Some readers may see a paradox in that title. Magic is a myth something that takes place only in the mind or the mind is tricked by sleight of hand. Technology on the other hand is factual, part of the real world which proceeds according to scientific rules governed by mechanics, or physics or chemistry or mathematics. To my shame I have a very minimal understanding of these rules. Fortunately for me others have a much better scientific understanding, although a few do not have as much understanding of the complexities of the human machine as they ought to. Recently it was discovered that my husband’s heart was not functioning as efficiently as it should, in the nick of time he was given an ultra-scan which discovered veins that were barely functioning. It was decided that immediate action needed to be taken. The next day he was transferred to a hospital which specialises in heart treatment. Within hours he was prepared for a heart by-pass operation, a team of people led by the surgeon, including an anaesthetist and a number of specialists I can’t name took care of my husband during a very complex procedure which involved the replacing of three damaged veins by other veins from his legs. Everything went well, his wounds were stitched up, a careful watch was kept until he became conscious. I don’t know the names of any of these wonderful doctors and nurses. A couple of names I have seen are not English but we are both very grateful for their skill and knowledge. I know that the NHS relies on many immigrant doctors and nurses they have my heartfelt thanks. A couple of days later he came home and he is checked regularly by experienced heart nurses. To me there is an element of magic in this story, each day is a blessing but science and technology play a big part.
DO you remember learning to read ? I can’t say that I do. If I were to pick my favourite pursuit it would be reading. I don’t remember any books at home, as starting school approached I looked forward to it. This was a time of scarcities in the 1940s, my father was called away to be a soldier and mother was left to take care of two little girls on her own. We lived in three upstairs rooms in a terraced street in a very respectable area. The school was on the opposite side of the road, easily visible from our living room window. A main road of shops was just five minutes away and a library was a tram ride away or on a fine day within walking distance.
I enjoyed school, although a somewhat timid child, I soon settled into the routine, perhaps the fact that I was just a few minutes from home helped. The thing that stand out in my memory is the instruments with which to make music; drums, castanets, tambourines and triangles. A big chart was pinned up on the blackboard covered in blue, red, yellow and green notes. My notes were in blue, my instrument was the triangle. My attention was focused on the musical notes and the teacher. I concentrated very hard on striking my triangle at the right time. This was the very first time I realised that I could produce music, I was captivated. Sadly as a musician I reached my peak in those very early days, at the time it was wonderful.
Strangely enough I remember almost nothing about learning to read, happily I now read every day and I can’t imagine how narrow life would be without it. I read newspapers, the Radio Times, instructions on packets, lists of programmes on TV, I order on line, check my bank account, my emails and last but not least put my thoughts into words on my word-press account. I even read some of the rubbish that comes through the letter-box. Every day I am grateful to those teachers who somehow explained the mysteries of letters and words and gave me the key to making sense of the world in which I live and lots of fun and pleasure along the way.
Searching through the debris and detritus of the television schedules for the second week in January I came across a jewel sparkling in the rubbish. On BBC4, “Sound of Musicals with Neil Brand” a complete compendium of delights with the songs of Jerome Kern, Ira and George Gershwin, Oscar Hammerstein’s Showboat and Alan Jay Learner and Frederick Loewe’s My Fair Lady. This is my kind of music.
The celebrated New Yorker critic, Adam Gopnik puts it like this;
“— the almost incredible wealth and beauty of American popular music-from the blues, and Tin Pan Alley to jazz, R and B., country,rock and roll, and on to hip, hop and of its strange snaking unity. The great critic Kenneth Tynan once wrote that sometime in the nineteen thirties, the ‘serious’ music tradition finally withered, curled up and died”, and what took its place was American song.”
Brand explains how musical theatre changed in the 1920s from review style shows with music provided at intervals to a story told in music where the songs were an integral part of the drama. The first of these was Jerome Kern’s ‘Showboat’, which included the song,”Ol Man River” and “Can’t Help Lovin Dat Man of Mine “.
I absolutely enjoyed this programme.
There is a big hard back book which I have owned for some time called “Capital in the Twenty-First Century” by Thomas Piketty. The book has 685 pages, I confess I have read very few of these pages, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Technology comes to the rescue, there are many interviews on Youtube featuring the still young author. If like me you think the free market economic system is creating problems which will erupt in our children and grandchildren’s life-time, you could start here: https://youtu.be/JKsHhXwqDqM.
A phrase which sticks in my mind is, ‘tax the rich’, there is an answer.
veraewatson15 