Chez Spud

Can’t wait, won’t wait…busy busy busy…need it now, can’t delay…busy busy busy….

We’re the ‘instant’ society. Everything is about ‘now’, about immediacy, about right time, time place and all of that. We’re so unaccustomed to waiting. Why wait when we can get that ‘hit’ right now? And if we can’t get the instant fix immediately, then we just move on someplace else where we can.

None of the above is new, of course, but was brought home to me with a shocking dose of reality this week.  On Friday I was driving to see a friend, just up the road. Radio 3 [the BBC's "classical" music station] was playing, just trilling along in the background. Out of nowhere my attention was piqued. The presenter was announcing a contemporary ‘classical’ (urgh, complex ideology going on there) piece for two guitars. I absolutely adore the classical guitar which was the first instrument I learnt as a child. Quite unusual since most children start by murdering the recorder. So I tuned out of the Megaboy constachatter in the back, and tuned in to the most captivating music I have heard in a long, long time. Rondo for Two Guitars and Marimba by Michael Anthony Hughes. I was absolutely ENCHANTED by the music, so much so that I missed my turning and had to attempt a very ill advised 3 point turn in a very narrow country lane.

It feels like so long since a piece of music smacked me between the eyes, but this piece did. I had to tell the boys to be quiet because I was completely mesmerised by the harmonies and melodies tricking out of my radio. For anyone so inclined, it reminded me very much of Tehellim by Steve Reich. Dreamy….

I was eager to hear all of it but we’d reached our destination. No matter, I was sure I’d be able to find a recording later. Either iTunes or Spotify would help me out for an instant ‘hit’. Oh…how…wrong.

I knew nothing about Michael Anthony Hughes but was confident that wasn’t an impediment to me taking a bath in his fabulous composition. Google and the BBC site would be my friend to track him down, then a few clicks and Mr Visa would provide me with the rest. The BBC site helpfully gave me the correct spelling of the composer’s name and the piece but, puzzling, no link to the recording they had played that morning. It just said, ‘BBC recording’. No matter, thought I, there will be another recording. But there wasn’t. And there ISN’T. The only recording of this hypnotic music which stopped me in my tracks, literally, belongs to the BBC and is only available on iPlayer for a few more days.

How can this be?

Because Michael Anthony Hughes is 18 years old and not, as I’d assumed, a little known established composer with a beard and a penchant for remote controlled planes or whatever. He’s 18. I’ll just say it again. HE’S 18 YEARS OLD. He’s just finished his A levels. The BBC have a recording of his wonderful piece because he was ‘highly commended’ in the BBC’s Young Composer of the Year competition. He didn’t even ‘win’, although the piece was performed at the Proms, but he’s a winner in my book.

I would love to share the music here but, of course, I can’t because there isn’t a recording beyond the one that is fast expiring on the BBC’s iPlayer. Weep. Anyone intrigued enough needs to go to the BBC iplayer and get to 2 hrs 30 and you can listen, but only until 13 August 2010.

So I’m biggin up Michael Anthony Hughes here and shaking all the pom poms because his astonishing composition made my day and is still ringing in my ears. It’s the freshest, spikiest music I’ve heard since forever and I passionately wish I’d written it. I really hope this is just the beginning for him. Go Michael!

And, did I say, he’s EIGHTEEN.

Pah. I’m so old. Double pah.

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