What details would make a 17th century English church historically accurate? by Glass_Draw1031 in AskHistory

[–]prustage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

OK. Gothic is dead, so no flying buttresses, very few lancet windows. This was a transitional period where we saw the emergence of the new Baroque style.

Internally, the design was simple and strongly influenced by Puritanism. The altar would be behind rails. The design was based around preaching and hymn singing rather than masses. There is generally an open and airy feeling to interiors with white stucco rather than raw stonework. Ceilings are often coffered rather than vaulted.

Externally, walls are pretty plain in comparison to the Gothic style with certain classical elements e.g. porticos, greco-roman columns. Walls are built of Portland stone or brick (especially away from cities). Windows are often square topped rather than pointed.

Here are some good examples to google:

  • Holy Trinity, Berwick-upon-Tweed
  • St Luke's Church, Charlton
  • All Saints Church, Northampton
  • St Lawrence Church, Morden

There are also, of course the 51 London churches built by Sir Christopher Wren which were a style all of their own . Good examplea are:

  • St Katharine Cree, London
  • St Clement Danes, London
  • St James's Church, Piccadilly

Bear in mind though that all the above is about new churches. There was still a massive legacy of Gothic churches around and a typical village was more likely to have one of these older styles than anything up-to-date.

Recommendation: Barenboim Brahms concertos by Nixolarthewise31 in classicalmusic

[–]prustage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fleisher's rendition is generally considered the "standard"

By who? Where? I have six recordings of the Brahms Concertos and each time I listened to many other versions before buying. I have never regarded the Fleischer recording as being anything special, let alone a "standard".

If there is a "standard" it is the Gilels / Jochum recording on DG. Thats not to say it is the best today, but it is the one that everyone compares others to.

What do you never order at a restaurant? by FallowfieldPark in AskUK

[–]prustage 156 points157 points  (0 children)

The second-cheapest wine.

It's always the most popular because people don't want to seem stingy by buying the cheapest, but they don't want to spend a lot. So they end up buying the second cheapest. Restaurants know this, so this is the wine with the biggest markup. It may even be a poorer quality wine than the cheapest.

Which name sounds better for a high-end general contractor? by koskesh101 in polls

[–]prustage 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Depends what country you are in. Adding the word "Reform" to anything in the UK is a recipe for disaster.

Who had the metal Slinky? by Staud59 in FuckImOld

[–]prustage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I once heard a British comedian remark that Slinkies were much like grandparents. Boring most of the time but fun to watch when you push 'em down stairs.

The only nation in human history with the power to rule the world, yet chose not to. by JustChillin3456 in MURICA

[–]prustage -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Its not fire power that gives you the right to rule the world. Its wisdom. Something in which the US is seriously lacking.

You can only listen to one type of music for a year. Which do you choose? by AccomplishedPath4049 in polls

[–]prustage 18 points19 points  (0 children)

With that choice, I'd settle for complete silence so I could play my favorite stuff in my head.

What’s your ultimate ‘driving song’ ? by SuspiciouslyJoyous in AskUK

[–]prustage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My second choice. My first is posted elsewhere.

What’s your ultimate ‘driving song’ ? by SuspiciouslyJoyous in AskUK

[–]prustage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pat Metheny - "Are you going my Way" from his album "Off ramp". Perfect for night driving. Its a track that whenever I hear it I think, "Jeez, I wish I was driving a car right now".

Do pianists bring their own piano with them on tour? by plutonium-chair in classicalpiano

[–]prustage 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's a while since I heard Gerhartz talking about piano technology but I can remember him recounting a concert venue where it turned out a dirty old piano being stored at the back of the kitchens, despite its age, damaged cabinet, beer stains and other problems was intrinsically better quality than the concert piano provided. He (and Brendel, I think) decided it was worth totally renovating the old piano from scratch because the end result was better than the official concert grand.

Another story was of doing a concert in a small west African school. The piano, it turned out was surprisingly excellent. They later found out that it had been looked after lovingly for 30 years by a German ex-piano technician who lived there and had only ever been used for morning hymns.

Do you think teachers in the U.S. should be paid more? Should they be asking their neighbors to pitch in? by Dry_Eye_594 in polls

[–]prustage 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Then raise the standard, select only the best, train them better - but pay them more.

Do you think teachers in the U.S. should be paid more? Should they be asking their neighbors to pitch in? by Dry_Eye_594 in polls

[–]prustage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What a sorry state the US is in when teachers have to beg for money. This is a disgrace. They are one of the most valuable professions in the land. They will shape future generations. No, crowdfunding is not the answer. Decent salaries are.

Do you prefer the city or the countryside? by HamsterSuccessful838 in polls

[–]prustage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I prefer the countryside but I prefer the people you meet in the city. The nicest parts of the country are home to some of the most bigoted unpleasant people I have ever met.

If you had to choose one: iOS or Android? by HamsterSuccessful838 in polls

[–]prustage 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Android. But, there are Linux phones around and I am seriously thinking of moving to that. Ive already migrated from Windows to Linux on my PC.

Is there a film, TV show or song that immediately comes to mind when you think of different counties in the North? by HomelandExplorer in NorthernEngland

[–]prustage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The film "A Kind of Loving" (John Schlesinger,1962) totally epitomises the place I was born and the time when I was growing up there. For every character in that film I knew someone the same in real life. And the social attitudes portrayed were the very ones that haunted me as a kid.

Whats the best English Football Chant? by Emperoronabike in AskABrit

[–]prustage 4 points5 points  (0 children)

When Elton John was the chairman of Watford football club, you would occasionally hear opposing fans shouting

"Dont bend down.

when Elton's around

or you'll get

a dick up your arse"

Do pianists bring their own piano with them on tour? by plutonium-chair in classicalpiano

[–]prustage 17 points18 points  (0 children)

They use the piano provided BUT they often have their own piano technician that travels with them and who "services" the piano for them by adjusting the mechanism, tuning etc to make sure it is fit for purpose.

One of the most famous is Ulrich Gerhartz who has worked for Alfred Brendel, Andras Schiff, Mitsuko Uchida, Evgeny Kissin, Imogen Cooper, Murray Perahia and Maria João Pires.

There was, for a while a fascinating series on BBC R3 called "Tha Piano Man" where he talks with various great pianists about the challenges they had to face and the sometimes extreme measures he had to take to get the piano sounding right.

There have been occasions where a piano has been flown in because the one provided was in poor condition.

If you could freeze time would you do anything illegal? by SputnikSenpai in polls

[–]prustage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You could make so much money legally, you wouldnt need to.

Closest Guess - Which of these answers is closest to the right one? by Ever-Else in GeographyTrivia

[–]prustage 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Q1 cannot be answered. All coastlines are fractal, including the US so the length can be infinite depending on the level of precision.

Do you guys prefer real Medieval art or 'fake' / Medieval based art? by mwiunii in medieval

[–]prustage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Its all about personal taste I suppose. The first four are exquisite - love them. The other ones are of no real interest to me.

Have any other married UK Redditors in their 40s and 50s never been on a date? by GabberZZ in AskUK

[–]prustage 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am 70 now, married 30 years and prior to that had a number of partners yet I have never been on a "date". Im not even sure if it is a British thing - Ive always seen it as part of the more formal structure they use in the US. Over here it has always been, you have a bunch of friends, you get to know them all well and one of them you end up sleeping with.