Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Bringing the Light
Lucy: “An English name, Lucy means ‘of the light.'”
So sue me, I spent a couple of hours this afternoon watching the Coronation Concert, which was carried live on PBS. Overall, it was considerably better than I expected, with a couple of bizarre and untuneful exceptions. What has probably been the most controversial act — the Coronation Choir — which was composed of 300 members from amateur British choirs of all ages and from all walks of life and which has been roundly criticized as overly woke and virtue-signaling was, like the church service yesterday, quite good-hearted and up to the mark, and made one wonder what all the preceding hullabaloo had been about anyway.
Many of the acts focused on, and featured young people involved in, some of the monarchs’ favorite charities and causes. And in the spirit of the late Queen’s skit with Paddington Bear, there were quite a few acts and interpolations for the kiddies, including a surprise appearance by Kermit and the ever-youthful and yearning Miss Piggy. (In this case, she had her eye set on an overly-hearty Hugh Bonneville, the gracious host, whom she immediately recognized as a “Lord” from his Downton Abbey stint. When he was able to disentangle himself from her amorous intentions, he sent the two of them off to the Royal Box, where Kermit appears to have ended up sitting on Prince Edward’s lap.) Hafta say, the older Royals seemed pretty chill about it all, and young Charlotte and George appear game for just about anything.
The venue (the grounds of Windsor Castle) was spectacular, and the twenty-plus-thousand crowd was enormous and very willing to join in and be entertained. Stella McCartney spoke the obligatory blip about saving the planet, although–thankfully–it was couched soothingly in terms of “conservation” rather than featuring a polemic on climate change, which is an improvement. William followed up, sounding like a rather normal person, with an attaboy for his Dad, and a commitment to service on his own account. Then followed a spectacular display of drone lighting above the castle, as the entire castle facade became the screen for an enormous slide and movie show. Quite impressive.
Somewhere in there, the presenter of the moment mentioned one of Camilla’s patronages, The Amber Trust, and someone called “Lucy.”
I’d never heard of either.
It seems the Trust provides “musical opportunities for blind and partially sighted children, and children with more complex needs, via its Music Awards and Music Services.” And Lucy is one of its beneficiaries.
Lucy has a chromosome abnormality. She’s now thirteen, lost her sight as a very young child when she was operated on for cancerous eye tumors, is on the autism spectrum, and has severe learning difficulties. She doesn’t converse much, and doesn’t have full control of her musculature. Earlier this year she appeared on The Piano, a talent show featuring amateur pianists who play their competition pieces on pianos that have been set up in four of Britain’s railway stations, with the finalists performing at the Royal Festival Hall. (One of the three judges, providing the “classical music” chops, is Lang Lang, who also performed at this afternoon’s concert.)
Lucy won the 2023 edition of The Piano with this performance:
I haven’t yet found the video of today’s performance at Windsor castle, but the Daily Mail article is here.
This video (about 10 minutes) from the Amber Trust tells Lucy’s story and–just as effectively–the story of the extraordinary sensitivity and skill of her teacher, Daniel.
Watching Lucy find herself in her music is an illuminating and joyful experience. I’m so grateful for the fact that she’s on this earth and to her parents for sharing her with us. And I’m grateful to the Queen of England for her part in introducing Lucy to me. Focusing light on, and creating this sort of connection, where there was none before, is one of the things that the British royal family is exceptionally good at.
Published in General
I have a ten-year old autistic non-verbal granddaughter and would be over the moon if she could play a musical instrument this well. Bravo to her parents and her teacher for their patience with the hundreds of hours they’ve undoubtedly spent with this child’s training. My daughter has taught my granddaughter to communicate through the ipad programs she has written which enable her to explain her thoughts and ask for food, etc.
She, I almost passed over this post, thinking it would be about a subject I really don’t care about. (kings, or something…) Yet, I clicked, because of your exceptional writing talent, and even more, your ability to ferret out amazing stories.
What a reward.
As always, exceptional and awe inspiring. WOW.
Yes, tears.
Darn it.
Amazing and humbling.
A new hymn composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, composed for the coronation:
Make A Joyful Noise – The Coronation Anthem by Andrew Lloyd Webber (Official Music Video) – YouTube
Sounds like Bach.
PDQ Bach.
“Minor” OT rant continued:
It does have that Sunday School singability, which will come in handy. And it’s firmly in C major until it Schusterflecks up to D major for some variety. Where it stays. So at least it’s not a coronation hymn in a minor key. That would be awkward. But it definitely descends, perhaps as will the goodness from KC3’s reign all over the comm’ners. And it’s a hymn, not a march, such as this gem:
I don’t know if any pipe organs were involved in the coronation. We certainly hope so.
Hastily back on topic, that girl is amazing!
Thanks so much for a lovely compliment and I’m glad you didn’t change the channel.
I liked this anthem, which was straight-down-the-middle traditional. I liked it a lot.
I’m conflicted by ALW. I really want to like everything about him, but some of his stuff is so over-the-top I just can’t. (Mr. She always ascribed this characteristic of his music to Lloyd Webber’s early marriage to Sarah Brightman, something of a drama llama herself, who Mr. She use to say “sings in sine waves.”)
Every time I hear his name, three things immediately spring to mind:
But this was a very nice anthem, singable by normal people with normal voices. And fit in perfectly (it’s a riff on Psalm 98).
The Harrison & Harrison Organ
Yes.
I do too. I agree about Webber in many ways. That said, there are some amazing moments in all of his compositions, and I think Sarah Brightman has a uniquely beautiful voice. God put very few true sopranos on the earth. In fact, I’m always amazed at the optimism of the great composers! :) :) I think Andrew and Sarah inspired each other.
But mostly, I think it is really cool that the world has a new beautiful hymn. It’s a crowded field with demanding, highly critical participants. :) I predict Webber’s new hymn will become a church favorite. There’s another new one out there too, by John Rutter: “A Ukrainian Prayer.” Just beautiful.
So that is really neat. A new hymn is born! :) :) :)
Nice composition. What kind of horns are these?
I don’t know, but the accompaniment is Hardart.
Fanfare or herald trumpets.
LOL. Here we are:
A talent competition … at a goat show … and it wasn’t the goats’ talents that were in competition?
Goats, it should be noted, do have talents.
Scoring could be a problem.
No artist hits it out of the park with every at bat.
They really do. Escapology is one of them. That’s why I don’t have goats anymore.
It was, and I was never at the top of the board. So, in the best tradition of the 21st century, when I didn’t like the outputs, I decided to change the inputs.
Something called “Katy Perry” also appeared at the concert. The best comment on her metallic foil outfit to date has been that she appeared to be dressed as a Quality Street Toffee Penny.
Here’s Katy Perry:
Here’s a Quality Street Toffee Penny:
Just recording this for posterity, because it will be an unappreciated and not-understood quip a few years from now. Quality Street has gone woke, and is replacing its traditional, beautiful, shiny, much-loved and looked-forward to at Christmas, foil and cellophane wrappers with ugly matte-paper ones because they think they’re going to save the planet by so doing.
I can’t even. (I started to write a post about this a few months ago, but so far haven’t managed to muster the strength to finish it.)
We had a goat who figured out the first part of that trick of using a narrow ledge in a concrete block wall to get out. I couldn’t figure it out until one time it demonstrated for me right in front of me. It was only a two-jump trick instead of a three-jumper like the one in the photo.
This was one of the most poignant, beautiful, joyful, exuberant, inspirational experiences I have ever had and I feel I must share it with my friends on my blog–may I have your kind permission to also copy out the entirety of your post so they will get the full background of this performance? I really found myself in that rarest of conditions for a trial lawyer after watching Lucy perform — speechless and at a loss for words!
Thank you for bringing Lucy into our world; it is a much richer world now that we have her in it. Jim.
I forgot: anyone who watched that performance and did not shed a tear, or at least tear up, needs to get himself or herself to the ER just as fast as they can get there as they need immediate attention.
Thanks so much, Jim. Of course you can either link to the post or quote at length. If you do the latter, please attribute it to me, here on Ricochet.
LOL.