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About a hundred years ago, sheet music covers were far more attractive than they have ever been since. There was no television of course and not even radio, so people had to turn to the piano for entertainment. There must have thousands in front parlours up and down the country.
The music salesmen of the day went to great lengths, and probably expense, to persuade pianists to buy their music and these colourful and eye-catching covers were the result.
This one above is from 1914, just before the start of WW1 which probably signalled the end of expensive colour printing on sheet music.
This music below looks so plain and uninteresting. It dates from 1949, the austere period after WW2.
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And todays theme is.....yes Canoes.
Now you are probably not going to believe this but....
Canoes, surfboards and dinghies are to be given the same legal status as cruise liners and oil tankers in a clampdown on reckless behaviour at sea.
Unpowered craft including sailboards and bodyboards are to be reclassified as ships to bring their users within regulations for merchant shipping.
All watercraft would be classed as “ships” and thus bound by safety regulations enshrined in the Merchant Shipping Act, 1995.
Surfers and canoeists in particular are adamant that they should not be subjected to such legislation.
Mr Smith, the editor of Canoe and Kayak magazine, said: “There is a clear difference between a powered and an unpowered craft and it seems draconian if someone is in the sea in a beginner’s-style kayak after drinking a beer and then they may be prosecuted. I don’t think readers will like it one bit.”
The new rules would bring Britain into line with a Convention on International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea.
I think a nautical dittie is called for.
There was a young girl, named Bianca,
Who slept while the ship lay at anchor.
She awoke in dismay,
When she heard the Mate say…
“Now lift up the Top-sheet and Spanker!”
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Notes:
Top sheet....a rope at the corner of a sail for regulating its position.
Spanker.... a fore-and-aft sail set on after side of mizen-mast
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That law about canoes seems utter nonsense!
ReplyDeleteYou've confirmed it, the world has indeed gone mad.
ReplyDeleteI'm walking round now singing about canooing up the river ... you've taken the memory back a long, long way
It is nonsense Cherie, but these days we seem to be getting more and more of it and now nothing really surprises me.
ReplyDeleteWell Valerie, I hope you didn't mind having it 'in your head' all day?
Some time back, one follower, did not thank me! She complained that she could not get the tune 'out of her head' all day!