BBC Working Lunch Jim Moray and ..

Subject: BBC Working Lunch Jim Moray and ..
From: Brakn
Date: 13 Feb 04 - 09:43 AM

Jim Moray and Eliza Carthy were on BBC's Working Lunch today. You can probably view if your quick enough on the BBC site.

Subject: RE: BBC Working Lunch Jim Moray and ..
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 13 Feb 04 - 02:28 PM

Is it online? Can anyone provide a link?

I've heard Jm Moray was questioned about the production costs of Sweet England. Can anyone explain the relevance of this? This was a self-produced CD while the artist was an undergraduate at the Birmingham Conservatoire. It has just won the Best Album category in the BBC Folk Awards,

Er..anything like congratulations from anyone?

Subject: RE: BBC Working Lunch Jim Moray and ..
From: Brakn
Date: 13 Feb 04 - 05:00 PM

Look to the right top corner and click on watch programme.

Subject: RE: BBC Working Lunch Jim Moray and ..
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 13 Feb 04 - 05:06 PM

Did Jim Moray and Eliza Carthy say anything interesting?

Subject: RE: BBC Working Lunch Jim Moray and ..
From: The Barden of England
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 03:55 AM

I thought Jim's answer to the production cost was great. He was being pushed to say how much, so he said "On a scale between Jack Russell and Great Dane, it was Labrador". Quite right I thought as nobody pushed Mike Oldfield into saying how much Tubular Bells cost him to make, in a similar situation. By the way, congratulations Jim, Sweet England is wonderful.

Subject: RE: BBC Working Lunch Jim Moray and ..
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 04:46 AM

OK, I've now seen it. On production costs, Jim said it rather depended how much value could be put upon time. The dog remark was referring to sales figures of Sweet England so far.

Eliza pointed out the realities of a record company advance explaining that it was not cash up front but had to be used to pay for studio hire and musicians' wages.

Both acquitted themselves admirably. Only presenter Adrian Chiles left with egg on his face after first remarking that Jim wasn't wearing white socks and sandals then asserting that no-one would describe Sweet Engand as folk if Rod Stewart were to sing it.

Eliza exploded the myth that what she did was exclusively traditional and Jim emphasised how the music was 'just great songs' and expressed his especial gratitude to those outside the 'insular folk community' whose interest was becoming aroused.

Good on both of 'em! Way to go...

Subject: RE: BBC Working Lunch Jim Moray and ..
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 05:12 AM

I do object (mildly) to the badging of all folkies as "insular" with that comment (if it was meant that way); but other than that, well done both of them.

I do still cringe a little at some of the tracks of "Sweet England", but hey, that's just one opinion. If Jim's impressing others, he's doing something better than many of us, and we shouldn't knock him for being successful.

Subject: RE: BBC Working Lunch Jim Moray and ..
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 05:52 AM

No, Jim certainly wasn't calling ALL 'folkies' (actually I really object to that term) insular. I'm quite sure El Greko knows - and cringes at - as well as I do the sort of 'folkier than thou' blinkered throwbacks in their cliquey clubs who regard our traditional music as exhibits to be returned to labelled glass cases after hallowed performance (not that is is, very often, in their hands).

The crucial point is that it's the tradition that must be respected, conventions can and should be broken to reflect changing perceptions. Jim Moray and others are presenting it in a form that is relevant and comprehensible to how life is today. They are musicians who are being themselves, telling their own story through their music. This will in turn enable people (ie EVERYONE, not a tiny clique) to relate to and value our indigenous music once more and, turn once again to doing it themselves.

Those who have gone out and bought Sweet England without ever seeing the need ever to enter a 'folk club' are the ones Jim Moray was thanking. It's their music too and we should be cheered that they are beginning to realise it.

Subject: RE: BBC Working Lunch Jim Moray and ..
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 06:11 AM

I still have a problem with Mr Moray .... I could swear he was singing "chew ewes" on Early One Morning - was he looking at sheep?

Subject: RE: BBC Working Lunch Jim Moray and ..
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 14 Feb 04 - 06:25 AM

Well put Countess Richard - tradition to be respected, conventions may be broken.

Twenty years ago I belonged to a small vocal group assisting a composer who was reworking byzantine music using "western" techniques and producing some real - we were his "instrument", so to speak. Well, his music (and the "instrument") were good enough to win the 1981 Eisteddfod (purists pls excuse spelling) in Llangollen, but back home we were under constant and often malicious attacks from the Orthodox Church. Some of the more enlightened members of the priesthood allowed us to sing in their churches; some even encouraged us to do so. And some got close to excommunicating us.

Were we the Antichrist, as some believed? No, I check my feet daily and there's no hooves. Did we bring byzantine music to non-churchgoers. Yep, we sure did that.

Jim's doing the same, and good luck to him if he can produce more relevance to the youngsters than we old "fol**"- sorry "foggies" do.

Actually, the only piece that really grates for me is his mixing of minor and and major keys in "Early one morning". But hey, I don't like opera either, it doesn't make it rubbish.

Subject: RE: BBC Working Lunch Jim Moray and ..
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 10:37 AM

As I hear it there is no "mixing of minor and major keys" in Early One Morning. Its all in the natural minor scale, with fairly straightforward harmonisation - in fact nothing to make it remotely offensive to the ear at all. The tune at the beginning is natural minor, and there is no passing notes or accidentals outside the mode in the whole thing.

Point it out to me if I'm wrong...