Written Works

The lyrics for a song written by Peter Tranchell in 1985. First line 'One night I dreamed that far from earth'.

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A poem by Peter Tranchell about Thurston "Bob" Dart, Professor of Music at the University of Cambridge 1962 to 1964

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Peter Tranchell authored and produced these examination papers for the John Stewart of Rannoch Scholarships in Sacred Music, 1977, including twelve musical extracts in his own hand.

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A hand-written (then photocopied) letter sent to choral scholars before term, August 1988.

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This page includes the text, and a scan of the cover, of the 16-page booklet from the 1985 LP 'Music from Caius'

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Speculation by PAT in characteristic manner on the origins of the ‘Humpty Dumpty’ and ‘Sing a Song of Sixpence’ nursery rhymes leads him to consideration of composers being unconsciously influenced by half-remembered tunes – their own or others’ – in a process of ‘seepage’. Very much in the style of similar articles written for the Cambridge Review in the 1950s, and covering in part the same ground as ‘The Truth About Tunes’ published there on 4 June 1955, this is the sole example of the genre to be published in the Caian and perhaps the last that he wrote.

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Jottings of a Domestic Bursar was written while Peter Tranchell was Domestic Bursar and Keeper of the College Courts and Gardens 1962-1966.

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Although he finished his stint as regular music critic for the Cambridge Review at the end of 1959, as his responsibilities at Caius become much more demanding, PAT wrote one last article in 1962 – perhaps to promote a cause dear to his heart.

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Is the piano dying out, and if not, why not? These questions reverberate about the occiput of any thinking person...

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Echoing the article ‘A May-Week Concert’ published on 31 May 1952, PAT constructs another fantasy review.

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We all remember the success of Kreisler, not only as a fiddler, but as a diddler. Many a time and [...Read More]

I have just seen a notice advertising a course of instruction in opera-production. It is one of many offered in [...Read More]

It is not generally realized how physically taxing are the demands of musical performance. In certain duller colleges where the [...Read More]

The Italians are quite right when they call opera a spettacolo. We go to see it rather than to hear [...Read More]

Integrity, awareness and a sense of values, as Saint Beachcomber says, are nowadays to be looked for in all branches [...Read More]

The discomfort of Sisyphus is legendary, but at least his trouble with an uncongenial stone was in private. Miss Phyllis Palmer’s uphill battle with her own memory was inflicted upon the public.

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A review of a performance of Haydn's Creation by the Clare College Musical Society; Guildhall, Cambridge, January 26 1958.

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I once heard The Yeomen of the Guard described as Gilbert and Sullivan’s nearest approach to Grand Opera. I have ever since wondered why.

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The bay tree is not especially noted for withering. Nor is the miserableness of sinners any measure of their sinfulness. [...Read More]

The soul of wit? Brevity! The pith of opinion? Brevity! The sweetness of music? Brevity! Nowadays it is such a [...Read More]