More recently, its principal conductors have included Pierre Monteux (1961–64), Istvan Kertesz (1965–68), André Previn (1968–79) and Claudio Abbado (1979–88). From 1988-1995, the American Michael Tilson-Thomas took over, and in 1995, became principal guest conductor. Sir Colin Davis served as the LSO's Principal Conductor from 1995-2006, and in 2007 took the post of President of the orchestra. On 1 January 2007, Valery Gergiev became the LSO's Principal Conductor. Previn holds the title of Conductor Laureate. In 2006, Daniel Harding became the co-principal guest conductor alongside Tilson Thomas. Richard Hickox is the Associate Guest Conductor of the LSO.
The LSO became the first British orchestra to play overseas when it went to Paris in 1906. The LSO was due to sail on the RMS Titanic for a concert in New York in April 1912 but fortunately had to change the booking at the last minute. It was also the first to play in the United States, in 1912, and in 1973 it was the first to be invited to take part in the Salzburg Festival. It continues to make tours around the world.
In 1966 the London Symphony Chorus (LSC) was formed to complement the work of the LSO. with more that two hundred amateur singers, the LSC maintains a close association with the LSO; however it has developed an independent life, which allows it to partner other leading orchestras.
The LSO has long been considered the most extraverted of the London orchestras. For most of its life it refused to allow women to become members, ostensibly on the grounds that women would affect the sound of the orchestra (there has been a similar controversy at the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra). There is an air of youthful high spirits to much of its music-making that is shown off in performances of such composers as Berlioz and Prokofiev. The LSO has often had internationally-known players as wind soloists, including such artists as James Galway (flute), Gervase de Peyer (clarinet), Roger Lord (oboe), Osian Ellis (harp), John Georgiadis (violin) and Barry Tuckwell (horn). Like most ensembles, the orchestra has a great ability to vary its sound, producing very different tone colours under such diverse conductors as Stokowski (with whom it made a series of memorable recordings), Adrian Boult, Jascha Horenstein, Georg Solti, André Previn, George Szell, Claudio Abbado, Leonard Bernstein, John Barbirolli, and Karl Böhm, who developed a close relationship with the orchestra late in his life. Böhm and Bernstein each held the title of LSO President in their later years.
Clive Gillinson, a former cellist with the orchestra, served as the LSO's Managing Director from 1984 to 2005, and is widely credited with bringing great stability to the LSO's organization after severe fiscal troubles.[1] Since 2005, Kathryn McDowell is the Managing Director of the LSO.[2]
Fiddle About
London Symphony Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i'm glad you won't see or hear me
as i fiddle about
fiddle about
fiddle about !
your mother left me here to mind you
now i'm doing what i want to
fiddling about
fiddle about!
down with the bedclothes
up with the nightshirt!
fiddle about
fiddle about
fiddle about !
you won't shout as i fiddle about
fiddle about
fiddle about
fiddle about !
fiddle, fiddle, fiddle.
The lyrics to London Symphony Orchestra's song "Fiddle About" are from the perspective of the character Uncle Ernie, who seems to revel in his authority over a child, who he's been left to "mind." He introduces himself as the "wicked uncle Ernie," expressing a sinister delight in the fact that the child won't see or hear him as he "fiddles about." The repetition of the phrase "fiddle about" serves as a euphemism for his inappropriate and likely abusive behavior towards the child. He boasts that he's now doing what he wants to, implying that he couldn't do so before. The phrase "down with the bedclothes, up with the nightshirt" suggests that he's undressing the child, all while reassuring them that they won't shout or cry out as he continues to "fiddle about."
The dark and unsettling undertones of the lyrics are made even more ominous by the cheerful and upbeat music of the London Symphony Orchestra. The juxtaposition between the lyrics and the music creates an unsettling and discomforting effect on the listener, highlighting the sickening nature of Uncle Ernie's behavior towards the child.
Line by Line Meaning
i'm your wicked uncle ernie
I am the mischievous Uncle Ernie
i'm glad you won't see or hear me
I am glad that you are unaware of my presence
as i fiddle about
As I engage in frivolous behavior
fiddle about
Engaging in senseless activity
your mother left me here to mind you
Your mother entrusted me to take care of you
now i'm doing what i want to
Now I am free to do as I please
fiddling about
Engaging in frivolous behavior
fiddling about
Engaging in senseless activity
fiddle about!
Continuing with senseless behavior
down with the bedclothes
Throwing off the bed covers
up with the nightshirt!
Lifting up the nightshirt
fiddle about
Engaging in frivolous behavior
fiddle about
Engaging in senseless activity
fiddle about !
Continuing with senseless behavior
you won't shout as i fiddle about
You are not present to protest my behavior
fiddle about
Engaging in frivolous behavior
fiddle about
Engaging in senseless activity
fiddle about
Continuing with senseless behavior
fiddle, fiddle, fiddle.
Continuing to engage in senseless activity
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOHN ENTWISTLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pwecko
I bought this when it came out. Most of it was great but Rod Stewart's version of Pinball Wizard was awful.
It's amazing how this song was treated as 'a bit of fun' when it deals with the kind of thing that Jimmy Savile got up to.
Muni Math by Peter Felton
Happy 80th Birthday today, Ringo! <3
Gabriel Schleifer
I really can't take this seriously. I expect every line to be accompanied by "...said the Fat Controller."
Lizzy Chrome
And his victim is name TOMMY
Lizzy Chrome
...sang Mr. Conductor as he performed maintenance on Thomas's smokestack.
Gabriel Schleifer
I'm going to hell XD
Joe Person
Good transfer as my copy has many pops and sizzles in places. A re-issue?
Kerry Venus
Thanks cognitio ergo rock
Kerry Venus
Thanks Vandersom
poopman
ringo starr why ringo whhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhy