Letters of Gerald Finzi and Howard Ferguson (Music)

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The letters that passed, on an almost daily basis, between the composers Howard Ferguson and Gerald Finzi provide not only a fascinating commentary on the British musical scene of the period 1926-1956, but also what amounts to a unique dual-biography of two remarkable, though very different, personalities. Their lives, their loves, their enthusiasms and their prejudices are laid bare with a rare degree of candour, so that we learn not only what it was like to be witness to an art that was enjoying an unprecedented explosion of creative vitality, but also how they came to explore and consolidate their own exceptional talents. Biographical background narratives provide links that make clear what intimate correspondents inevitably take for granted, and explanations are given for references that the passage of time has made obscure. Their lives are thus revealed in all their diversity - tragedy and comedy, achievement and frustration, justifiable pride and unreasoning prejudice playing equal parts in this absorbing tale of two outstanding musical personalities of the twentieth century.

Letters of Gerald Finzi and Howard Ferguson. (Book Reviews: Letters).: An article from: Notes

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Letters of Gerald Finzi and Howard Ferguson. (Book Reviews: Letters).: An article from: Notes
Byron Adams
Manufacturer: Music Library Association, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from Notes, published by Music Library Association, Inc. on September 1, 2002. The length of the article is 1050 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Letters of Gerald Finzi and Howard Ferguson. (Book Reviews: Letters).
Author: Byron Adams
Publication: Notes (Refereed)
Date: September 1, 2002
Publisher: Music Library Association, Inc.
Volume: 59 Issue: 1 Page: 87(2)

Article Type: Book Review

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Letters of Gerald Finzi and Howard Ferguson

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Letters of Gerald Finzi and Howard Ferguson
Howard; Hurd, Michael Ferguson
Manufacturer: Boydell & Brewer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N5GZRE

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On December 3, 1999, the call crackled in to the men of the Worchester, Massachusetts Fire Department: a three-alarm warehouse blaze in a six-story windowless colossus of brick and mortar. Firefighters love the excitement of a "triple." But this was a different beast. Rollovers, flashovers, backdrafts, this one had it all. Once inside, they found themselves trapped in a snarling furnace of blazing orange heat as hot as a crematorium, with smoke so black and predatory they had to feel for their partners next to them. Swallowed deep in the building, with no way out, they struggled to survive an ill-fated ordeal that would push them to the very limits of loyalty and courage. What happened next and how their lives and community were changed forever offers an unprecedented look at these heroic men whose job it is to rush into burning buildings when everyone else just wants out.

Customer Reviews:

the book that started my addiction..........2005-06-30

All that I can say is that Sean Flynn wrote this book about a horrific true event in such a way that I feel as if I lost my friends in the blaze. I can only imagine how the true friends of these 6 men felt and continue to feel each time they see a family member of one of their perished brothers. I'm not a crying man, but I cried at some points in this story b/c they hit so close to home for one, but for two you get so wrapped up in the lives of these men that you feel the stinging pain of realizing they have died. It's a sad story, that I actually remembered hearing about after i read the book, but it's also very motivating to anybody that has thought of becoming a FF. It's almost as its a test of your heart to be a FF. Like the beginning of initiation (hazing) to become a part of a fraternity. I know two other people that read it, that upon completion(one wasn't even able to finish) withdrew from the FF applicant process in which we all signed up together. Weeds out the weak...well kinda. :o)

Either way you look at it, this is good reading. I finished in in 4 days and I was continually fussed at for 3 of those days by my 9 month pregnant girlfriend b/c I wasn't giving her the attention she wanted. Now she's reading it and i'm not getting any attention. Go fig!

Buy the book! BTW...my addiction i speak of in my title just means my addiction to FF books.

Realistic and compassionate........2005-01-14

I really enjoyed this book. My dad was a firefighter and I thought the writer portrayed the firefighters with a tough realisim without taking away their compassion for what they do. The families stories seemed to convey not only the day to day fears that all firefighters families have but, a small sense of what they went through when the unimaginable happened to them. Overall a great read by a writer who seemed to care about the subject.

WORCESTER not WORCHESTER - Keep the H out of it.......2004-03-25

Note to who ever wrote the Publishers Weekly review. Get a map. The second largest city in New England is Worcester Mass. not WorcHester. Those of us born and raised there pronounce the city to rhyme with mister.

Riviting.......2004-02-18

I read this book simply because my boyfriend said he couldn't put it down. I was mesmorized by the bravery these men went gave out to fight the fire. After every page, I kept thinking to myself, "This is TRUE." I have a stronger respect for the brave fire fighters aroundt he world. Not only is this book about the fire and the fighters themselves, but it also depicts the family's devistation after the fact. Every page brought tears to my eyes. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially family's of fire fighters. Didn't want to put it down.

Heart Wrenching.......2004-02-08

You meet Worcesters finest, go to work with them. Then the worst happens and you pray with them, cry with them, and mourn with them. This book is wonderful, I could not put it down. I cired for the families and for the Firefighters left behind.

Doctor Who : The Fires of Vulcan (Doctor Who)

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"Pompeii is our window on the Roman world...our window."
A great historical!
A great story for Mel, but not the Doctor

Doctor Who : The Fires of Vulcan (Doctor Who)
Steve LyonsDirector: Gary Russell
Manufacturer: Big Finish Productions Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 1903654025

Book Description

Twin CD Set

Two thousand years ago, a cataclysmic volcanic eruption wiped the Roman city of Pompeii from the face of the Earth. It also burried the Doctor's TARDIS...

Customer Reviews:

"Pompeii is our window on the Roman world...our window.".......2002-11-18

"The Fires of Vulcan" is one of the most popular Big Finish audios, but I consider it a little overrated. It is a solid, well-written and well-acted historical tale with excellent production values and an interesting time paradox for the Doctor to handle -- but there are many similar tales in the "Doctor Who" canon, especially among the original novels. Perhaps this story is so popular because it "rehabilitates" the era in which it is set -- the unloved Season 24 -- and its companion -- the controversial Melanie Bush, excellently played here by Bonnie Langford. I always liked Mel better than most "Who" fans anyway, so I don't see a vast difference in her likeability here. In any case, this is an excellent story, but so are the vast majority of Big Finish's "Who" productions; I just don't see "The Fires of Vulcan" as something very special, but maybe I'm missing something.

A great historical!.......2001-01-11

The Doctor in Pompeii, what's not to love? Granted some of the secondary characters are very one dimensional, but I think the overall flavor of Pompeii is captured nicely. The best part of this CD is that Mel, perhaps one of the most irritating companions on the televison, is redeemed. We see a vibrant, hopeful companion worthy of the Doctor who thankfully does not scream once! Moreover we see a multisided performance from Sylvestor McCoy ranging from morose to hopeful. It is nice to see more than the clown or the manipulator that McCoy's Doctor has become known for. One of the best Big Finish CD's to date!

A great story for Mel, but not the Doctor.......2000-10-08

I was pleased to spot this Big Finish Doctor Who audio adventure on Amazon's site - I don't recall having seen the previous eleven.

Set during the first year of the seventh Doctor's stories, it features Sylvester McCoy as the Doctor and Bonnie Langford as companion Mel Bush. Now, Mel has never been the most popular of the Doctor's travelling companions, which I suspect is partially because of her overly exuberant personality and partially because none of the stories she appeared in really suited her.

In her first appearance in a Big finish audio play, I was happy to see that situation reversed. Mel firmly takes centre stage in this adventure set in the last days of Pompeii, with Vesuvius about to erupt. We learn that the Doctor was aware that his TARDIS had been found buried in Pompeii, and had avoided going there. But, having arrived by accident, he feels that he has no choice but to stay and let events proceed, even if it means his death.

Mel refuses to accept that there is no choice but to accept that the future is set. Her attempts to save the Doctor, herself and others from the eruption of Vesuvius shows her character's strong points at their best.

The Doctor's late conversion from a fatalist to someone willing to her try to change the future seems out of character.

Book Description

“I had always assumed that heroism was reserved for the very few, but I no longer believe that to be true. I have come to believe that heroism is clearly attainable to each of us–that all we have to do to become heroes is, with God’s help, to grow into the ideal each of us harbors in our hearts.” –Joe Wheeler, from Everyday Heroes

In the timeless tradition of Joe Wheeler’s previous anthologies, Volume 2 of his Forged in the Fire series takes you on a succession of fascinating journeys into personal courage–stories that will inspire you, too, to think, act, and live with moral courage in the face of everyday challenges and extraordinary crises.

These 21 stories–many certifiably true, others inspired by real-life experiences–spotlight ordinary men, women, and children who met a moment or season of challenge with extraordinary honor and courage. You and your loved ones will be inspired and emboldened to also “do the right thing”–no matter the cost–as you encounter crossroads in your own lives.

The girl who had everything: The story of "the fire and ice girl"

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The girl who had everything: The story of "the fire and ice girl"
Dorian Leigh Parker
Manufacturer: DoubleDay
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

The Women Who Walk Through Fire: Women's Fantasy and Science Fiction

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The Women Who Walk Through Fire: Women's Fantasy and Science Fiction

Manufacturer: Crossing Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0895944200

Sailors to the End: The Deadly Fire on the USS Forrestal and the Heroes Who Fought It

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Sailors to the End: The Deadly Fire on the USS Forrestal...
Bravery, personified
When Things Go Wrong on Carriers
A Gripping Tragedy, And A Strange Whitewash?
Excellent!

Sailors to the End: The Deadly Fire on the USS Forrestal and the Heroes Who Fought It
Gregory A. Freeman
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0066212677
Release Date: 2002-07-09

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In midsummer 1967, the United States aircraft carrier Forrestal, stationed off Vietnam, lost 134 men to fires and ensuing explosions after an errant missile from one of its own planes ruptured a fuel tank on a nearby jet. Gregory A. Freeman's Sailors to the End is a starkly illuminating account of the disaster which, like so many maritime tragedies, was perfectly preventable. Although a faulty detonation switch (similar to a surge suppressor) caused the rocket to fire, the crippling, deadly conflagrations were caused by exploding ordnance--"ancient ... thin-skinned" bombs of World War II vintage. The Navy never admitted its guilt in the matter, a point Freeman makes very clear. He has a knack for balancing instructive overviews with telling details (for example, each link in the ship's anchor chain weighed 360 pounds). Freeman does not shy from the grotesque detail, and many scenes, especially in the sick bay, are harrowing to read. The sad tale of the men of the Forrestal is a model of narrative clarity and honest reporting. --H. O'Billovich

Book Description

In the tradition of New York Times bestsellers In Harm's Way and The Terrible Hours comes a mesmerizing, high-adrenaline account of the heroic sailors who survived one of the worst accidents in U.S. naval history.

Sailors to the End tells the dramatic and until now forgotten story of the 1967 fire on board the USS Forrestal during its time at Yankee Station off the coast of Vietnam. The aircraft carrier, the mightiest of the U.S. fleet, was preparing to launch attacks into North Vietnam when one of its jets accidentally fired a rocket across the flight deck and into an aircraft occupied by pilot John McCain. A huge fire ensued, and McCain barely escaped before a 1,000-pound bomb on his plane exploded, causing a chain reaction with other bombs on surrounding planes. The crew struggled for days to extinguish the fires, the five thousand men on board experiencing different kinds of hell -- some trapped in damaged compartments waiting to die, some battling rivers of flaming jet fuel in order to rescue their buddies. Almost all of them were innocent eighteen- and nineteen-year-olds, but in an instant they were thrust into a tragedy that nearly destroyed the ship and took the lives of 134 men.

Written with the intensity and excitement of a thriller, and based on never-before-disclosed information and extensive interviews with the fire's survivors, here is the first full, minute-by-minute account of the disaster. Told through the stories of a dozen sailors, including John Beling, the carrier's beloved captain who was made a scapegoat for the disaster, Sailors to the End follows the Forrestal from its home in Norfolk, Virginia, through its mission in Vietnam. Focusing on the fateful fire and its aftermath, this book provides a gripping tale of heartache and heroism as young men find themselves trapped on a burning ship with bombs exploding all around them.

Sailors to the End also corrects the official view of the fire, providing evidence that the U.S. government compromised the ship's safety by insisting on increased bombing despite the shortage of reliable weapons. For thirty-five years, the terrible loss of life has been blamed on the sailors themselves, but this meticulously documented history shows that they were truly the victims and heroes, deserving recognition for their efforts during a sweeping tragedy that until now has been only a footnote in history. Gregory A. Freeman dramatically brings this story to life, creating a work that is both riveting and moving.

Customer Reviews:

Sailors to the End: The Deadly Fire on the USS Forrestal..........2004-06-24

Riveting! One of the most well written books I have read in a long time. Having served over 20 years in the Military, this book and the men it honors, makes me proud to have served even more. We all owe a unpayable dept to the heroic men of the USS Forrestal. Should be included in the Military Professional Reading list.

Bravery, personified.......2004-04-08

The fire on the Forrestal was the major Naval event of my career up to that time. I knew some of the men who were a part of her ships company and airwing. I later came to know some who had survived that day.

At the time of the fire, I knew that a major catastrophe had overtaken the ship and its' crew. Over the remaining years of my military career, I came to learn what (I thought) was the cause of this tragedy. A 'training film' on the disaster focused on the mobile 'starter' unit left running under the Zuni rocket was the basic cause.

It wasn't until I read this great book by Gregory A. Freeman that I learned "the rest of the story". The mobile unit was only the causitive agent. Lack of communications and the bypassing of safety regulations were also contributing factors. But most importantly was the Johnson/McNamara administration's decision to intensify the bombing effort against the North Vietnamese. This decision meant using outdated, dangerous ordinance. This fact was kept from the public (and from the rank and file) for years. It goes to the heart of the prosecution of this vile war. In essence they said "damn the personal prosecuting the war, just prosecute it".

More importantly than the above political statement is the fact that this book brought so close to me the heroism of those sailors onboard Forrestal, from the flight deck Chief Petty Officer who raced into the conflagration to supervise the fire fighting efforts, to the Doctors and Corpsmen in sick bay who dealt with the massive casualties that overcame them, to the Damage Control Officer who took "speed" to save his ship, to the brave young men in after steering who died doing what they were trained and ordered to do, to the brave and heroic Commanding Officer who fought with all his skills and leadership and was eventually successful in saving this magnificent ship.

I am not sure in this day and age if anybody in the United States questions the skill and bravery of the young men who defend her, but if they do, just spend a few bucks and pick up this wonderful book.

When Things Go Wrong on Carriers.......2003-08-08

This story recounts how dangerous Aircraft Carriers may be even out of combat as the author describes how a series of failures on the USS Forrestal created one of worst naval accidents, killing 134 men in 1967, as the crew was preparing to launch an air offensive on Vietnam.

The story, which centers on a tragic fire, looks at the incident from various sailor's perspectives, and paints an excellent picture for the reador of real life on an aircraft carrier and the mindset of a group of young men battling for their survival againt two of a sailor's greatest enemies -- Fire and the Sea.

A Gripping Tragedy, And A Strange Whitewash?.......2003-07-06

"Sailors to the End" presents the events aboard the Forrestal in gripping detail, and pays homage to the brave men who fought the terrible fire in 1967. I certainly can't argue with the spirit in which it was written, or the strong prose. However, as I read the book, I found myself increasingly angry with the text's attempts to justify the actions of Captain John K. Beling. While Beling is presented here as a badly-wronged victim of circumstance (he was strongly reprimanded after the fire, and never again commanded a ship), there is a great deal of evidence in the book to support the idea that he got off too easily. Beling, it is clear, was a showboater who had the audacity to propose flying aircraft off the damaged ship as it sailed into its home port for the first time after the tragic accident, and a man who refused to accept responsibility for what was doubtlessly a preventable incident. Freeman seems anything but impartial in his analysis of the fire, preferring instead to blame "the system" and the lack of political support for the situation. One has to wonder what his motivation was - perhaps the author feared a blackball by the retired crew? It is not difficult to see, using some of the evidence presented in the book, that ordnance crews under Beling ignored critical safety instructions, and that the presence of obselete weapons on board was not brought to the Captain's attention due to a failure in the chain of command. That to me indicates Beling was actually guilty of dereliction of duty, and that he got off far too easily. In my book, he should never have been allowed to remain an officer in the U.S. Navy.

Excellent!.......2003-03-13

I found this to be a great book - very enjoyable to read and was well researched, organized, and written. It could easily have been titled 'Heroes to the End', as it tells a story of true heroism and bravery (2 words often overused and abused) in the face of disaster. The only part that I thought was somewhat thin was research and analysis of the subsequent navy and other investigations (but this did not detract from the story itself). The author organized the story really well, telling much of it from the eyes of several sailors present on those fateful days. It is chilling to read about the event that led to the book's title. The author goes into a reasonable level of detail on the events leading up to the tragic fire and explains many navy equipment and processes in layman's terms. The book at times seems overly sympathetic to Capt. Beling, but I agree that at the end of the day, no matter what, the captain always has full and ultimate responsibility for his ship and its crew. I was surprised how many people saw me reading this book and recollected the event like it happened yesterday. I highly recommend it.

Who Keeps Us Safe? (An Easy-Read Community Book)

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Who Keeps Us Safe? (An Easy-Read Community Book)
Caroline Arnold
Manufacturer: Franklin Watts
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding

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ASIN: 0531044416

Fearless Presence: The Story of Lt. Col. Nola Forrest, Who Led the Army Nurses Through Heat, Rain, Mud, and Enemy Fire in World War II

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An unknown history

Fearless Presence: The Story of Lt. Col. Nola Forrest, Who Led the Army Nurses Through Heat, Rain, Mud, and Enemy Fire in World War II
Eleanor Stoddard
Manufacturer: American Literary Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1561679461
Release Date: 2006-12-12

Product Description

"Fearless Presence: The Story of Lt. Col. Nola Forrest, Who Led the Army Nurses through Heat, Rain, Mud and Enemy Fire in World War II" is a fascinating account of a career Army nurse, decorated for her acts of heroism. Lt. Col. Nola Forrest served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps (ANC) for more than 20 years, ultimately as director of Army nurses for the Southwest Pacific Area during World War II. She led nurses from two field hospitals into Leyte under enemy attack and later conducted the successful rescue of 67 Army nurses from a Japanese internment camp in Manila. Based on a series of personal interviews and a wealth of secondary sources, author and oral historian Eleanor Stoddard adeptly captures Forrest's remarkable story in this dramatic biographical account.

Customer Reviews:

An unknown history.......2007-04-03

Reviewed by A.J. Cooper for Reader Views (2/07)

"Fearless Presence" is a story of World War II and the years just prior to the war from the view of a nurse, Nola Forrest. She was born in Minnesota but wanted so much more than to stay there. Nola Forrest wanted the opportunity to travel and see the world. She was given the opportunity while in college; she was recruited to go to nursing school against the wishes of her family. They felt it would be a terribly hard life that she was not accustomed to and tried everything in their powers to dissuade her from the path of nursing.

The beginning of Nola's career with the army was when she entered the Army Nurse Corps Reserve in 1924. The nurses' had the same ranks as their male counter parts but received much lower pay. This did not stop Nola from taking the position. The story follows Nola all over the United States and abroad highlighting many of the positions she held in nursing and in administering nurses. Nola is also given a permanent position in the Army Nurse Corps and finally in 1942 the ranks of the woman and men in the Army are equal pay. She was sent to the Southwest Pacific Area to oversee operations and to ensure nurses taken care of properly. What she found was nurses trying to perform their duties in less than manageable circumstances with little or no personal supplies in most areas. During this time period nurses were taken as Prisoners of War in one of history's worst camps in the Philippines, Bataan and Corregidor.

I think anyone that has an interest in history would be interested in this book. Learning of the nurses taken as Prisoners of War was shocking to me. I only remember hearing about all of the men interned but certainly not the women. I took for granted that nurses had always been a part of wars and did not realize that for years nurses did not play an important part at the war fronts to help save the troops. Because of World War II it was shown that women nurses could survive and perform just as well as the men at the front under terrible conditions. They faced diseases that soldiers had not faced before and did everything in their power to ensure every soldier was taken care of.

I really enjoyed this book and was glad that I had the opportunity to not only learn something new, but to learn about an admirable person, Lt. Col. Nola Forrest. She led a full and rewarding life and it took a considerate person to take the time to research and follow-up with the Colonel. I would recommend "Fearless Presence" to anyone and look forward to sharing it with family and friends. This is not only a story of a determined person but a very determined woman who really cared about everyone around her.

Through The Fire: The True Story of The Death To Life Experiences of A Preacher Who Recieved A Heart Transplant

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Through The Fire: The True Story of The Death To Life Experiences of A Preacher Who Recieved A Heart Transplant
John W. Watts
Manufacturer: 1st Books Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1414053339

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Rhinos Who Rescue
Julie Mammano
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0811854191

Book Description

Rhinos who rescue know there's no time to slug around when there's a major rager looming! No job is too big or too rinky dink for these rhino heroes. The heat is on! With Julie Mammano's charming illustrations and glossary of rescue lingo, readers will be pumped about all of the daring heroics in Rhinos Who Rescue.

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