A detail from a Ukrainian postage stamp from 2022 At the turn of the last century, the composer, Mykola Leontovych, arranged a traditional Ukrainian folk song for a choir of students at Kyiv university. The song, sung in March in those days, tells of a swallow heralding the coming of the Spring. But the timing…Read more Shchedryk (Carol of the Bells)
traditional
Songs for the Old Man
On my Release Radar this week, there was a track called Secret by an artist with the curious name of Yom. Nothing grabs the attention of Crotchety Man faster than the itch of curiosity and, tout suite, he was trawling the Internet for information on the musician. A Google search for "yom musician" produces an…Read more Songs for the Old Man
Abrazo
'Abrazo' is a Spanish word meaning 'hug' or 'embrace'. It's also the title of an album by the French musical duo Emile Parisien and Vincent Peirani. Emile blows a soprano saxophone in a style that floats between classical and jazz; Vincent plays an accordion, bringing a folky feel to the ensemble. It's an unusual combination,…Read more Abrazo
Carol of the Bells
East of the North Atlantic Ocean and on the western edge of Europe lies the United Kingdom. At the geographical heart of the UK, slightly to the southwest of the centre point, there is the urban conurbation of Birmingham and, in the balancing position a little to the northeast, is a triangle of lesser known…Read more Carol of the Bells
Cwlwm
When the Crotchety Kid was just nine or ten years old one of his teachers was a woman not so young in years but with all the best attributes of youth in her manner. There was a timeless beauty in her face and the fresh warmth of her personality has never been matched in all the…Read more Cwlwm
Boo Boo Bird
"It is up to you whether you read this... my advice is just to ignore it." Ivor Cutler Ivor Cutler was the Scottish equivalent of Spike Milligan. He was an eccentric poet, songwriter and humourist. His fans included The Beatles, John Peel, KT Tunstall, John Lydon, Neil Innes and Robert Wyatt. He was the driver of…Read more Boo Boo Bird
Greensleeves
The Crotchety clan is going back in time again. Mrs Crotchety and her daughter are going way back to the Jurassic era of pre-history (as portrayed in the film sets of Jurassic World). And, while they're at the cinema, Crotchety Man is visiting Tudor England. Henry VIII has been dead for more than 40 years, Elizabeth I…Read more Greensleeves
Crotchety Man 