Conservative columnist, editor, ideologue and author William F. Buckley, surely one of the wittiest writers in the opinion business in the 20th century, died Wednesday. He had a great many talents, including a knack for financing his transoceanic sailing vacations by writing books about them.
Perhaps less well known was his affinity for and skill in playing the harpsichord and the piano (not the tuba, as my earlier post here mistakenly said).
In fact, he once took part in a musical tribute to former Gov. Jim Martin, himself a tuba player.
Here’s Dean Smith’s story from the Observer in 1990:
Whether Jim Martin is remembered as a governor of North Carolina 20 years from now, he will be remembered as a tuba player. The N.C. Symphony and conservative commentator William F. Buckley Jr. are making sure of that.
In a gala concert at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Raleigh`s Memorial Auditorium, the orchestra will dedicate its new Governor and Mrs. James G. Martin Principal
Tuba Chair. Money raised by the benefit concert will help start a permanent
$100,000 endowment to perpetuate the tuba position.
Long before Martin became governor, he was the principal tuba player in the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.
His musical career in Charlotte lasted five years, from 1961 to 1966, and
he returned in 1989 to play a fund-raising concert for the Arts and Science
Council.
In the concert Wednesday, Buckley, an outspoken writer, columnist and
television host, will be the soloist in a performance of J.S. Bach`s Concerto No. 5 in F Minor for Harpsichord and Orchestra. He will also narrate a
performance of Aaron Copland`s ``Lincoln Portrait.``
Violinist Nicholas Kitchen, a Durham native who is becoming increasingly
well-known on the national music scene, will be the soloist in Saint-Saens`
Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso for Violin and Orchestra.
And David Lewis, who now occupies the chair that will hold the spotlight
for the evening, will be the soloist in a performance of Vaughan Williams`
Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra.
Wednesday afternoon, Martin said of Buckley, "He was quite an intellect and a mover.... His real contribution was powering the intellectual side of the movement."
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
4 comments:
Actually, he was an accomplished harpsichord player... are you sure that's not what the article was referring to?
Yes, you are exactly right. My memory failed me, and when I caught up with Martin this afternoon he affirmed that Buckley's skill was on the harpsichord, not the tuba.
I also recall that Buckley had an upright piano installed on one of his sailboats.
McClatchey is writing off 29 billion in debt ; So whats their next move strip out the printers and Hock them or chop up the furniture for firewood?
I am so happy to get some gw gold and the GuildWars Gold is given by my close friend who tells me that the Guild Wars Gold is the basis to enter into the game. Therefore, I should GuildWars money with the spare money and I gain some cheap gw gold from other players.
Post a Comment