Emma Hurok - Russian chanteuse

Emma Hurok is Eddie's grandma and she is a wonderful singer. I'm just listening to the opening of an interview of hers which Eddie has sent to me ... she's got a lovely speaking voice too. As Eddie says, her delivery is sardonic and humorous. I would have really liked to meet her. For her music and more information visit her reverbnation page.

http://www.reverbnation.com/emmahurok

Eddie has put up some lovely pictures. There's an amazing picture of Emma as a young girl holding a basket in a photographer's studio. Shades of Little Red Riding Hood.






















I asked Eddie about his grandma and he said that she was very matter of fact. My grandma was too, she was Scottish. Emma used to wear dark blue sunglasses inside like the early directors of film. There's a story about this that's familiar to silent film historians. Let me use Eddie's words to tell it as I love the way he puts it:

"Hollywood directors used them and wore them so often in the days of B&W film.. because the blue would remove the colors and give them a perspective of what the scene would look like in B&W ... well the stars and showbiz people didnt understand this.. and thought it was the new "IN" Fad to wear Blue sunglasses.. so celebrities began wearing Blue Sunglasses all over the place.. unaware they were initially used for a purpose they were in the dark ... so to speak ... about."

There's lots more interesting pictures on the reverbnation page.

Anne Ford - music, and being unconventional, can save your head ...

After writing about Francesca Caccini, I thought I might dally my toes for a little while in some of the history of rather interesting female musicians and poets.

I have been an admirer of the very unconventional Ann Ford for some time. She played the viola da gamba, and English guitar and defied her father to perform in public.

Her infatuated lover wanted her to become his mistress and when she refused, he tried to sabotage her concerts. What an arsehole. How typical.

Anyway she ended up getting married as it helped her do what she really wanted to do. Unfortunately, when they were travelling to Italy, her husband died in Boulogne. This was the middle of the Reign of Terror and she got imprisoned. I'm not quite sure how these two facts are related, but never mind. The important fact in my opnion was that she was later released under a pardon for prisoners that could prove they could earn their living. Hurrah for her being a professional musician. Three hurrahs!

Fortunately she was painted by Thomas Gainsborough. This was just as well, as I expect I would never have heard of her otherwise.