And all at once, I find I am competing against myself…
Since my shows were dropped from WWFM The Classical Network, after a combined run of 23 years, the only way to enjoy their broadcast is in syndication. As things stand, the most reliable source for “Picture Perfect” and “The Lost Chord” is now KWAX, the radio station of the University of Oregon.
Unfortunately, that means that “Picture Perfect” now streams directly opposite “Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner!” Holy Agamemnon!
But I’m working on it. Now that the sound files are in my possession, and I’ve got the equipment so that I can finally think about recording some fresh episodes, I’ll be pushing for the shows’ distribution to other markets, so that hopefully soon they will be available to listen to at a variety times.
For tonight, you’ve got a difficult decision to make, between a recorded hour of music from films set during the Restoration, on “Picture Perfect,” and a livestream discussion of Stanley Kubrick’s “A Clockwork Orange,” on “Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner.”
Interestingly, there is some overlap, as both employ references to the music of Henry Purcell (“The Fairy Queen,” on the one hand, and “Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary,” on the other).
That said, this week on “Picture Perfect,” beauty patches are back! It’s an hour of lace and licentiousness, with music from movies set during the reign of Charles II.
“Restoration” (1995) features quite the cast, with a pre-“Iron Man” Robert Downey, Jr. as a young doctor torn between duty and debauchery. He succumbs to the latter at the court of Charles, played by Sam Neill, before finding redemption as he battles the Great Plague and braves the Fire of London. The film also stars David Thewlis, Polly Walker, Meg Ryan, Ian McKellen, and Hugh Grant. The main title of James Newtown Howard’s score takes its impetus from Purcell’s “The Fairy Queen.” And indeed, there are baroque inflections throughout.
George Sanders plays Charles in “The King’s Thief” (1955). Edmund Purdom is a highwayman who pilfers an incriminating book from David Niven. An aristocratic schemer, Niven will stop at nothing to get it back. The swashbuckling score is by Miklós Rózsa.
I don’t recall Charles making an appearance in “The Draughtsman’s Contract” (1982), Peter Greenaway’s saucy, though strangely aloof, Restoration opus. However, there is plenty of licentiousness and an abundance of outlandish wigs. And, it being a Greenaway film, it is certainly strange in more ways than one. Michael Nyman’s score puts a minimalist spin on baroque sources. (Purcell is listed in the film’s credits as “musical consultant.”) For the theme, Nyman whips “The Fairy Queen” into a kind of musical egg cream, complete with 1950s-style rock and roll saxophones.
Finally, “Forever Amber” (1947) is based on a then-scandalous novel by Kathleen Winsor, about an ambitious young woman’s rise through the bedchambers of the Royal Court. The film was directed by Otto Preminger. Linda Darnell is Amber. Once again, George Sanders plays Charles, eight years before reprising the role for “The King’s Thief.” Cornel Wilde, Richard Greene, and Jessica Tandy are also in the cast. Philadelphia-born composer David Raksin, he of “Laura” fame, plays fast and loose with music of the era.
Bwoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! It’s so naughty! Everyone, giggle into your handkerchiefs and wear ribbons on your shoes. We’ll be powdering our faces and going heavy on the rouge, on “Picture Perfect,” music for the movies, now in syndication on KWAX.
“Picture Perfect” and “The Lost Chord” can now be streamed at the following times at the link below. Keep in mind that KWAX is on the West Coast, so there’s a three-hour time difference (conversions are included in parentheses) – actually rather convenient for those of us located in the vicinity of their erstwhile home at WWFM.
PICTURE PERFECT – Fridays on KWAX at 5:00 PACIFIC TIME (8:00 PM EDT)
THE LOST CHORD – Saturdays on KWAX at 4:00 PACIFIC TIME (7:00 PM EDT)
The ”Clockwork Orange” livestream can be seen here, on Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner, tonight at 7:30 EDT:
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