Just watched very fine BBC4 documentary on Ivor Gurney by Tim Kendall. I fear, though, that Gurney will always be one of those figures who doesnt quite become a household name, whose lines never find their way into non-literary contexts as Sassoons or Owens do. Like Havergal Brian, hes one of those artists that enthusiasts will have to keep on promoting. Yet there is easily enough in Gurney to make him genuinely popular. It would help if his poems were set for A-level. And theres really no excuse for ignoring his accessible, hummable, often heart-breaking songs. Ian Partridge & Ian Bostridge have both recorded them. Anyhow, a great programme.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 21:16:22 +0000