Rufus Bramble's Countryman

V. Music

The wireless, tuned low of an evening.

An evening habit: the wireless tuned low, the Home Service murmuring through whatever needs doing. This page will hold whatever Rufus is listening to, and why.

The Lark Ascending

Vaughan Williams · Isolde Menges, violin · conducted by Malcolm Sargent · 1928

Two 78s, HMV · Uncle Ned’s set, borrowed in 1938 and not yet returned

“The swallows went this week, so I have put on the one bird that never leaves. He wrote it in the summer of 1914, which tells you everything about what came next.”

Sing As We Go

Gracie Fields · 1934

A 78 of Mother’s, played until it hisses

“Sugar off the ration, and Mother has put Gracie on, which is what Mother does for victories. I was sixteen when the picture came out, with the mills on short time all round us, and pretended not to like it.”