Did you know that there are about thirty seconds worth of actual film footage of the funeral of Queen Victoria, in February, 1901?
I didn't know that, until I started trying to work up a post (or series of posts) comparing & contrasting the musical culture of a hundred years ago to that of today - complete with illustrative music videos...
Anyway, I've incorporated said film footage into my new YouTube vid (starting at about 1:56):
Enjoy the music, if you can. More later.
Comments (11)
Oh, and if you've got a broadband connection, definitely click on the "HQ" button - somewhat better sound, and much better video.
Posted by steve burton | January 30, 2009 9:48 PM
Wow. Check out the _horses_ in that video. They're beautiful. Seriously.
Ignorant question: Is that a statue of Queen Victoria at the end?
Posted by Lydia | January 30, 2009 10:33 PM
If one is of a mind to mourn what has been lost, contrast - purely as a mental exercise, as actually tracking down the video might induce a state of despondency - this footage with virtually any aspect of the funeral of Princess Diana. One shudders....
Posted by Maximos | January 30, 2009 10:57 PM
This was great. Thanks for posting it. From where did you source the footage?
Posted by Jason Goroncy | January 31, 2009 4:55 AM
Wonderful!
One advantage of having Mr. Steve Burton around is that even a philistine like me can gradually accumulate a "best music of Western civilization" library.
Posted by Zippy | January 31, 2009 9:41 AM
Nicely done, Steve!
For anyone who's interested in Elgar, Amazon has a five CD box-set of his orchestral works conducted by Barbirolli on sale right now for $23. I've not heard all of these performances, but the ones I have heard are very good. The set includes the famous Jacqueline DuPre cello concerto, and the Janet Baker 'Sea Pictures.'
Posted by Rob G | January 31, 2009 10:27 AM
Steve,
That was stunning! Your use of panning and slow close-ups reminds me of Ken Burns. I think I would have enjoyed living in Victorian England and serving the Empire.
Posted by Jeff Singer | January 31, 2009 5:41 PM
Lydia - yes, it's strangely & powerfully moving to see these magnificent animals, all long dead, tossing their heads so proudly...
And yes - that is Queen Victoria's monument at the end.
Maximos - that is *the* comparison *juste.* From Rule, Britannia, to Cool Britannia, in an historical eyeblink.
Jason Goroncy: the best source that I've been able to find for this footage is here:
http://www.movinghistory.ac.uk/archives/bn/films/bn6funeral.html
Zippy & Jeff Singer: you are both much too kind.
Rob G: Barbirolli's performances of Elgar are nonpareil. But Elgar, no matter how well performed & recorded, is not a composer to be recommended lightly to the uninitiated. A point that I hope to expand on soon.
Posted by steve burton | January 31, 2009 9:04 PM
"Elgar, no matter how well performed & recorded, is not a composer to be recommended lightly to the uninitiated."
Good point. Still, he's not Mahler. ;-)
Posted by Rob G | February 1, 2009 1:43 PM
Hey, I think that Elgar's a much tougher nut than Mahler to crack. He certainly was for me.
Mahler hits you over the head with his deepest feelings. Elgar *conceals* his.
He was a very strange and elusive character.
Posted by steve burton | February 1, 2009 8:50 PM
Interesting. I warmed up to Elgar fairly quickly. Mahler, I still don't get (other than the adagios, which I love).
Posted by Rob G | February 2, 2009 7:45 AM