Choosing five was almost impossible.
Although I now mainly listen to Classical music, it was not always so, therefore I decided to choose the most influential pieces of music I've experienced.
I hope you like them.
1) "Run the Ridges" by the Kingston Trio [from album Kingston Trio #16] CLICK HERE
From 1959 to 1963, I listened to nothing else but pop; Beatles, Rolling Stones, Elvis etc. until on a whim, I bought this album. It got me interested in traditional American music and from there I've branched out into Country & Western, Blues, and Jazz, which have given many hours of enjoyment.
2) Albinoni. Oboe Concerto in B flat Op7/3. Anthony Camden & the London Virtuosi
CLICK HERE
At about the same time I was languishing in the "forlorn hope" class in school music.
One day our teacher came in, with an LP under his arm, and said, "I'm going to play this for all youze who think classical music husnae got a good beat"
It transformed my musical tastes permanently!
3) Jacques Loussier Trio. Chorale "Sleepers Awake" from Play Bach #4 CLICK HERE
Another album I bought on impulse in a French music shop in Alsace, when volunteering with a Scripture Union work party in 1966.
Again it changed my musical tastes enormously, introducing me to Bach's music, which I now listen to almost daily.
I've seen Jacques Loussier perform on a couple of occasions when he came to Scotland, and judging by the composition of the audience, I was not the only one of my generation he influenced!
Sadly he died last year, but has left a great musical legacy.
4) "Old Friends" Simon & Garfunkel from "Bookends" CLICK HERE
This will always remind me of youthful days at University, and contains the line "How terribly strange to be seventy"....yes indeed!
5) "Sea Pictures" by Sir Edward Elgar, sung by Dame Janet Baker with the Halle Orchestra under Sir John Barbarolli CLICK HERE
A true classic, which I actually bought for the"flip side", the Elgar Cello Concerto by the late Jacqueline du Pre.
However, I've grown to like this work more over the years, but have only heard it performed once...in Sherbrooke Mosspark last May by the Glasgow Sinfonia.
It's a great piece, and made me realise that British classical music is as good as any in the world.
Your book & why
"The Guns of August" by Barbara Tuchman
I've always liked reading History, and this is my favourite.
It won the Pulitzer Prize in 1962, and deals with the world changing events from the assassination of Franz Ferdinand in June 1914 to the German retreat after the First Battle of the Marne in September the same year.
Perhaps we are also living through times in which history will change decisively?
Your luxury item & why
My stamp collection
They say "Philately will get you nowhere", but I've been collecting in a modest way since age 5, and I can think of no better pastime for learning about geography, history, famous people, world events etc.
On the desert island, I might even be able to open a Post Office!
Although I now mainly listen to Classical music, it was not always so, therefore I decided to choose the most influential pieces of music I've experienced.
I hope you like them.
1) "Run the Ridges" by the Kingston Trio [from album Kingston Trio #16] CLICK HERE
From 1959 to 1963, I listened to nothing else but pop; Beatles, Rolling Stones, Elvis etc. until on a whim, I bought this album. It got me interested in traditional American music and from there I've branched out into Country & Western, Blues, and Jazz, which have given many hours of enjoyment.
2) Albinoni. Oboe Concerto in B flat Op7/3. Anthony Camden & the London Virtuosi
CLICK HERE
At about the same time I was languishing in the "forlorn hope" class in school music.
One day our teacher came in, with an LP under his arm, and said, "I'm going to play this for all youze who think classical music husnae got a good beat"
It transformed my musical tastes permanently!
3) Jacques Loussier Trio. Chorale "Sleepers Awake" from Play Bach #4 CLICK HERE
Another album I bought on impulse in a French music shop in Alsace, when volunteering with a Scripture Union work party in 1966.
Again it changed my musical tastes enormously, introducing me to Bach's music, which I now listen to almost daily.
I've seen Jacques Loussier perform on a couple of occasions when he came to Scotland, and judging by the composition of the audience, I was not the only one of my generation he influenced!
Sadly he died last year, but has left a great musical legacy.
4) "Old Friends" Simon & Garfunkel from "Bookends" CLICK HERE
This will always remind me of youthful days at University, and contains the line "How terribly strange to be seventy"....yes indeed!
5) "Sea Pictures" by Sir Edward Elgar, sung by Dame Janet Baker with the Halle Orchestra under Sir John Barbarolli CLICK HERE
A true classic, which I actually bought for the"flip side", the Elgar Cello Concerto by the late Jacqueline du Pre.
However, I've grown to like this work more over the years, but have only heard it performed once...in Sherbrooke Mosspark last May by the Glasgow Sinfonia.
It's a great piece, and made me realise that British classical music is as good as any in the world.
Your book & why
"The Guns of August" by Barbara Tuchman
I've always liked reading History, and this is my favourite.
It won the Pulitzer Prize in 1962, and deals with the world changing events from the assassination of Franz Ferdinand in June 1914 to the German retreat after the First Battle of the Marne in September the same year.
Perhaps we are also living through times in which history will change decisively?
Your luxury item & why
My stamp collection
They say "Philately will get you nowhere", but I've been collecting in a modest way since age 5, and I can think of no better pastime for learning about geography, history, famous people, world events etc.
On the desert island, I might even be able to open a Post Office!