The Copybook

Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.

1093

By Friedrich August von Kloeber (1793-1864), Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Beethoven’s First

Everyone wanted to know who Beethoven’s favourite composer was.

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1094

Unknown Artist, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

‘My English Joy’ Sir William Sterndale Bennett

In 1837 William Sterndale Bennett, then regarded as England’s most exciting young composer, made history in quite another... field.

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1095

By Steven van der Meulen (d. 1568), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Diplomatic Immunity Sir James Melville

Sir James Melville eavesdrops on Queen Elizabeth I’s music practice, and incurs Her Majesty’s displeasure.

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1096

From an engraving by DJ Pound, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domaon

Sir William Sterndale Bennett

Acclaimed in Germany as a composer on a par with Mendelssohn himself, Bennett sacrificed his life and talents for music in Britain.

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1097

© Tmx468, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 4.0.

Hooked Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji of Nawanagar

The great British public leaves a German tourist speechless during a county match at the Oval in London.

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1098

Photo by Herbert Rose Barraud (1845-1896), Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

A Many-Chorded Lyre Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji of Nawanagar

Stylish batting in cricket is about variety, invention and frankly anything that works, and we have Dr W.G. Grace to thank for it.

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