What with meeting friends for lunch, rehearsals, a concert, having friends round for lunch, apèros, a Spanish lunch, wedding anniversary, ukulele lessons and other stuff, it has been a very busy time. Fortunately a short holiday in the Lot beckons, so we can re-charge in time for Hallowe'en. A road party is planned!
Our gig last Friday went really well. It's always a mixture of French and English songs, in different combinations of voices, different styles of song as well. There was a real challenge this time with a song called Quant on n'a que l'amour, a duet which I sang with and a French friend Christine. It's very popular in France, but also a big song to sing as it needs to be sung out and gradually builds up to a powerful finish which has to be held. Pleased to report we nailed it. I'm a mezzo-soprano and Christine is a soprano and we've steadily discovered that our voices are just great together. We always sing a couple of songs as duets, but we both want to do more and have got some fab songs lined up for the next gig. Mike and a French friend Patrick provide most of the musical accompaniment, but also sing. They have concentrated so far on songs by George Brassens, which are stunning pieces, immensely difficult to do, but they always manage to sing them well. The fact that they enjoy playing the songs and together, makes a huge difference. Others are involved at various points throughout the evening. This time eight people in all played or sang something. Very satisfying and a great atmosphere.
Tales from Cravant
A Cravant View
Monday, October 27, 2014
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Figuring it out
After a hectic summer, I'm back into book reading mode for the book club organised by one of our Anglo/French groups.Apart from two of us, all those involved are French. Fortunately most have some English, which means there is always something in that language within the monthly book selection. From my point of view it's fun to read in both languages.
On our reading list for dicussion in November three books - Le Vieux que ne voulait pas fêter son anniversaire/Jonas Jonasson, Train de nuit pour Lisbonne/Pascal Mercier and Oscar Wilde's Happy Prince. Fortunately all of them are available on Kindle. It's a cracking selection, but I'm not sure if I'll managed to get through them all. I read more slowly in French. Sometimes it's the meaning of a particular phrase that is trickier to grasp and I have to re-read it. Sometimes I'll come across an expression in French, with an equivalent in English, but rather than a straight translation, the terminology is completely differently.
Occasionally there are phrases where the context offers immediate understanding, but I stop because I want to find out more about it. I had one of these a couple of days ago.
English has various expressions such as dressed to the nines, dressed to kill, which describe someone's appearance when they look particularly fashionable or going somewhere special. As I've just discovered, the French equivalent is Etre sur son trente-et-un or se mettre sur son trente-et-un/ to put on his thirty-one. What's interesting is that both languages use numbers to express the same idea.
From what I can find out the French term, it comes from the word trentain which refers to a luxury fabric, but there is also a military connection with 31 representing dress uniform. We have a french neighbour who is in the military so when I can, I'll ask him.
As to where dressed to the nines comes from, the link here offers some possibilities.
On our reading list for dicussion in November three books - Le Vieux que ne voulait pas fêter son anniversaire/Jonas Jonasson, Train de nuit pour Lisbonne/Pascal Mercier and Oscar Wilde's Happy Prince. Fortunately all of them are available on Kindle. It's a cracking selection, but I'm not sure if I'll managed to get through them all. I read more slowly in French. Sometimes it's the meaning of a particular phrase that is trickier to grasp and I have to re-read it. Sometimes I'll come across an expression in French, with an equivalent in English, but rather than a straight translation, the terminology is completely differently.
Occasionally there are phrases where the context offers immediate understanding, but I stop because I want to find out more about it. I had one of these a couple of days ago.
English has various expressions such as dressed to the nines, dressed to kill, which describe someone's appearance when they look particularly fashionable or going somewhere special. As I've just discovered, the French equivalent is Etre sur son trente-et-un or se mettre sur son trente-et-un/ to put on his thirty-one. What's interesting is that both languages use numbers to express the same idea.
From what I can find out the French term, it comes from the word trentain which refers to a luxury fabric, but there is also a military connection with 31 representing dress uniform. We have a french neighbour who is in the military so when I can, I'll ask him.
As to where dressed to the nines comes from, the link here offers some possibilities.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Work and Play
Suddenly we're into autumn. Summer clothes have now been pulled out of the wardrobe and folded up ready for putting away. And we're back into rain mode, which isn't good timing as the vendange isn't over for some.
We were in vendange mode last Monday at Domaine de la Commanderie. Terrific day. There were about forty of us in all - a different scale of operation from the vendange we were helping with last year, where there were about fifteen of us. Arrived at 8am along with the rest of the gang, all of whom were regulars. Everyone was milling around having coffee and cake and then we piled into the vans and set off.
The vans didn't have windows so I'm not sure exactly where we were, other than somewhere in Panzoult. Having arrived, we were each given a grape picker's basket (panier), clippers and instructions as to which rows of vines were working on.
There's something really satisfying about being in the middle of vines, surrounded by gentle chatter and bursts of laughter. This team were fast, efficient and, obviously experienced. We were initially a little slower, but quickly got in the rhythm of rummaging around in amongst damp vine leaves, bending, crouching, stretching to get at the grapes, which we were cutting by hand. You get damp and sticky.
Grapes don't always grow in a shape or position that is easy to harvest. Some of them very inconsiderately wrap themselves round the wire climbing frames and are fiddly to get off. Others hide behind the vine leaves. A tactic which does not survive the beady-eyed. Whether a large and perfectly formed bunch or something smaller, any grapes that look in top condition end up in your basket. What you must ensure is that leaves don't get in there as well.
Pickers work on both sides of a row of vines and each side may have three or four people harvesting it. Forty people collect a lot of grapes, and quickly. A tractor with trailer and large containers was moving parallel to where we were working and edged its way along as we moved up the rows of vines. At regular intervals a call went out for everyone to push their baskets through the vines to the tractor, where the grapes were then poured into the containers. The empty grape baskets having been returned to us, we started picking again.
We worked until about 12.45, then we handed back the baskets, kept the clippers, got back into the vans and returned to the domaine for a quick bite. The weather was looking very dodgy. After about half an hour we drove back, but to another parcelle of vines and started picking straight away. We'd been going for about twenty minutes and then the rain started. It just got heavier and around 2.30pm we were told to stop. So back we went to the domaine, to have something to eat.
Not sure if you call it a late lunch or an early dinner, but it was delicious. The cave at Domaine La Commanderie had been laid up for the meal and a wonderful log fire had been started. Whatever horrible things the weather was doing outside, there was no chance it was going to spoil the mood inside the cave.
Lots of chatting, laugher, nonsense, wine and great food. It doesn't get much better than that.
Brilliant time. Here's to the next.
P.S. Chanel who took the super photo of Mike, is in the 'Play Collage' - the image immediately above the bottom thumbnail of wine bottles - Mike with Chanel.
The vans didn't have windows so I'm not sure exactly where we were, other than somewhere in Panzoult. Having arrived, we were each given a grape picker's basket (panier), clippers and instructions as to which rows of vines were working on.
 |
| Work |
Grapes don't always grow in a shape or position that is easy to harvest. Some of them very inconsiderately wrap themselves round the wire climbing frames and are fiddly to get off. Others hide behind the vine leaves. A tactic which does not survive the beady-eyed. Whether a large and perfectly formed bunch or something smaller, any grapes that look in top condition end up in your basket. What you must ensure is that leaves don't get in there as well.
Pickers work on both sides of a row of vines and each side may have three or four people harvesting it. Forty people collect a lot of grapes, and quickly. A tractor with trailer and large containers was moving parallel to where we were working and edged its way along as we moved up the rows of vines. At regular intervals a call went out for everyone to push their baskets through the vines to the tractor, where the grapes were then poured into the containers. The empty grape baskets having been returned to us, we started picking again.
We worked until about 12.45, then we handed back the baskets, kept the clippers, got back into the vans and returned to the domaine for a quick bite. The weather was looking very dodgy. After about half an hour we drove back, but to another parcelle of vines and started picking straight away. We'd been going for about twenty minutes and then the rain started. It just got heavier and around 2.30pm we were told to stop. So back we went to the domaine, to have something to eat.
 |
| Play |
Not sure if you call it a late lunch or an early dinner, but it was delicious. The cave at Domaine La Commanderie had been laid up for the meal and a wonderful log fire had been started. Whatever horrible things the weather was doing outside, there was no chance it was going to spoil the mood inside the cave.
Lots of chatting, laugher, nonsense, wine and great food. It doesn't get much better than that.
Brilliant time. Here's to the next.
P.S. Chanel who took the super photo of Mike, is in the 'Play Collage' - the image immediately above the bottom thumbnail of wine bottles - Mike with Chanel.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
The East Comes to Chinon Pt 3: Some Pioneers
The earliest film on show in this year's festival was the 1927 Russian film The Battleship Potemkin - a brilliant dramatisation of the mutiny that occurred in 1905, when the crew on board the Potemkin rebelled against the officers of the Tsarist regime. It is generally regarded as one of the most influential propaganda films of all time.
The Potemkin was built for the Imperial Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet, which was defeated in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05. Political unrest throughout the Russian Empire along with the defeat at sea, led to revolutionary activity in the army and the navy. Morale amongst Russian sailors was very low, exacerbated by harsh disciplinary measures and severe service conditions. Groups were created inside the Black Sea Fleet, who were dedicated to the revolution and planned for wide-scale mutiny.
The mutiny on the Potemkin was triggered by the behaviour of some of the senior officers.
They served the crew rotten meat and when one protested he was shot by an officer. In the resulting struggle other officers were killed. Eventually the 700 strong crew seized control and they set sail for the port of Odessa, with a red flag flying. The link is an interesting read and provides a good explanation of events.
The version shown on Sunday morning, was the most recently restored. A fabulous copy, black and white and of course silent. What an experience. The film has five acts, each individually titled. The director establishes an extraordinary rhythmn that achieves such tension as the film progresses. The ability of a 77year old film to shock a 21st century audience was totally unexpected. An amazing piece of work.
A film regarded as the centrepiece of the new wave Czech films was made in 1966.It is available with English subtitles and another version with French subtitles. Trains Étroitement Surveillés. Black and White. The story is set in 1944 with the Germans occupying Czechoslovakia. Milo's father - the best railway engineer - has retired. His son Milo is now starting working in the same station but as an inspector. Milo is overwhelmed by his shyness with women and attempts to commit suicide. His right of passage and transformation, against a backdrop of war, resistance and occupation is totally compelling. We're going to get the DVD. Such a classy piece of work.
The Potemkin was built for the Imperial Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet, which was defeated in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05. Political unrest throughout the Russian Empire along with the defeat at sea, led to revolutionary activity in the army and the navy. Morale amongst Russian sailors was very low, exacerbated by harsh disciplinary measures and severe service conditions. Groups were created inside the Black Sea Fleet, who were dedicated to the revolution and planned for wide-scale mutiny.
The mutiny on the Potemkin was triggered by the behaviour of some of the senior officers.
They served the crew rotten meat and when one protested he was shot by an officer. In the resulting struggle other officers were killed. Eventually the 700 strong crew seized control and they set sail for the port of Odessa, with a red flag flying. The link is an interesting read and provides a good explanation of events.
The version shown on Sunday morning, was the most recently restored. A fabulous copy, black and white and of course silent. What an experience. The film has five acts, each individually titled. The director establishes an extraordinary rhythmn that achieves such tension as the film progresses. The ability of a 77year old film to shock a 21st century audience was totally unexpected. An amazing piece of work.
A film regarded as the centrepiece of the new wave Czech films was made in 1966.It is available with English subtitles and another version with French subtitles. Trains Étroitement Surveillés. Black and White. The story is set in 1944 with the Germans occupying Czechoslovakia. Milo's father - the best railway engineer - has retired. His son Milo is now starting working in the same station but as an inspector. Milo is overwhelmed by his shyness with women and attempts to commit suicide. His right of passage and transformation, against a backdrop of war, resistance and occupation is totally compelling. We're going to get the DVD. Such a classy piece of work.
Monday, September 29, 2014
The East comes to Chinon Pt 2: Glorious Animation
There was one piece of animation scheduled in the festival this year, with two showings. As it turned out there was a surprise addition yesterday afternoon. Both were just superb.
As I mentioned in Part 1, the animations were shown as part of the partnership with Fontevraud Abbey, which for the last eight years has given particular support to animation projects, encouraging directors and designers, through master-classes and forums.
The participation at the Chinon film festival is for a second year. But in fact the spread of venues covers a much wider area of the Centre and Poitou-Charentes as well as the Pays-de-la-Loire. Throughout October different animateurs will have their work shown publicly in Angers, Bourgeuil, Loudun, Poitiers, Thouars, Tours, Tours Nord and Saumur. Chinon of course is the beginning of the run.
Flocon de neige - The Snowflake was quite magical. Created by Natalia Chernysheva, it tells the story of a little boy in Africa who has received a letter. You first see him running back excitedly to his home, which is quite isolated and near to the African bush. Once inside he opens it up and discovers a large snowflake - something he has never seen before.The link is to the trailer, which gives as it should a great idea of the quality of the work. Flocon de neige is close to six minutes long. Where the trailer ends is where the little boy's dream begins, with all the animals being covered in snow, and coming back to his hut to get warm by the fire. It ends with a colourful bird who the boy rescued, leaving a golden wing feather inside the hut, which the boy then puts into an envelope and sends back. Natalia Chernysheva was at Chinon on yesterday afternoon to explain a little about her work. Here's another gorgeous piece of work.
Gloria Victoria - the surprise showing, was one of the most superb animations we've ever seen. I was nervous about putting in the link as it really needs to be seen on a big screen and the opening is dark. But then it opens up. I'm not sure if the full impact will come across on computer screens. Regardless, Gloria Victoria is a powerful anti-war animation, which was produced in Montreal through the Canadian Film Board. Huge cheers to them for supporting such talent. The link is to the full length version which runs at just under seven minutes.
Bravo to all!
As I mentioned in Part 1, the animations were shown as part of the partnership with Fontevraud Abbey, which for the last eight years has given particular support to animation projects, encouraging directors and designers, through master-classes and forums.
The participation at the Chinon film festival is for a second year. But in fact the spread of venues covers a much wider area of the Centre and Poitou-Charentes as well as the Pays-de-la-Loire. Throughout October different animateurs will have their work shown publicly in Angers, Bourgeuil, Loudun, Poitiers, Thouars, Tours, Tours Nord and Saumur. Chinon of course is the beginning of the run.
Flocon de neige - The Snowflake was quite magical. Created by Natalia Chernysheva, it tells the story of a little boy in Africa who has received a letter. You first see him running back excitedly to his home, which is quite isolated and near to the African bush. Once inside he opens it up and discovers a large snowflake - something he has never seen before.The link is to the trailer, which gives as it should a great idea of the quality of the work. Flocon de neige is close to six minutes long. Where the trailer ends is where the little boy's dream begins, with all the animals being covered in snow, and coming back to his hut to get warm by the fire. It ends with a colourful bird who the boy rescued, leaving a golden wing feather inside the hut, which the boy then puts into an envelope and sends back. Natalia Chernysheva was at Chinon on yesterday afternoon to explain a little about her work. Here's another gorgeous piece of work.
Gloria Victoria - the surprise showing, was one of the most superb animations we've ever seen. I was nervous about putting in the link as it really needs to be seen on a big screen and the opening is dark. But then it opens up. I'm not sure if the full impact will come across on computer screens. Regardless, Gloria Victoria is a powerful anti-war animation, which was produced in Montreal through the Canadian Film Board. Huge cheers to them for supporting such talent. The link is to the full length version which runs at just under seven minutes.
Bravo to all!
Saturday, September 27, 2014
The East comes to Chinon - pt 1
We are in the middle of a superb film festival L'Est, Du Nouveau. It began last Wednesday and runs until tomorrow, Monday 29 October. All the films for Chinon's 7th festival come from the Eastern bloc meaning Russia, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Rumania, Serbia and Czechoslovakia. In all there are sixteen films and an animation, which is being shown in partnership with Fontevraud Abbey, where animation is a key element of the cultural programming. So far we have seen nine films.
The film festival here, as always, is really something. It's very well organised by Cinéplus, which locally means Roselyne Chouvy and Philippe Prat, who throughout the year co-ordinate Art House films, shown in Chinon every Thursday and then in September, the six day film festival.
L'Est du Nouveau is the fourth film festival we have been to. Each year has a different theme. The films (as every Thursday) are shown in their original language with French subtitles. Last year's film festival showed films from the East - China, Korea, Cambodia etc. 2012 had an American theme. The first festival we went to in 2011 was a German celebration.
The quality of the film making in L'Est, du Nouveau, the writing and the powerful interpretations has so far proved an extraordinary experience. It was also a brave choice of films. The countries providing the focus, contain societies where political corruption and violence is endemic. This is reflected in every film, some of which met with resistance in being made and distributed. From the youngest to the oldest, man, woman or child, the police, the military, politicians, someone somewhere is going to commit an act of aggression against another individual. There's been nothing gratuitous, and frequently off-screen. Whilst the act itself may not be seen, but it is clearly implanted in the imagination. We're left with the impression that it is impossible to break the cycle.
The film festival here, as always, is really something. It's very well organised by Cinéplus, which locally means Roselyne Chouvy and Philippe Prat, who throughout the year co-ordinate Art House films, shown in Chinon every Thursday and then in September, the six day film festival.
L'Est du Nouveau is the fourth film festival we have been to. Each year has a different theme. The films (as every Thursday) are shown in their original language with French subtitles. Last year's film festival showed films from the East - China, Korea, Cambodia etc. 2012 had an American theme. The first festival we went to in 2011 was a German celebration.
The quality of the film making in L'Est, du Nouveau, the writing and the powerful interpretations has so far proved an extraordinary experience. It was also a brave choice of films. The countries providing the focus, contain societies where political corruption and violence is endemic. This is reflected in every film, some of which met with resistance in being made and distributed. From the youngest to the oldest, man, woman or child, the police, the military, politicians, someone somewhere is going to commit an act of aggression against another individual. There's been nothing gratuitous, and frequently off-screen. Whilst the act itself may not be seen, but it is clearly implanted in the imagination. We're left with the impression that it is impossible to break the cycle.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Voyages en Guitare - a very musical weekend
Forty-three gigs this year in Chinon, over two days. It's really quite a piece of organisation, with different groups appearing at different times and in 26 different places - if I've counted them up correctly. Requires a huge amount of co-operation. All sorts of music were wafting their rythmns across town - classic, blues, jazz, world, rock, swing. Some were totally instrumental, others vocals and instrumentals. A terrific mix, alongside which were special exhibitions: a display of state-of-the-art guitars that were really minimalist in design, accompanied by photos of some of the artists from previous Voyages en Guitare. The contemporary art gallery inside at the top of Chinon town hall hosted a terrific exhibition. The subject is art and the machine across the 20th century and it is in fact a three-parter, each section being displayed in a different venue.The other two being the Art and History Museum (exhibition curation) and the St.Radegond Chapel, which is high up over-looking the town and which you walk to from Chinon. Steep path, but you get great views and the place itself is fascinating.
Saint Mexme is always the venue for the two main gigs of the festival. Saturday Piers Facciini was playing, along with a pianist and someone else on xylophones. He is Anglo/Italian, but has lived in France for quite some time, which probably accounts for him having tapped into the French love of Chanson. He has a gig coming up in Paris at the Théâtre Bouffes du Nord. The other gig was tonight - from which we've just got back- which wound up the festival. This time it was Titi Robin, a French composer and improvisor, whose work is rooted in the Mediterranean world - the confluence of Gypsy, Oriental and European cultures. He composes all the music he performs and plays guitar, buzuq and 'oud. Tonight he was accompanied by a superb percussionist and an accordion player. His daughter who sings and dances appeared in the second half. Can't find anything on you tube for him unfortunately.
Found it strangely uninspiring. Part of that had to do with feeling trapped in the space.There was an over-sale on tickets to space capacity - a problem when you have a theatre/arts venue production manager's brain, as I do. Can't switch it off. Took me years to be able to go to the theatre and not notice when the lighting cues were late.
Voyages en Guitare is a great idea which we like to support. Saint Mexme is a good space, with an outside area for refreshments. The seating is informal and unallocated. Basically it's a very steep rake of hard benches. The popularity of this year's gigs meant punters were jammed in on each bench. It was due to start at 6.30pm. Some audience with tickets didn't turn up till 7pm, some had been outside drinking till 7pm. So the gig started late. A lot of people arrived for 'doors open' at 5.45, which meant they were waiting an 1h15 before the gig started, instead of 45 minutes. Late-comers being allowed in meant people sat anywhere, no option by this time, which included right across the central and narrow staircase, which provides the only means to enter and exit the space. If anyone was taken ill, there was no way they could get out of the space, particularly if they were up at the back. Completely dark up there. It was the same last night as well. Production managers usually think about this sort of thing.
Voyages en guitare coincides with European Heritage day, with buildings that are normally closed to the public offering special openings over the weekend. Really like the two events happening at the same time. Draws more people into town. There was an excellent photographic exhibition in the Maison du Patrimoine about the timber framed house in Chinon. Made a really good subject, with some fascinating close-ups.
We were at the cinema on Thursday to see Clint Eastwood's film Jersey Boys - all about Frank Valli and the Four Seasons, which emerged from the stage production. The music is still so good. Impossible to sit still. Really pleased we went to see it. At same time we bought our passes for the Film Festival which starts this week. Eastern block films. Can't wait. Bravo Cinéplus!
Saint Mexme is always the venue for the two main gigs of the festival. Saturday Piers Facciini was playing, along with a pianist and someone else on xylophones. He is Anglo/Italian, but has lived in France for quite some time, which probably accounts for him having tapped into the French love of Chanson. He has a gig coming up in Paris at the Théâtre Bouffes du Nord. The other gig was tonight - from which we've just got back- which wound up the festival. This time it was Titi Robin, a French composer and improvisor, whose work is rooted in the Mediterranean world - the confluence of Gypsy, Oriental and European cultures. He composes all the music he performs and plays guitar, buzuq and 'oud. Tonight he was accompanied by a superb percussionist and an accordion player. His daughter who sings and dances appeared in the second half. Can't find anything on you tube for him unfortunately.
Found it strangely uninspiring. Part of that had to do with feeling trapped in the space.There was an over-sale on tickets to space capacity - a problem when you have a theatre/arts venue production manager's brain, as I do. Can't switch it off. Took me years to be able to go to the theatre and not notice when the lighting cues were late.
Voyages en Guitare is a great idea which we like to support. Saint Mexme is a good space, with an outside area for refreshments. The seating is informal and unallocated. Basically it's a very steep rake of hard benches. The popularity of this year's gigs meant punters were jammed in on each bench. It was due to start at 6.30pm. Some audience with tickets didn't turn up till 7pm, some had been outside drinking till 7pm. So the gig started late. A lot of people arrived for 'doors open' at 5.45, which meant they were waiting an 1h15 before the gig started, instead of 45 minutes. Late-comers being allowed in meant people sat anywhere, no option by this time, which included right across the central and narrow staircase, which provides the only means to enter and exit the space. If anyone was taken ill, there was no way they could get out of the space, particularly if they were up at the back. Completely dark up there. It was the same last night as well. Production managers usually think about this sort of thing.
Voyages en guitare coincides with European Heritage day, with buildings that are normally closed to the public offering special openings over the weekend. Really like the two events happening at the same time. Draws more people into town. There was an excellent photographic exhibition in the Maison du Patrimoine about the timber framed house in Chinon. Made a really good subject, with some fascinating close-ups.
We were at the cinema on Thursday to see Clint Eastwood's film Jersey Boys - all about Frank Valli and the Four Seasons, which emerged from the stage production. The music is still so good. Impossible to sit still. Really pleased we went to see it. At same time we bought our passes for the Film Festival which starts this week. Eastern block films. Can't wait. Bravo Cinéplus!
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