It’s remained warm to hot here with a couple of 90+ days and the rest in the mid 80s. Hey, one of the reasons we moved here from southern California was to get out of the summer heat. Laugh on me, this year. I don’t mind a few low 80s, but when it approaches or exceeds 90 I’m an unhappy camper. Can’t say I’m making much progress with the MacBook, I have been defeated in my attempts to set up our home network, so it’s not very useful just now. I have a Mac class tomorrw where I’m hoping to get that problem solved.
New Arrivals – No 
books this week. I did get one classical music set, Walton, The Collector’s Edition. It has a very comprehensive set of his works, on 12 CDs. I have several of these works elsewhere, but did not have many of them, so this covers about all of it, certainly all I need. Contents below.
Current Reading – I finished the Walter Gibson book (last Friday’s FFB) and am about a third of the way into an older mystery by Richard Rosen, Fadeaway. After that my plan is to begin The Gift of Rain that I mentioned in the last Current Reading.
Works on the Walton set:
1. Symphony no 1 in B flat minor by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Bernard Haitink, Orchestra/Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra Period: 20th Century Written: 1932-1935; England, Date of Recording: 11/1981, Venue: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, Length: 51 Minutes 0 Secs.
2. Symphony no 2 by Sir William Walton, Conductor: André Previn, Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1959-1960; England, Date of Recording: 1973, Venue: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, Length: 27 Minutes 29 Secs.
3. Concerto for Violin in B minor by Sir William Walton, Performer: Ida Haendel (Violin), Conductor: Paavo Berglund, Orchestra/Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1938-1939; England, Date of Recording: 06/1977, Venue: Guildhall, Southampton, England, Length: 31 Minutes 24 Secs.
4. Concerto for Viola by Sir William Walton, Performer: Nigel Kennedy (Violin), Conductor: André Previn, Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1929/1961; England, Length: 25 Minutes 51 Secs.
5. Improvisations on an Impromptu of Benjamin Britten by Sir William Walton, Conductor: André Previn, Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1969; England, Length: 16 Minutes 9 Secs.
6. Portsmouth Point by Sir William Walton, Conductor: André Previn, Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1925; England, Date of Recording: 1973, Venue: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, Length: 5 Minutes 32 Secs.
7. Comedy Overture “Scapino” by Sir William Walton, Conductor: André Previn, Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1940; England, Date of Recording: 1973, Venue: EMI Abbey Road Studios, London, Length: 8 Minutes 40 Secs.
8. Siesta by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Richard Hickox, Orchestra/Ensemble: Northern Sinfonia, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1926; England, Length: 6 Minutes 6 Secs.
9. Sonata for String Orchestra by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Richard Hickox, Orchestra/Ensemble: City of London Sinfonia, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1971-1972; England, Date of Recording: 1991, Venue: St Augustine’s Church, Length: 26 Minutes 53 Secs.
10. Concerto for Cello by Sir William Walton, Performer: Lynn Harrell (Cello), Conductor: Simon Rattle, Orchestra/Ensemble: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1956/1974; England Length: 29 Minutes 43 Secs.
11. Coronation March “Crown Imperial” by Sir William Walton, Performer: David Bell (Organ), Conductor: Sir Adrian Boult, Orchestra/Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1937; England, Length: 8 Minutes 31 Secs.
12. Coronation March “Orb and Sceptre” by Sir William Walton, Performer: David Bell (Organ), Conductor: Sir Adrian Boult, Orchestra/Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1953; England, Length: 6 Minutes 47 Secs.
13. Johannesburg Festival Overture by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Sir Charles Groves, Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1956; England, Length: 7 Minutes 12 Secs.
14. Capriccio burlesco by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Sir Charles Groves, Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1968; England, Length: 7 Minutes 17 Secs.
15. Prelude and Fugue “Spitfire” by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Sir Charles Groves, Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1942; England, Length: 7 Minutes 19 Secs.
16. Battle of Britain: Suite by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Carl Davis, Orchestra/Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1969; England, Length: 12 Minutes 26 Secs.
17. Variations on a Theme by Hindemith by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Vernon Handley, Orchestra/Ensemble: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1962-1963; England, Length: 23 Minutes 24 Secs.
18. Henry V: Orchestral Suite by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Carl Davis, Orchestra/Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1943-1944; England, Length: 13 Minutes 20 Secs.
19. Troilus and Cressida: Act 2 – Interlude by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Carl Davis, Orchestra/Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1954/1976; England, Length: 4 Minutes 39 Secs.
20. As you like it: Suite by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Carl Davis, Orchestra/Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1936; England, Length: 14 Minutes 37 Secs.
21. A History of English Speaking Peoples: March by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Carl Davis, Orchestra/Ensemble: London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1959; England Length: 4 Minutes 45 Secs.
22. Hamlet: Funeral March by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Sir Charles Groves, Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1947; England, Length: 4 Minutes 51 Secs.
23. Richard III: Prelude by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Sir Charles Groves, Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1955; England, Length: 7 Minutes 42 Secs.
24. Richard III: Suite by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Sir Charles Groves, Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1955; England, Length: 12 Minutes 1 Secs.
25. Façade by Sir William Walton, Performer: Michael Flanders (Spoken Vocals), Tristan Fry (Percussion), Ross Pople (Cello), William Bennett (Flute), Jack Brymer (Clarinet), Hale Hambleton (Bass Clarinet), Stephen Trier (Alto Saxophone), John Wilbraham (Trumpet), Fenella Fielding (Spoken Vocals), Kenneth Heath (Cello), Conductor: Sir Neville Marriner, Orchestra/Ensemble: Academy of St. Martin in the Fields members, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1921-1922; England Date of Recording: 1971, Venue: Kingsway Hall, London, England, Length: 37 Minutes 5 Secs.
26. Façade Suite by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Louis Frémaux, Orchestra/Ensemble: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1922; England, Length: 22 Minutes 14 Secs.
27. Wise Virgins: Suite by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Louis Frémaux, Orchestra/Ensemble: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1940; England, Venue: Bedworth Civic Centre, Length: 19 Minutes 27 Secs.
28. Henry V: Orchestral Suite by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Sir William Walton, Orchestra/Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1943-1944; England, Length: 15 Minutes 5 Secs.
29. Partita for Orchestra by Sir William Walton, Conductor: William Walton, Orchestra/Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1957; England, Date of Recording: 1959, Length: 15 Minutes 48 Secs.
30. Sinfonia Concertante by Sir William Walton, Performer: Phyllis Sellick (Piano), Conductor: Sir William Walton, Orchestra/Ensemble: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1927/1943; England Length: 17 Minutes 32 Secs.
31. Quartet for Strings no 2 in A minor by Sir William Walton, Orchestra/Ensemble: Hollywood String Quartet, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1945-1947; England Length: 26 Minutes 15 Secs.,
32. Quartet for Piano and Strings by Sir William Walton, Performer: Israela Margalit (Piano), Moray Welsh (Cello), Janice Graham (Violin), Paul Silverthorne (Viola), Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra members, Period: 20th Century, Written: England, Date of Recording: 09/29/1995, Venue: All Saints Church, East Finchley, UK, Length: 28 Minutes 52 Secs.
33. Sonata for Violin and Piano by Sir William Walton, Performer: Janice Graham (Violin), John Alley (Piano), Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra members, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1949; England, Date of Recording: 08/28/1995, Venue: Conway Hall, London, England, Length: 25 Minutes 59 Secs.
34. Bagatelles (5) for Guitar by Sir William Walton, Performer: Tom Kerstens (Guitar), Period: 20th Century, Written: 1972; England, Date of Recording: 09/1994, Venue: St John’s, Downshire Hill, Hampstead, UK, Length: 13 Minutes 59 Secs.
35. Belshazzar’s Feast by Sir William Walton, Performer: Thomas Hampson (Baritone), Conductor: Simon Rattle, Orchestra/Ensemble: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1930-1931; England, Date of Recording: 1997, Venue: Symphony Hall, Birmingham, England, Length: 34 Minutes 19 Secs.
36. In Honour of the City of London by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Richard Hickox, Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Chorus, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1937; England, Length: 16 Minutes 24 Secs.
37. Coronation Te Deum by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Louis Frémaux, Orchestra/Ensemble: Worcester Cathedral Choir, City of Birmingham Symphony, Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1952-1953; England, Length: 9 Minutes 19 Secs.
38. Gloria by Sir William Walton, Performer: Anthony Rolfe Johnson (Tenor), Barbara Robotham (Mezzo Soprano), Brian Rayner Cook (Baritone), Conductor: Louis Frémaux, Orchestra/Ensemble: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1961; England, Length: 18 Minutes 47 Secs.
39. Troilus and Cressida by Sir William Walton, Performer: Dame Janet Baker (Mezzo Soprano), Richard Cassilly (Tenor), Benjamin Luxon (Baritone), Elizabeth Bainbridge (Mezzo Soprano), Richard Van Allan (Bass), George MacPherson (Baritone), Gerald English (Tenor), Malcolm Rivers (Baritone), Robert Lloyd (Bass), Gwynne Sullivan (Tenor), Conductor: Lawrence Foster, Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra, Royal Opera House Covent Garden Chorus, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1954/1976; England, Length: 127 Minutes 12 Secs.
40. The Bear by Sir William Walton, Performer: Norman Lumsden (Bass), Monica Sinclair (Mezzo Soprano), John Shaw (Baritone), Conductor: James Lockhart, Orchestra/Ensemble: English Chamber Orchestra, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1965-1967; England, Date of Recording: 1967, Venue: EMI Abbey Road Studio no 1, London, UK, Length: 48 Minutes 44 Secs.
41. Set me as a seal upon thine heart by Sir William Walton, Performer: Gautam Rangarajan (Tenor), Conductor: Stephen Cleobury, Orchestra/Ensemble: Cambridge King’s College Choir, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1938; England Length: 3 Minutes 43 Secs.
42. What cheer by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Russell Burgess, Orchestra/Ensemble: Wandsworth School Choir, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1961; England, Length: 1 Minutes 26 Secs.
43. Where does the uttered music go? by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Leslie Woodgate, Orchestra/Ensemble: BBC Chorus, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1946; England, Length: 7 Minutes 25 Secs.
44. A Queen’s Fanfare by Sir William Walton, Conductor: Martin Neary, Orchestra/Ensemble: Bournemouth Sinfonietta, Period: 20th Century, Written: 1959; England, Length: 0 Minutes 50 Secs.
The Broken Bullhorn 
I was in the LA area last week. Friday I left Camarillo around 11:00 AM or so, where it was a beautiful day in the low 70s or so. Arrived in Burbank roughly 90 minutes later, got out of my car to 100 degree heat. Yikes! I was glad to get away.
Until I got home to a valley full of smoke from area forest fires, as it’s been for several weeks now, only lately it’s been worse. I can’t WAIT for summer to be over.
I can’t say “no new books” last week. I got two of Marvin H. Albert’s “Al Conroy” westerns, THREE RODE NORTH and THE MAN IN BLACK, after James Reasoner wrote about them on his blog. I still have two more in the series to get. And now we ordered stuff from amazon…
I’m not even getting into Kindle books. Actually there were only a couple this week.
I’m tempted by this WALTON set. Let me know how you like it and perhaps I’ll order it.
Chris, it’s been hot down south, but over all they have not been much hotter than here, at an average, and they have had some rain, which we haven’t.
Jeff, I get a free Kindle book now and then, but don’t put them in New Arrivals. I think I got something this past week: Bullets for a Ballot by Nik Morton
George, I’ve listened to the first 3 CDs of the set and enjoyed them. Some Walton I like more than other, but when I’m in the mood it’s good. This isn’t super high-bit stuff, but they are good performances.
Summer was pretty nasty here this year
There must be some Waltonian magic in the air. I was at a library sale yesterday and picked up William Walton:Behind the Mask, by his widow Susana Walton, for $2, signed. Walton 1 is my favorite 20th Century Symphony, and Belshazzar’s Feast my favorite sonic spectacular (well, a tie with Alexander Nevsky). I heard Birmingham/Rattle perform it in 1994 at Royal Festival Hall, from 4th row center, it remains the #1 sonic blockbuster experience of my life.