The Copybook

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

1627

© Iain Lees, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

St Andrew, Patron of Scotland Clay Lane

Scotland’s association with the brother of Peter is down to an early 8th century Bishop of Hexham.

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1628

From Wikimedia Commons.

Fiddler Tam Clay Lane

An 18th century bon viveur and virtuoso violinist, Thomas Erskine is currently being ‘rediscovered’ by the classical music industry.

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1629

© Gryffindor, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.

The ‘Raindrop’ Prelude Georges Sand

As the storm raged around him, raindrops fell like music on the pianist’s heart.

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1630

© tango7174, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 4.0.

The Miracle of Piso Livadi Clay Lane

Three fishermen let their tongues run away with them, and were left counting the cost.

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1631

© Jorge Royan, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.

The Harmonious Blacksmith Clay Lane

Handel called it ‘Air and Variations’, but by Charles Dickens’s day everyone knew it as ‘The Harmonious Blacksmith’.

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1632

From Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Zadok the Priest Clay Lane

Handel’s anthem sets to glorious music words sung at English coronations for over a thousand years.

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