The Time by the Sea is about Ronald Blythes life in Aldeburgh during the 1950s. He had originally come to the Suffolk coast as an aspiring young writer; but found himself drawn into Benjamin Brittens circle and began working for the Aldeburgh Festival. Although befriended by Imogen Holst and by E M Forster; part of him remained essentially solitary; alone in the landscape while surrounded by a stormy cultural sea. But this memoir gathers up many early experiences; sights and sounds: with Britten he explored ancient churches; with the botanist Denis Garrett he took delight in the marvellous shingle beaches and marshland plants; he worked alongside the celebrated photo-journalist Kurt Hutton. His muse was Christine Nash; wife of the artist John Nash. Published to coincide with the centenary of Brittens birth; this is a tale of music and painting; unforgettable words and fears. It describes the first steps of an East Anglian journey; an intimate appraisal of a vivid and memorable time.
#741583 in eBooks 2013-10-29 2013-10-29File Name: B00BVTSD0S
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Interesting book; but...By Mark LuebkerInteresting book; but reads more like someones thesis than the kind of popular culture history I was expecting.7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Disappointing take on an interesting subjectBy M. RitchieEvery bit of the title of this book is misleading: First of all; "Sleigh Ride;" "Jingle Bells;" and "Silent Night" are not mentioned in this book--certainly Leroy Andersons "Sleigh Ride" belongs here. Second; this is not a history of American Christmas songs; it is an quasi-academic survey of a handful of such songs; maybe 15; if that many; are written about in any detail. The "cultural" part of the title is accurate; the author does a nice job throwing a net around Christmas popular culture of the past fifty years as he sets up context for the discussion of songs; but material on the songs is weak and unfulfilling. His thesis is interesting: the genre of American Christmas pop music; which was born during World War II and largely ended in the 1960s; is not about any of the religious aspects of Christmas; but instead focuses on domesticity; nostalgia; romance; and commercial consumption.But what he leaves out could fill another book. He doesnt discuss songs such as "Jingle Bell Rock;" "Holly Jolly Christmas;" Rockin Around the Christmas Tree;" "Little Drummer Boy;" "Silver Bells;" "Do You Hear What I Hear;" "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home);" "Please Daddy; Dont Get Drunk This Christmas;" "Please Come Home for Christmas;" or "All I Want for Christmas Is You." I know that hes not intending to cover British songs; but I could write several paragraphs on Elton Johns "Step Into Christmas;" a lyrically interesting song which was and remains popular in America; not to mention John Lennons "Happy Xmas (War is Over)"The academic prose style is clear; and there has been a lot of research done; but ultimately; as obvious as his points are and as much as he has left out; I doubt that this would pass muster as a dissertation in a university English department. And as it doesnt seem pitched at a average music buff reader; Im not sure who would be satisfied by this half-baked presentation.6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. American Culture and Christmas SongsBy Ron TitusRonald Lankford; Jr.; does not provide a standard history of Christmas songs. He does not discuss in detail who wrote a particular song. That type of history can be found in books such as Stories Behind the Best-Loved Songs of Christmas by Ace Collins. Lankford instead studies how Christmas songs fit into and reflect American culture especially in relation to movies and television shows.After an introductory essay on the American Christmas song tradition; Lankford examines Christmas songs in relation to nostalgia for earlier times; Santa Claus and gift giving; Christmas as carnival time; the poor and hard times in relation to American celebratory practices; and Christmas satire songs. Lankford finishes the book with a return to nostalgia beginning in the 1980s.If you are interested in the culture of Christmas; Lankford will not disappoint. He provides plenty of evidence to back his claims; using movie stills and reference material to illustrate the book. He provides a serious; yet entertaining look at a timely topic.