Author Archives: mj263

About mj263

Music Collections Supervisor at Cambridge University Library. Wide musical interests. Often to be found stuck in a composer's archive, or enthusing about antiquarian music.

59 days and counting

Posted on 1 June 2023 by mj263

You may remember that some time ago, MusiCB3 revealed that its librarians were going to be extremely busy in 2023, with an international music librarians’ congress making its way to the Faculty of Music in July this year. The planning … Continue reading →

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(Nearly) At the event – Ferry cross to Eurovision land

Posted on 18 May 2023 by mj263

Last weekend MusiCB3’s editor was in Liverpool for the Eurovision song contest. Now before you get too excited, I have to admit that I, along with most of those who love all things Eurovision, wasn’t able to get tickets for … Continue reading →

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A very Cambridge coronation

Posted on 5 May 2023 by mj263

Next Monday we have our second Bank Holiday in May (fear not the Anderson Room and the Pendlebury Libraries will be open across their usual hours, with just a brief lunchtime closure in the Anderson Room). If two Bank Holidays … Continue reading →

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To celebrate, to commemorate…James Bowman

Posted on 14 April 2023 by mj263

Described by Robert King, St. John’s alumnus, and founder of the King’s Consort, as “one of the most delightful, charming, mischievous, kind, generous, human beings that you could ever hope to meet,” we were sorry to hear shortly before Easter … Continue reading →

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Carry on Julius

Posted on 24 February 2023 by mj263

Tomorrow evening (Saturday 25th February), I’m off to London for a performance by English Touring Opera of Giulio Cesare, impeccably timed to coincide with London’s Handel Festival. I was slightly bemused to discover that it was to be staged at … Continue reading →

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Music and St. Valentine

Posted on 10 February 2023 by mj263

Who was St.Valentine? There are two candidates for this saint. Both were early Christian martyrs. The first was a priest in Rome who cured a blind girl and then converted her family. The then emperor, Claudius II had him clubbed … Continue reading →

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1823 — 1963 — 2023 : William Henry Monk, Abide with me, football and rugby

Posted on 3 February 2023 by mj263

In 2022 we celebrated the anniversaries of Ralph Vaughan Williams, Doreen Carwithen, and Caleb Simper. No doubt Vaughan Williams’ Lark Ascending will reappear in Classic FM’s Hall of Fame at Easter this year (it has appeared every year since the … Continue reading →

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Just chatting about VW

Posted on 15 December 2022 by mj263

To end our series of Vaughan Williams related blog posts to celebrate Vaughan Williams’ 150th anniversary, MusiCB3 presents its first podcast, as Susi Woodhouse and Margaret Jones, MusiCB3 regulars, and contributors to the #RVW150 posts, discuss the anniversary and their … Continue reading →

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Thank you Mr. Potiphar

Posted on 9 December 2022 by mj263

In most musicians’ lives there are formative moments: the first time that they heard an instrument with which they would become inextricably linked, a particular piece of music that made them listen in a completely new way, the teacher who … Continue reading →

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Saint Andrew’s Day, 30th November

Posted on 2 December 2022 by mj263

Andrew is oor patron saint, as Scotland ay remembers.His flags’ll fly here every year, on the 30th o’ November Chorus of St. Andrew’s Day song. Music by Ian Davison, words by Liz Bovil Many people only know St. Andrew as … Continue reading →

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