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Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow!
Related threads:
Samuel Pepys, Music lover (and lech) (31)
Samuel Pepys (13)
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Subject: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: Rick Fielding Date: 24 Jul 03 - 11:55 AM This is my third reading of Pepys Diary and it's also the third different edition I've read. I know it's an editor's job to keep the unimportant stuff out and straighten out the punctuation, but good grief! Neither of the two previous editions that I've read have mentioned how often he plays, sings, folk dances and goes to plays. The others go into great length about Navy business, and virtually eliminate most of his artistic (and lascivious) persuits. He gets around on flageolet, fiddle, theorbo, lute, virginal, harpsichord, and (perhaps) harp. Plus he writes songs. In today's world, he'd be the guy who organizes House concerts, starts Festivals, (and sleeps with a lotta pretty girls......which he does anyway!) .......BUT, all while keeping an important day job! (eventually, Secretary of the Navy) He's writing from 1660 to 1669 (through his twenties) but it's so personal, he could be a jovial Mudcatter of 2003. He'd LOVE this place! Rick |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: Amos Date: 24 Jul 03 - 12:13 PM Wow, indeed, Mister Fielding!! Keep lobbing them cultural tidbits. We need more of them around here. Maybe it'll rub off!! :>) A |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: PoppaGator Date: 24 Jul 03 - 12:36 PM Dang, Rick -- and you're not even British! Just having *heard of* Pepy's Diary (but not having read it, even once) probably puts me in the cultural upper 10 or 15 percent among (US) Americans. Do they assign Pepys in school in Canada? Here in the US you can major in English Lit in college and only read *about* him, never actually read his work. Well, maybe an excerpt or two in the Norton Anthology... Interesting that the previous editors would have omitted all that stuff about his musicianship, which was obviously fairly advanced and a major part of his life. Music was obviously much less important to the editors than it was to the man himself, so they just cut it out. Makes you wonder how similarly slanted *other* historical info might be that has been passed down to us. |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: Billy the Bus Date: 24 Jul 03 - 12:46 PM Thanks for this post, Rick. It reminded me I'd heard about an online version that gets updated day by day. Just looked it up it's at http://www.pepysdiary.com/. It looks good. Lots of links to annotations about the people mentioned and the life and times. It starts with "Today's Date". There's "blue clickies" to all sorts at the top of the page, but it took me a while to find the start of the diary (Jan 1660) - the link is right at the bottom of the entry page. It's got a search feature, soo.... Pepys' Diary: theorbo Monday 5 March 1659/60 Early in the morning Mr. Hill comes to string my theorbo, which we were about till past ten o'clock, with a great deal of pleasure. Then to Westminster, where I met with Mr. Sheply and Mr. Pinkney at Will's, who… Now I've got to track down a piccy of said instrument - never heard of such a beasty. Ya live and learn in this Cafe, when it's 4:45am, and ya can't sleep. Thanks again mate - trust the hospital reading is keeping your mind off other things. Cheers - Sam |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: Billy the Bus Date: 24 Jul 03 - 12:53 PM Whoops - blue clicky for the Pepys Diary link above. PS - Edition is: London George Bell & Sons York St. Covent Garden Cambridge Deighton Bell & Co. 1893 |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: Billy the Bus Date: 24 Jul 03 - 01:16 PM Thanks again, Rick, my search for a theorbo picture led straight to a tribute site for luthier Bernard Ellis, who died in 2000. There's a range of early string instruments shown. PS - I've just realised since I only daily entries of the Pepys Diary, I'll probably be dead before I finish it. Good thing I'm a slow reader! Sam |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 24 Jul 03 - 09:42 PM It's EXTREMELY entertaining reading! Gotta look around and find my copy, which is here....somewhere. Haven't read it in 20 years or so. Dave Oesterreich |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 24 Jul 03 - 10:08 PM Surely you realize that there's a direct, causal link between his musicality and his success with the chicks. |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: Bob Bolton Date: 24 Jul 03 - 11:34 PM G'day Rick, " ... my third reading of Pepys Diary and it's also the third different edition I've read. I know it's an editor's job to keep the unimportant stuff out, but ..." Oh dear ... the really posh current offering (northern hemisphere Summer) from The Folio Society ... London-based fine book publishers / society ... who have progressively filled the 'fine book' end of my bookcases - while steadily emptying my bank account ... is: The Diary of Samuel Pepys The Complete Diary in eleven volumes, quarter-bound in leather with hand-marbles sides, presented in an oak display case. No price: "Members wishing to obtain further details of this exclusive edition may do so by contacting ther Membership Department ..." ... Sigh! Regard(les)s, Bob Bolton |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: Amos Date: 25 Jul 03 - 12:20 AM Great site, Billy!! A thrill to see those instruments made in our time!! Thank you so much! A |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: EBarnacle1 Date: 25 Jul 03 - 12:32 AM ....And so to bed. |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: Billy the Bus Date: 25 Jul 03 - 01:13 AM Greatworkmanship, eh, Amos. There are links to other old instrument websites from the Pepys Diary site Enertainment>Music>Instruments. You'll also find user submitted links to recipes for mead, buildings etc... Cheers - Sam |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: fat B****rd Date: 25 Jul 03 - 03:14 AM Hello, Mr. Fielding. Must have been the "difficult third edition" Eh ?? |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: Gurney Date: 25 Jul 03 - 06:17 AM Read some of it about 50 years ago, but there were no juicy bits in the school library version. Seem to remember that he went to a concert but was disconcerted because the Hurdy-Gurdy kept losing tuning. |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: IanC Date: 25 Jul 03 - 06:32 AM Pepys also had an enormous collection of broadsides, which is now owned by Magdelene College, Cambridge. :-) |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 25 Jul 03 - 08:14 AM I have read several versions of parts of Pepys' diary, the biggest no where near 11 volume. How much have we missed? I've also read a number of biographies/histories. He was a fascinating writer. ps. Bob B. - my neighbour (who shares my PO Box) is a subscriber to the Folio Society & I often have a squizz at the catalogues if I pick them up. If he gets the Pepys I might just invite us both to have a good look at them after they arrive. But as they're POA, maybe he won't enquire. sandra |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: Bob Bolton Date: 25 Jul 03 - 08:46 AM G'day Sandra, The Folio lot have also produced a few edited (usually single-volume) editions of Pepys over the years ... this the whole diary ... in 10 volumes, one for each year ... plus an eleventh volume for the index! I tried to tempt the Potters, who subscribed afetr seeing our books ... but two ankle-biters have reined in any such extravagances, so they will be reluctantly passing up on the Pepys! Regards, Bob Bolton |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: Rick Fielding Date: 25 Jul 03 - 09:28 AM Did up and to the office. Having no work to do, did hie me to Mrs. Muffly's pie shop for some sport.. Did pass the new lute in Poopley's 12th fret music store...did sit me down and fiddle with it until it was proper to go home........ Well, if it WAS on the school curriculum Poppa Gator, I sure wouldn't have read it! Nah....just love history and diaries. The guy is so modern it's amazing. I doubt if I could handle the whole 11 volumes...but if I was REALLY interested in Navy business of 1660s I'll bet it's fascinating. Interesting accepted morality of the time. Sam constantly takes bribes (rarely money) to help individual sailors and cheats hellishly on his wife (smacking her and his servant occasionally) but feels really guilty and can't get to sleep when he does. It's like he feels he has to keep a certain order, or it will get away from him. Prays like crazy, and feels very moral. Counts his money EVERY month, and by my guess plays music 10 to 12 hours a week. Leenia: Do I know it! Even nurds can be popular with a few chords and a good song!! Billy, thanks for the links! No wonder he needed help stringing the theorbo. By the way there's a video set from Trinity College featuring EVERY ONE of those old instruments produced by David Munrow. I rented it from the library three times......try to hunt it down, it's really worth it. They sound a little less smoothe than we're used to, but it really gives you and idea what the music sounded like in 1600. Just think of every instrument in your house having FRICTION PEGS!!! Rick |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: Roger the Skiffler Date: 25 Jul 03 - 09:40 AM Herself is a great SP fan, Rick. The library I worked in had the full 11-volume set and she worked through them all and has just got a new biography of SP for her birthday which she han't started yet. I must admit I skipped a lot of the naval stuff in favour of the bits of social history(in other words the groping of the parlourmaids!). RtS |
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Subject: Lyr Add: PEPYS' DIARY (Benny Hill) From: Dave Bryant Date: 25 Jul 03 - 09:52 AM PEPYS’ DIARY As recorded by Benny Hill, 1961. A shy young maid has took a room down at the village inn. Her bedside light is oh so bright and the curtains oh so thin. She enters her room at nine o'clock; at half past nine she sleeps. Lord Clarendon walks quickly on but naughty Samuel peeps. CHORUS: For we know it's right; it's in black and white, And it's all written down in his diary. Last Monday morn my lady wife sent me to the butcher shop. The butcher asked politely if I'd care for a mutton chop. I smiled and said: "A small sheep's head is really all I seek, And leave the eyes in 'cause it's got to see us through the week." I know a shy young shepherd boy and Ba-a-a-asil is his name. He has a sister called Anna who sets my heart aflame. Through woodland glade and through meadows green I did walk with this fair lass, But she slipped on a cowslip and she fell down on the grass. Oh, I stooped down and picked her up; her manner was serene. "Kind sir," said she, "pray put me down for you don't know where I've been." Basil begged me to marry her and this to me did say: “Please wed my sister Anna for she's in everybody's way.” Half way up a wall outside a castle in Tranmere, There is a sign which reads: “The Duke of Denby was born here." I've travelled far and I've travelled wide but ne'er can I recall, Of ever hearing of a duke born half way up a wall. I went to rent a lady's house; she handed me the key. She said: "It's to be let as it stands with all that you can see." “And are you to be let with the house?" said I in a very saucy tone. She said: "I'm not to be let with the house; I'm to be let alone." ADDITIONAL VERSES, NOT IN THE RECORDING, SOURCE UNKNOWN:
Squire Pitt locked his wife in her chastity belt then climbed up on his horse, |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: masato sakurai Date: 25 Jul 03 - 11:01 PM I have two albums and one little book bearing the name of (Samuel) Pepys in the titles. Richard Wistreich & Robin Jeffrey -- The Musical Life of Samuel Pepys (Saydisc CD-SDL 385) [CD] Christopher Wells (contre-ténor) and Nicole Hénon-Kufferath (clavecin) -- Pepys Music: Chansons anglaises du XVIIe siècle (STIL 2305 S 83) [LP] Samuel Pepys: Three Songs of His Choice (Paris: Lyrebird Press, n.d.) |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: Rick Fielding Date: 26 Jul 03 - 10:28 AM Thanks Masato, but are the songs any good? Was he inventive? Did he tend to be conservative? Cheers Rick |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: GUEST Date: 26 Jul 03 - 02:57 PM All of the broadside ballads collected by Samuel Pepys are listed in the broadside ballad index at www.erols.com/olsonw |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: GUEST Date: 26 Jul 03 - 03:01 PM My father never read anything except newspapers and magazines until I showed him my cheap edition copy of Pepys' Diary. I never got it back, and had to buy another copy for my own. |
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Subject: RE: Samuel Pepys and his instruments, wow! From: harvey andrews Date: 26 Jul 03 - 03:05 PM Well Rick,wouldn't you know it, I've got all eleven volumes unexpurgated...have to start reading them now...when I've finished the nine volumes of the collected letters of George Gissing (novelist) Now there's an interesting man I discovered after reading his diary. I collect published diaries and letters. I just find them fascinating and a good one is unputdownable, as you know from having read Kenneth Williams'. |
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