Book
reviews
Durrell: The Alexandria Quartet
Set
in early twentieth century Egypt, this book explores the passions and
relationships between four very different people. The lovely Justine tempts
Darley away from his lover Melissa but is finally seduced by the eponymous
Alexandria who dominates the recorder quartet with her unique blend of
arrogance, sexuality and musicianship.
Waugh: Viol Bodies
An enterprising
instrument maker sets out to convince the world that viols should be made
trapezoidal, rather than the traditional shape. He fails.
Arrowsmith: Jackboots and Coronets
A
salutary tale of the perils of too readily accepting a spell checker's
suggested
correction. The early brass ensemble suffer the attentions of
Neo-Nazis and fortune
hunters after a misprint in a concert title is
"corrected". Not for the faint-hearted.
Joyce: Ulysses
This appears to
be a somewhat verbose translation of the libretto of Monteverdi's Il Ritorno
d'Ulisse in Patri but in an idiom which some may find offensive. Some of the
book is difficult to relate to the original, but just close your eyes and think
of Italy.
Dadd: Mutant Ninja Curtals
An early
wind band attempts to save civilisation as we know it but merely succeeds in
annoying the neighbours.
David
Fletcher