Nothing changes!

RE-POST FROM 2012: Isaac Albeniz

As I am a bit of short of time currently, I am going to re-post some of my favourites from over the previous ten years.

Isaac Albeniz 1860 - 1909. A little flamboyant don't you think?

Isaac Albeniz was a Spanish pianist and composer who died at the early age of 48 (from a kidney ailment known at the time as Bright's Disease). I was once a student of the classical guitar and came to his music through the many transcriptions of his piano music for the guitar. Transcription is when a piece of music written for one instrument is arranged and notated for another.

My two favourite pieces are Granada from the Suite Española and the Tango in D and here are links to piano and guitar versions of both where one can see how well they work for the guitar.

Granada for piano (there are better versions but this is the best I could find on You Tube). I'm not sure who plays this.

Granada for guitar played by John Williams.

Tango in D for piano. Again, I don't know who the pianist is.

Tango in D for guitar played by John Williams again.

Draft 1

While I am stuck at home self-isolating, instead of music, I will be posting jokes:

North Hill, Highgate, Part Two

This is the second  post about the amazing North Hill in Highgate, London.
See the first part and introduction here.

 4 North Hill, Highgate

Number 4.This is a good example of Venetian Gothic which differs from that of Florence or Rome. The steeper roof and smaller windows make it more suited to a colder climate. The windows are the first appearance in North Hill of a pointed and angled arch as is the use of varying colours of brick. The heavy entablature at the top would have served to throw rain-water forward to avoid it soaking the walls.

 47-49 North Hill, Highgate

Numbers 47 and 49. Known as Provincial Georgian style (not a derogatory term!). These houses, unique to London would have been outside of any building regulations and, most probably, from a pattern-book so no involvement of an architect. The equal spacing of the windows and brickwork between them was a typical feature and the lintel at the top hides the roof.

 51 North Hill, Highgate

Number 51. An ornate Regency Villa of 1780. Although the ground-floor windows are classic Georgian the downstairs has been more recently extended. It is the only property in North Hill in which the front door opens directly onto the street. I love the first floor bay and wrought iron decoration.

Castle Yard, North Hill

The Victorian Cottages of Castle yard; although tiny and quaint, these former worker's homes,

directly off North Hill, are worthwhile mentioning. These neat, sought-after houses can fetch a million pounds each! Location, location, location.

Highpoint One at the top of North Hill

And the final treat at the top of North Hill is HIGHPOINT (1935) the first of two apartment blocks on one of the highest spots in London and often cited as one of Britain’s finest buildings. It was designed by the Russian-emigré architect Berthold Lubetkin and commissioned by Sigmund Gestetner. Although it was originally intended for his staff, it was never used for that purpose. Next door is Highpoint 2 but I think Gestetner must have copied the first one 😊. Corbusier described it as “a building of the first rank.”

I'm listening to Country Girl by Brinsley Schwarz, the very talented 1970s band who never really made it despite having Nick Lowe as their vocalist. Take a listen here!

North Hill, Highgate, Part One

North Hill in Highgate, north London is a unique road in the UK, probably in Europe and possibly in the world! It's about half-a-mile in length and contains an absolutely incredible variety of English domestic architecture; almost a complete collection of all the styles and variety since Tudor times. Here is a selection of some of the more interesting buildings. More will follow in a future post.

41 North Hill, Highgate London

Number 41 was built in 1600, at the end of the Tudor period although in the Elizabethan age. Its typically Tudor arrangement of black beams on white walls is far too tidy to be the original design and it was extensively remodelled in 1926. It is easily the oldest building in the street.

121 North Hill, Highgate

Number 121, an almost over-the-top Gothic Revival house from 1880 is unusual for the style in being symmetrical. It was the first appearance of glazed panels in the front door. The sills are made from an artificial aggregate called coade stone, named for its inventor, Mrs Coade who took the secret of its manufacturing process to her grave. Personally I rather like the downstairs windows and all the fussy details and additions.

Morven House, 6 North Hill, Highgate

Number 6 was badly neglected when used by Haringey as sheltered accommodation for homeless people and drug addicts. Now fully restored, one can see the Palladlian-influenced building at its best. The stucco on the ground floor has been incised to give the appearance of large pieces of masonry. Stucco would have been much cheaper than stonework. The first-floor railings are also typical.

80 North Hill, Highgate

Number 80 is a typical Edwardian house built around 1905 and is, perhaps surprisingly, the only example in this street. Features include the recessed entrance below an upstairs window and, above the upstairs bay, is something that became very popular during the inter-war years: small areas of pebble-dash between wooden verticals, possibly reminiscent of the Tudor style. 

169-175 North Hill, Springfield Cottages, Highgate

Springfield Cottages, 169-175. Built in 1877, this neat row of cottages shows the influence of the 1870 Building Regulations: the taller chimney stacks and you can just make out the vertical row of bricks between the properties, which acted to stop the spread of fire. Also, not really visible, there is a row of blue bricks along the base which helped to prevent damp. These cottages had bay windows where the earlier Georgian ones would have had bow windows

I'm listening to the irresistible Negro Y Azul, The Ballad of Heisenberg by Los Cuates de Sinaloa

from Breaking Bad. LISTEN HERE