Chistmas Chimes

Church of St. Mary Magdalene

A final post before the holiday - familiar carols played on the chimes with organ and brass. The percussionist here is a famous one - at least as famous as an orchestral timpanist can get. He is James Blades, who recorded the "V for victory" tattoo heard on English broadcasts during World War II. (It was the letter V in Morse code, three dots and a dash, corresponding to the opening of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.)

Blades takes to the chimes on this recording, made in London's Church of St. Mary Magdalene in  1952. I don't think chimes work that well with other instruments, so I can't pretend this gave me much pleasure, but I know others will disagree. Despite the self-praise for the sound on the back of the LP, it really is just adequate, even for that long-ago time.

Blades lived a very long time, to age 97, and must be the only timpanist to write an autobiography - which I read many years ago.

Happy holidays, everyone!