ships of the past is one of my things). Wouldn't be anywhere near as good, of course, but fun to do.

They asked for a hymn for the 80s once. The winner was amazing but probably too unPC for here. Don't want my head chopped off!

Rosalind, I think it's the Spectator you're thinking of with those competitions - I am often very impressed with the entries (and would have no chance whatsoever of coming up with anything as good or as clever).

Rosalind, if you think you can have a bash at writing in the style etc.... then have a go ! I like writing myself but would not be capable of 'writing in the style' if anyone - it takes a special talent. Go ahead !

Ros, well, now you've given me a mission!
And that is to re -read all the "Strangers and Brothers" series!
It is very many years since last I read C. P. Snow - and I have never read them in chronological order. Some of his books I still own, others I read from the library, but now I shall endeavour to read them all again - this time in order!
That is, after I have worked my way (again) through the set of Jane Austen books that I bought on Black Friday (see last night's post!)

Talking of composing "in the style of", have you come across Peter Shickele, and his most famous incarnation, PDQ Bach (youngest and least known of the Bach offspring, speciality: plagiarism)?

Some of his music is genuinely funny, and It's not often you can say that about instrumental music!

http://www.schickele.com/

Hi Chris
I am laughing, truly. My husband thought Bach was the nearest thing to ------(as you like), and played a lot of his organ music, even transcribing the famous Toccata in D for one of our sons to play on the (classical) guitar. You may not think it would be so thrilling, but it is (or nearly so). I will look up the person you refer to, thanks.
Yes, it was the Spectator, thanks. I have 3 favourites from there. The first was Bernard Levin's response to writing the first line of a novel. This was a comment nota competition entry and supposedly made up by a student on the spur of the moment when asked what he'd been doing for 4 years and replied "writing a novel". "And how does it begin?"
"Mabel's naked body quivered as she awaited the descending fury of the lash".

Will post my effort later