My little Gnudren,

Old Gnu has been “laid on one side, (not in the manner of Ezekiel [4:4ff]) on a bed of sickness” as we used to say in church 50 years ago, and has had to isolate.  In modern parlance he has been sitting in front of a free gifted wonderfully clever so called ‘smart TV’ watching 2 very entertaining festivals. One is the world-famous festival in South London of loud grunts and ear-piercing vocal ejaculations and much fist shaking while regularly hammering small yellow balls that have to be changed quite often due to the trauma they are undergoing.

This year this wonderfully British festival has acquired, for old Gnu, a new commentator, who has to date has been an expert on horse racing, Olympic Cycling, Football, Rugby, Boat Racing, Winter Olympics and now Tennis (plus a number of other things). This commentator has been around this festival for the past 9 years at least but old Gnu hasn’t been watching this festival for that period.  A remarkable person indeed who can comment with authority on all these skills with first-hand knowledge.

The second major festival is more akin to a massive European Eisteddfod, and one of Communal Singing on an enormous scale while 22 people kick a ball around for usually 90 minutes. This is a festival that all musicians will admire, because frequently there is bi-tonality involved – (singing going on in 2 different keys at the same time) – which makes for very interesting harmony. This was an innovation that the great American composer Charles Ives, amongst others, introduced at the turn of 20th Century. And sure enough it has caught on, even though he was side-lined back then. Truly Charles Ives was prophetic. The winners of this European Eisteddfod are the group that are still singing at the end of this one-month festival. 

Both these major festivals have brought old Gnu much entertainment. So, you see my little Gnudren, as much as lieth within you, try and treat the minor set-backs of illness to catch up and get in touch with reality.

Vetus Pater Gnu
Musicorum et Theologia
Turris LA
XIV Mensis Iulii  MMXXIV