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I just listened to 'Baroque and Roll: Townshend on Purcell' on Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio 4, Rick.

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At the end of the programme, Pete Townshend referred to a conversation with the playwright, Jeff Young, during the writing of 'Lifehouse' for Drama on 3 in 1999.



Jeff compared Pete to Purcell, suggesting that he was the modern-day Purcell. The programme suggested that 'The Who', with its rock operas, was the true inheritor of the classical tradition in Britain. Is Townshend today's Purcell?

Rubbish.

The Who had an onstage position of swagger and aggression and destruction. In the recording studio they were the exact opposite.

Townshend's early songs - especially in 66 and 67 - have a deftness and a subtlety and some melting vocals - slipping in and out of harmony in a way which exactly mirrors the subtleties and emotions of the character who is singing the song - which are deeply reminiscent of Purcell. There is a clearness and lucidity and optimism to his music - and a frequent wittiness and Englishness and passion - which is eerily Purcellian.

Try "Happy Jack," "A Quick one while he's away," and "Pictures of Lily" which show a mastery of music and characterization. And there is also the spiritual, almost neo-platonic use of the pedestrian and the simple to evoke the sublime.

And why shouldn't working class clod-hopper Townshend know a lot about Henry Purcell?

His Purcell mentor - his manager Kit Lambert - was the son of Constant Lambert, the classical composer.

I don't know why anyone would be irritated about someone saying they liked classical music, even if it was a rock musician, and even if it wasn't true.

I remember a chap coming to lay a carpet and he said he liked classical music. He did too - he knew much more about it than I did. What an outrage.

As preciousroseofsharon pointed out to me on the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio 4 message boards (Comment 1), Pete Townshend did say John Fletcher rather than Jeff Young. I got confused this afternoon, thinking John Fletcher to be only a Jacobean playwright.

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As for french frank, it is possible that the greatest rock (and pop) music of the latter half of the twentieth century will one day be accepted into the classical canon. Pete Townshend is elegantly expressing a debt to Henry Purcell, Rick, in the same way that modernist composers like Sir Harrison Birtwistle might do.

Out of interest, Rick, did you listen to any rock music as an adolescent?

Goodness me. I'm annoyed. I should be at work, concentrating on a presentation about how audiences interact with blogs and searching the Radio 3 Blog looking for my name I stumble on your post Rick about Pete Townsend.

I've not listened to the broadcast. Will do though.

However, what's the problem with someone famed for one style of music professing an interesting in a totally different style ? I've no problem with that. I certainly don't feel as though I need to have heard Mr Townsend's specific music interests all of his life in order to be convinced that his love of Purcell is genuine and sincere.

Tut tut.

Well, as the girl who usually prefers classical over any other kind of music, I guess my knowledge of the Who or Townsend is limited. Perhaps I remain something of a square, but any musicians known primarily for instrument destruction are just too nihilistic for me. However, I am glad to hear that the old rocker/smasher has an appreciation for Purcell, and it hardly matters to me when he came to the realization.

In fact, I discovered the haunting delights of Purcell as a teenager whilst engrossing myself in Restoration history and the many fascinating historical - and very often hysterical - characters of the period. So now I am doubly sad that I'll be missing out on all the fun across the Pond. (Nathan the Wise sounds like an intriguing project as well, Rick.)

At least I have time to save up for that trip to Leipzig next year ... and, hopefully, to dear old London as well. Hope there will be some interesting musical events in the offing. I'm counting on it!