The Music Sack
International Music Score Library Project
Welcome to the International Music Score Library Project! IMSLP attempts to create a virtual library containing all public domain musical scores, as well as scores from composers who are willing to share their music with the world without charge. You can read the full list of goals that IMSLP will try to achieve.IMSLP also encourages the exchange of musical ideas, both in the form of musical works, and in the analysis of existing ones. Therefore, feel free to create/edit a page with your analysis of a particular piece (please use the "Discussion" link on the work page of that particular piece)
April Fools
John Wesley Barker 1927-2007
My father John Wesley Barker was born on the 11th May 1927 and died on the 25th July 2007, his Mother's birthday and the Feast of St James The Apostle. He was Music Director of Christchurch Cathedral in Nelson, New Zealand. Today I listened to a cassette recording of the Funeral and read the letter he wrote to me a few hours before he died. He developed an Acute Dissecting Aortic Aneurysm on 5th November 2004. He defied all the odds, and survived until its rupture, over 2.5 years later..
Donations to be sent to Health Research Council of NZ, "Barker Fund" for Vascular Research, PO Box 5541, Wellesley Street, Auckland, New Zealand.
My Tribute read at the funeral in Christchurch Cathedral, Nelson, by my brother-in-law Kemp English
As I write this from the Isle Of Arran on the west coast of Scotland, the other side of the world from Nelson in New Zealand, the size of this world cannot diminish the immense sorrow I feel on the loss of my Dad, nor diminish the love and respect in which I hold him now and will do so forever. He was funny, quirky, quite a character; definitely 'his own man'. But, most of all, a musician, dedicating his life to worship, through music of the highest standard and deepest devotion. We spent a wonderful time with Dad, Angela, Helen, Kemp and friends last Christmas and it will remain forever, a precious time we will never forget. We intend to return this Christmas to be a family once more. We will miss him. We will remember him. Wherever we are in this world, we will, today, celebrate his life. A wonderful person: my Dad. 
'Toast Is Toast!' Johnny
Flood
Yesterday, the 20th July, we had a flood here at Stoke Wharf, as did many other parts of the country. I got home, just, having threaded my way back from Telford through flooded country lanes, often having to turn around and seeking an alternative route.The Worcester & Birmingham canal overflowed at Stoke Bottom Lock where the water drained away through the canal cottages onto the Hanbury Road and into the car park of Metal & Ores (pictured). The road was blocked for some hours, some people got lifts on tractors over the water to continue their journey on foot.
PM - Radio 4 - Pylons
Excerpt about electricity pylons from BBC R4's PM
Programme: BBC Radio 4 PMPresenter: Eddie Mair
Guest: Bill Bryson
Duration: 58"
Date: 9th July 2007
This evening on BBC Radio 4's PM programme presented by Eddie Mair, Bill Bryson made some comments about electricity pylons to which I felt I should offer a reply.
I later added more of my views on the PM - blog
My NZ trip - Part 2
This Friday, the 22nd December, we fly to Nelson in New Zealand via Dubai and Auckland to arrive on Christmas Eve to spend Christmas and New Year with my family in New Zealand. We'll go on a 4 day walk through the Abel Tasman National Park and take in some sunshine. My NZ Trip Blog will have some more entries after two years since my last trip if you want to keep up with my holiday. Merry Christmas to you all.Underpass - John Foxx
Flash MP3 Player
As part of the updating of this website, I've added the Flash MP3 Player to share audio with visitors.The playlist currently contains:
- My Funny Valentine by Richard Rogers
played on a Technics digital piano by John Wesley Barker - Rise & Fall by John Wesley Barker
recorded by Lost Jockey in a session produced by John Leckie at Abbey Road Studio 2.
Previously released by Operation Twilight Cat. No. OPT11 - Rainstick by Bag 'O Cats and John Wesley Barker
from the album Out Of The Bag produced for Greentrax Recordings by John Wesley Barker. - Temptation Brothers In Rhythm Remix - by Heaven 17
orchestral arrangement by John Wesley Barker, recorded at Air Studios. From the album The Luxury Gap. Session detail here - Eccho Ring for organ by John Wesley Barker
originally written for the wedding of Clare & John, this solo organ version from the CD Stormin' Norma 2 by Kemp English. Recorded in Dunedin Town Hall, New Zealand. See Eccho Ring web page.
EDEXCEL stop GCE Music and Music Technology
Dear Colleague,I have today been informed, in writing, by Edexcel that they have decided not to seek re-accreditation for GCE Music and Music Technology from QCA.
This in effect means that they are not going to offer these A level subjects after 2009 – thus the last AS intake of students will be in September 2007.
The reasons given behind this decision are (and I quote) ….’ We believe that the complexity of the current assessment model and constraints of the new subject criteria have made it impossible to produce a sustainable specification which will be attractive to schools and colleges. Therefore our strategy is to focus on the BTEC Music and Music Technology provision which has proved popular in our centres. We hope that centres will choose to move to the appropriate BTEC National Awards in Music and Music Technology….’
This decision has been reached without ANY consultation from senior examiners. I have not been asked to attend any meetings about this matter, or to submit my opinions or ideas in relation to the ‘viability’ of a new music technology syllabus. QCA have created separate subject criteria for Music Technology, and these would, in my opinion, make it feasible to develop a very creative and attractive qualification for schools and colleges.
There appears to have been little thought given to the implications of this decision. As the sole examination board providing Music Technology, this decision in effect kills off A level music technology – at a time when student numbers are growing, centre investment in resources has been significant, and university acceptance of the subject is good.
The assumption that centres will migrate easily to BTEC is at best naïve and at worst demonstrates a total lack of understanding of the two very different qualifications. The majority of centres offering AS and A2 do not offer BTEC qualifications and are unlikely to do so.
I would urge you to help force Edexcel to reconsider this decision by sending an email or letter to various interested parties such as the Chief Exec of Edexcel, Mr Jerry Jarvis jerry.jarvis@edexcel.org.uk, QCA, your local MP or another interested supportive party. I believe that it would be very useful to enlist the assistance of your Headteacher or Principal in securing additional writing communication to Edexcel about this matter, and please feel free to print out a copy of this letter and show it to them.
It is my considered opinion that we must unite to stop an American PLC (Pearson who own Edexcel) dictating the content and format of music education within the UK, and that we must ensure that future generations of students have the ability to study and be accredited with, GCE AS and A2 qualifications in Music Technology.
If you have any suggestions as to how we can progress this campaign over the next few days, please feel free to email me.
Yours truly, Andrew J Kitchenham, Chair of Examiners, Music Technology
ajk@moveonup.co.uk
Heaven 17 - The Line Of Beauty
On Radio 4 just now I heard my Orchestral Theme of Temptation by Heaven 17 being used in the radio trailer for BBC2 The Line Of Beauty. The orchestral version hit the public as the last track on the single CD made to celebrate the 10th year after release and included a brilliant Brothers In Rhythm remix. This release is a muted out dub of some of the work I did on the track. I intend to make available the score and monitor mix (on cassette made on the 12th December 1982I always jump out of my skin when I hear stuff I've done on the radio or TV. Temptation was used by Burger King a number of years ago, my blood boiled. Coincidence this time is that I want to start a performing group soon to play stuff I've been writing, the name for the group is Beauty, mm... strange... but...
Now I wonder, do I get any money for this? Will the musicians?
Watch this space.