The deaths continue

Apparently the reason why 2016 has appeared to be a year of death is the combination of the post war baby boom, celebrity culture and the speed and universality now available as far as information is concerned. Here are 19 I have noticed over the last 20 days or so (I missed Robert Vaughn, last of the Magnificent 7 and Man from UNCLE back on November 11).

I found these I recognise on Wikipedia. Missionary Helen Roseveare, Methodist Thomas C Oden and Fundamental Baptist Robert Sumner had completely passed me by. I remember hearing Helen Roseveare as a student in Bryntirion, Bridgend. An odd thing was that I listened to her on an audio relay and never actually cast eyes on her the hour and a half or so she was there!

19 Lionel Blue, 86, British rabbi, journalist and broadcaster, complications from Parkinson's disease.

Andrei Karlov, 62, Russian diplomat, Ambassador to Turkey (since 2013), shot.

18 Zsa Zsa Gabor, 99, Hungarian-born American actress (Moulin Rouge, Touch of Evil, Lili) and socialite, heart attack.

17 Henry Heimlich, 96, American physician, inventor of the Heimlich manoeuvre, complications from a heart attack.

12 E. R. Braithwaite, 104, Guyanese novelist (To Sir, With Love) and diplomat.

Mark Fisher, 57, British pop musician (Matt Bianco).

Jim Prior, Baron Prior, 89, British politician, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1981–1984) and Employment (1979–1981).

Walter Swinburn, 55, British jockey.

11 Bob Krasnow, 82, American record label executive (Elektra Records), co-founder of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Michael Nicholson, 79, British journalist and war correspondent.

10 A. A. Gill, 62, British writer and restaurant critic (The Sunday Times), lung cancer.

Ian McCaskill, 78, British meteorologist and weatherman.

8 John Glenn, 95, American astronaut (Mercury-Atlas 6) and politician, U.S. Senator from Ohio (1974–1999).

Thomas C. Oden, 85, American theologian.

Fred Secombe, 97, Welsh priest and writer of novels. Older brother of comedian and singer Harry Secombe.

7 Greg Lake, 69, English singer and musician (King Crimson, Emerson, Lake & Palmer), cancer. Helen Roseveare, 91, British Christian missionary.

6 Peter Vaughan, 93, British actor (Game of Thrones, Brazil, Porridge).

5 Robert Sumner, 94, American Baptist pastor and author.

Death of Greg Lake

The death of Keith Emerson in March is followed now by the death of Greg Lake and just when his most famous song is being played everywhere. I love this arrangement of what is after all a partly anti-Christmas song and so in rather a strange place in some ways. I love Ian Anderson and his flute. Greg Lake once said "when you can buy anything you want and do anything you want, you soon discover that you don't actually want any of it".

Holiday Gem 05

1. I believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake on an Emerson Lake and Palmer EP.

This Greg Lake single first came out in 1975. Each Christmas that I heard it I was drawn to it. Then one Christmas I saw the 1995 EP with this and other tracks in a big record store. I didn't buy it at the time (I show restraint sometimes) but sent for it from Amazon another Christmas. It has 5 tracks - 2 versions of IBIFC, a version of Prokofiev's Troika (by Keith Emerson and the tune that provides the musical theme for IBIFC), Humbug (B-side of IBIFC single - delightful, jazzy, near-instrumental) and Nutrocker - encore from the ELP album of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition (based on Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker so a Christmas number too).

The second version of IBIFC is a stripped down ELP version of the masterful Greg Lake single. This latter track has everything going for it as a Christmas single. First you get a beautiful 12-string guitar, a pleasant voice singing a pleasant tune. Then there's a distant choir, sleigh bells, some sort of bell/horn synthesiser to give atmosphere. Next, as we approach the final minute, timpani start, a large choir, an orchestra, military drums - all moving to a dramatic and powerful close. These are what hit you at first. Then you realise that the words (by one Pete Sinfield) are totally cynical. Poor old Pete has seen through the whole sham. No snow - only rain; no Father Christmas and (for him) no Jesus either. He tries to rescue it by wishing everyone a hopeful Christmas and a brave new year. This is highly post-modern - a song that makes you feel all "Christmassy" but that points out that the whole thing is a sham. I do believe in "the Israelite" but moaning about Christmas and enjoying it at the same time is great fun.