Welcome to Gnu tube
This site is the home to much of the Gnu’s musical output and is being built up as a record of Berj’s body of work and in recognition of the scores of people from Christ Church Clifton that contributed their time and talent over the years.
Launched in April 2017 with the content of three “early” albums – Out Of Nowhere, House On The Rock and Rough and Steep – it has since had For All He Gives Us and three volumes of Psalms and Songs added. Other items include the 1989 recording of Candlelit Christmas Carols along with 1993’s All About The Courtly Stable. The Gnu has recently spread his hooves into the realms of orchestral compositions, performed by the LA Philharmonic DLH Orchestra. All of these albums can be found on the Menu along with some Bonus Tracks, new Arrangements and the Gnu’s latest musings in his Blog.
If you are lucky enough to be blessed with fingers rather than cloven hooves you may wish to get in touch with the Gnu via the contact page, alternatively, your Comments are most welcome and provide great encouragement!
The Gnu has his own virtual vestibule on facebook where he provides parish notices and information about occasional updates to the site or his blogs. The most recent posts are displayed below:
The Gnu
The outward and visible manifestation of The Singers and Musicians of Christ Church Clifton from the 1980s and 90s. Recordings are now available at www.gnu-tube.com
Tchaikovsky’s Piano concerto No1 in B♭ minor, was first performed in Boston on October 25th 1875. The work was initially dedicated to Nikolai Rubinstein and the composer hoped that Rubinstein would perform the work at one of the 1875 concerts of the Russian Musical Society.
Tchaikovsky played the first movement to Rubenstein, but it was met with silence. He then played the whole concerto after which the maestro declared it to be worthless and unplayable; that passages were so fragmented, so clumsy, so badly written that they were beyond rescue and that the work itself was bad and vulgar.
Agitated and enraged the composer removed the dedication from the score. Three years later Rubinstein, the man who had so vocally criticised and comprehensively rejected the piece, came to appreciate it and finally performed it himself in Moscow.
In his latest blog at https://bit.ly/3YusNkC, the Gnu exemplifies Duchamp’s observation that “… everyone is a critic.” His thoughts on the Art Installation at Tyntesfield are illustrated by photographs taken on his recent visit.
As we approach Allhallows tide perhaps the most appropriate of the Gnu’s seasonal lyrics are to be found in his setting of 1 Peter 1 “Blessing, honour, glory power shout the ranks of heaven. And on earth His church replies: Your kingdom come.” at https://bit.ly/3BVEPuE
Tchaikovsky played the first movement to Rubenstein, but it was met with silence. He then played the whole concerto after which the maestro declared it to be worthless and unplayable; that passages were so fragmented, so clumsy, so badly written that they were beyond rescue and that the work itself was bad and vulgar.
Agitated and enraged the composer removed the dedication from the score. Three years later Rubinstein, the man who had so vocally criticised and comprehensively rejected the piece, came to appreciate it and finally performed it himself in Moscow.
In his latest blog at https://bit.ly/3YusNkC, the Gnu exemplifies Duchamp’s observation that “… everyone is a critic.” His thoughts on the Art Installation at Tyntesfield are illustrated by photographs taken on his recent visit.
As we approach Allhallows tide perhaps the most appropriate of the Gnu’s seasonal lyrics are to be found in his setting of 1 Peter 1 “Blessing, honour, glory power shout the ranks of heaven. And on earth His church replies: Your kingdom come.” at https://bit.ly/3BVEPuE
The Gnu has spent a week in Facebook purgatory having committed an unforgivable sin against community standards. His initial assumption was that it was because he mentioned Donald Trump, but apparently the facebots think he’s spamming his followers by encouraging them to follow the link to his blog which is, somewhat ironically, linked to the subject of repetition. So, for the third time of asking:
In 1952, Rev Norman Vincent Peal published The Power of Positive Thinking, a book that provides anecdotal "case histories" of positive thinking using a biblical approach, and practical instructions which were designed to help the reader achieve a permanent and optimistic attitude. Peale was also the pastor at the Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan, which the Trump family attended and he even officiated at Donald Trump's first wedding. One chapter in his book is titled “I Don’t Believe In Defeat”.
In the fourth chapter of his rule for monasteries Benedict instructs his monks “Do not grumble” (RB 4:9). In his latest post, at https://bit.ly/3TFAa61 the Gnu contrasts the general theme of the Book of Ecclesiastes, with his own positive approach. He also admits to occasional repetition – a trait he shares with the Saint, who advises against grumbling, murmuring, or complaining for another eight chapters.
The Gnu cites the hymn “Abide With Me” which provides reason enough to listen repeatedly, without hesitation or deviation, but for the sake of community standards please DO NOT follow the link to his interpretation at https://bit.ly/3TEWehj
In 1952, Rev Norman Vincent Peal published The Power of Positive Thinking, a book that provides anecdotal "case histories" of positive thinking using a biblical approach, and practical instructions which were designed to help the reader achieve a permanent and optimistic attitude. Peale was also the pastor at the Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan, which the Trump family attended and he even officiated at Donald Trump's first wedding. One chapter in his book is titled “I Don’t Believe In Defeat”.
In the fourth chapter of his rule for monasteries Benedict instructs his monks “Do not grumble” (RB 4:9). In his latest post, at https://bit.ly/3TFAa61 the Gnu contrasts the general theme of the Book of Ecclesiastes, with his own positive approach. He also admits to occasional repetition – a trait he shares with the Saint, who advises against grumbling, murmuring, or complaining for another eight chapters.
The Gnu cites the hymn “Abide With Me” which provides reason enough to listen repeatedly, without hesitation or deviation, but for the sake of community standards please DO NOT follow the link to his interpretation at https://bit.ly/3TEWehj
The current Edinburgh Festival has as its theme: Rituals That Unite Us, “inaugurating new and reimagined rituals”.
Back in 1589, King James VI had sailed to Denmark to retrieve Anne, his betrothed. As he returned to Scotland, his entourage was beset by a terrible storm causing the ship to turn back and dock in Norway.
Two years later the “Newes from Scotland”revealed that after more than 100 suspected witches were arrested, several women had confessed (under torture) to participating in a ritual where they had “tooke a Cat and christened it, and … said Cat was conveyed into the middest of the Sea” in the hope of summoning a tempest to sink the ship carrying King James. It appears that the re-imagining of this ritual is missing from the current Fringe programme of events, although the story of the witches is thought to have inspired the Scene in Act 1 of Shakespeare’s Macbeth where the three witches discuss the raising of winds at sea.
[The New York Times informs us that in March 2022 Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister of Scotland (not a witch), apologized on behalf of the government for the killing and vilification of thousands of alleged witches between the 16th and 18th centuries.]
In his latest blog at https://bit.ly/46U2kQ7 The Gnu provides context to the story and explains how the Paris Olympics opening ceremony provided another form of ritual that unites us. As you muse on the theme, remember too one of his great orchestral works – the Reconciliation Overture at https://bit.ly/46Oig6C
Back in 1589, King James VI had sailed to Denmark to retrieve Anne, his betrothed. As he returned to Scotland, his entourage was beset by a terrible storm causing the ship to turn back and dock in Norway.
Two years later the “Newes from Scotland”revealed that after more than 100 suspected witches were arrested, several women had confessed (under torture) to participating in a ritual where they had “tooke a Cat and christened it, and … said Cat was conveyed into the middest of the Sea” in the hope of summoning a tempest to sink the ship carrying King James. It appears that the re-imagining of this ritual is missing from the current Fringe programme of events, although the story of the witches is thought to have inspired the Scene in Act 1 of Shakespeare’s Macbeth where the three witches discuss the raising of winds at sea.
[The New York Times informs us that in March 2022 Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister of Scotland (not a witch), apologized on behalf of the government for the killing and vilification of thousands of alleged witches between the 16th and 18th centuries.]
In his latest blog at https://bit.ly/46U2kQ7 The Gnu provides context to the story and explains how the Paris Olympics opening ceremony provided another form of ritual that unites us. As you muse on the theme, remember too one of his great orchestral works – the Reconciliation Overture at https://bit.ly/46Oig6C
Mary Baker Eddy, born on 16th July 1821 and known as the founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist believed that illnesses are illusions that can be healed by a better understanding of God. Eddy was subject to periods of illness herself – sometimes writhing and screaming on the floor for hours or else silent and ostensibly unconscious. She attached religious significance to cures afforded her by a mesmerist, Phineus Quimby and although they failed, she developed a keen interest in Spiritualist practices (which she later denounced).
Despite being described as “neither a Christian nor a scientist” and prone to an "old morphine habit", the Church that she founded still has hundreds of thousands of members. The Christian Science Monitor (a kind of early 20th Century "Truth Social") was established in response to the sensationalist reporting of the scandals surrounding her own beliefs and actions in the mainstream media, is still operating online today.
Eddy asserted the ultimate unreality of sickness: in contrast, the Gnu has been afflicted by a very real virus, but rising from his sickbed he has taken the opportunity to reacquaint himself with the healing power of televised sport and has blogged about the experience at https://bit.ly/3Lk4WNo
Writhe and scream on the floor or sit silently for 7 minutes and 24 seconds as you listen again to his longest audio track (to date) – the interpretation of Psalm 41 “Blessed are the People” at https://bit.ly/3VYq3ts
Despite being described as “neither a Christian nor a scientist” and prone to an "old morphine habit", the Church that she founded still has hundreds of thousands of members. The Christian Science Monitor (a kind of early 20th Century "Truth Social") was established in response to the sensationalist reporting of the scandals surrounding her own beliefs and actions in the mainstream media, is still operating online today.
Eddy asserted the ultimate unreality of sickness: in contrast, the Gnu has been afflicted by a very real virus, but rising from his sickbed he has taken the opportunity to reacquaint himself with the healing power of televised sport and has blogged about the experience at https://bit.ly/3Lk4WNo
Writhe and scream on the floor or sit silently for 7 minutes and 24 seconds as you listen again to his longest audio track (to date) – the interpretation of Psalm 41 “Blessed are the People” at https://bit.ly/3VYq3ts
Centuries before Taylor Swift encouraged us to Shake It Off, on 24 June 1374, one of the biggest outbreaks of Dance Mania began in Europe. Individuals started dancing in the street (possibly with Mick Jagger’s encouragement) and seemed unable to stop - with others soon joining in. The mania spread throughout Medieval Europe where it was known as St John’s or St Vitus’ Dance.
The earliest known case was in 1020 in Bernburg when eighteen peasants danced wildly round a church. Further outbreaks occurred during the 13th century, including one in 1237 in which a large group of children jumped and danced for about 20km (in marked similarity to the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.)
In 1518 a woman named Fra Troffea stepped outside her house in Strasbourg and begin dancing uncontrollably in the streets for 6 days. Within a week 100 people had joined her and by the end of the month 400 people were dancing, seemingly unable to stop, and many people died through exhaustion, heart attacks or stroke.
The painting " The Saint John's Dancers in Molenbeeck” by Pieter Brueghel the Elder illustrates once such instance of fatal dance mania. We now regard such events as a Mass Psychogenic Illness, where the spread of symptoms through a population occurs where there is no viral or bacterial agent responsible. Perhaps a phenomenon that Swifties might recognise?
The Gnu, although a committed dancer, would hesitate to jump in hoof first in such circumstances. Instead he advises procrastination: follow his (unseasonal) rationale at https://bit.ly/3VCh0PL
The earliest known case was in 1020 in Bernburg when eighteen peasants danced wildly round a church. Further outbreaks occurred during the 13th century, including one in 1237 in which a large group of children jumped and danced for about 20km (in marked similarity to the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.)
In 1518 a woman named Fra Troffea stepped outside her house in Strasbourg and begin dancing uncontrollably in the streets for 6 days. Within a week 100 people had joined her and by the end of the month 400 people were dancing, seemingly unable to stop, and many people died through exhaustion, heart attacks or stroke.
The painting " The Saint John's Dancers in Molenbeeck” by Pieter Brueghel the Elder illustrates once such instance of fatal dance mania. We now regard such events as a Mass Psychogenic Illness, where the spread of symptoms through a population occurs where there is no viral or bacterial agent responsible. Perhaps a phenomenon that Swifties might recognise?
The Gnu, although a committed dancer, would hesitate to jump in hoof first in such circumstances. Instead he advises procrastination: follow his (unseasonal) rationale at https://bit.ly/3VCh0PL
“Direct action” by members of the clergy has been in the news recently, but it is not a new phenomenon. Jonathan Martin, who died on June 3rd 1838, was a Wesleyan preacher who was not fond of the C of E, once describing its clergy as "vipers from hell". He had sent letters to them demanding that they should "repent of bottles of wine, and roast beef and plum pudding" if they wished to escape from the wrath to come.
In 1817, after threatening to shoot the Bishop of Oxford, Martin was arrested and committed to a lunatic asylum, from where he twice escaped. A decade later he went to York Minster for Evensong and used hymn books to start a fire. It was not difficult to identify the perpetrator - a series of letters sent to the clergy were all signed JM and gave his address.
At his trial the jury took only seven minutes to decide that setting light to the Minster was not the act of a man of sound mind and he was sent to Bedlam for the rest of his life.
As a member of the clergy (with a fondness for good food and wine), the Gnu would not countenance such behaviour, however should such destructive action ever be thought necessary, a certain location on Junction 24 of the M5 could provide a suitable candidate. He has recently been travelling to various National Landscapes (formerly Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and in his latest blog at https://bit.ly/457jRmV he provides a reflection on “hill and vale and tree and flower” inviting you to listen again to his recording of John Rutters setting of Pierpoint’s words at https://bit.ly/3V9onNj
In 1817, after threatening to shoot the Bishop of Oxford, Martin was arrested and committed to a lunatic asylum, from where he twice escaped. A decade later he went to York Minster for Evensong and used hymn books to start a fire. It was not difficult to identify the perpetrator - a series of letters sent to the clergy were all signed JM and gave his address.
At his trial the jury took only seven minutes to decide that setting light to the Minster was not the act of a man of sound mind and he was sent to Bedlam for the rest of his life.
As a member of the clergy (with a fondness for good food and wine), the Gnu would not countenance such behaviour, however should such destructive action ever be thought necessary, a certain location on Junction 24 of the M5 could provide a suitable candidate. He has recently been travelling to various National Landscapes (formerly Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and in his latest blog at https://bit.ly/457jRmV he provides a reflection on “hill and vale and tree and flower” inviting you to listen again to his recording of John Rutters setting of Pierpoint’s words at https://bit.ly/3V9onNj
Privacy Policy
If you are not a fan of social media, the Gnu would still like to let you know when significant new content is added to his site. He is an ethical beast and won’t pass on your details or do bad things with your personal information. To be honest, he only knows your name and email address, so there’s not much chance of Google-bots taking much interest, but your address won’t be displayed or shared with any third party. Also, being quite partial to cookies, he won’t be offering them around so they won’t be appearing in your browser any time soon. To add your name to, or remove it from the Gnu’s mailing list, please follow the menu link.
Recent Comments