Stravinsky

Reading what I have covered so far I seem to have moved away from Dad's book so back to page 66 where the recording of Hear my prayer is described. He says I was head chorister in 1958 when we made the record of carols. I always loved "Whence is that goodly fragrance?" which is on that recording. Dad does not describe the infighting which went on about Hear my prayer. <Mrs Irwin was determined that her Michael should sing the solo but in the end Gaspar made a good job of it. On page 67 Dad lists all the City Hall services and I sang in all of them. I even recall Dr Gerald Knight's visit. Mum had little time for him. I played the organ for Frank Dennis's mayoral service at St Mark's. Keith Fleming had been mayor in 1962 and once picked me up when I was walking home from school and gave me a lift in the Mayor's Rolls Royce! As a result of these mayoral connections Mum and Dad were invited to a reception for Igor Stravinsky. I went with Mum. The great man was due to conduct the SABC orchestra but in fact Robert Craft did all the conducting. The real purpose of the trip was to visit the Game reserve! The great man was seated in the Mayoral parlour with a tub of concrete on the floor on top of a Persian carpet. He was then invited to put his hands into the concrete and of course the concrete slopped over onto the lovely carpet. How small town Joburg was and I was appalled! Dad describes the Sanvicens family on page 68. He does not mention the ghastly experience of San driving his little car down windy Munro drive and turning round to talk to Dad. He referred to Mt Gordon as Padre and his concerts in the church hall were memorable. I always loved the cello.

This is actually an earlier mayoral service when I was assistant organist. I think I played the Webber Tuba tune. Dad composed a special anthem based on the tune "York".