Pilgrimages? Explanation: I’m a professor of literature and language, crazy about James Joyce, Beckett, and others, and most of all, about 20th and 19th century French writers: I have a thing about looking for their old haunts, houses, apartments, offices, editors, and trying to walk, literally, in their footsteps, and trying to “see” what they might have “seen” from certain angles of the street where the street has not changed much over the decades. Paris is a perfect city for that. So is London, so are so many places in the world. Think I’m crazy?
Well, I think it’s safe to say that I’m in the company of some pretty extreme flute maniacs here on this board - delighted to be here among you ladies and gentlemen. I notice that, when I write a message, I get a reply within seconds, which tells me that I am among the Jason Bournes of flutes here. So, I was wondering if any of you have made pilgrimages, similar to my literary fancies on the cobblestones of Paris, to, say, no. 1 Tavistock Street, or the Strand in London, or other haunts of the great flutemakers of the past? (I say the “past” because I have heard a lot of people mention their meetings with the great flutemakers of today in Ireland, England, USA, Australia, France, Belgium, Switzerland, etc. One day in the future, someone will visit their old buildings with admiration.)
So, if any of you have had a visit to - or a mystical experience in front of - any intersting old 19th century flutemakers’ buildings, then do tell. If anyone hasn’t, but is interested, you can simply put the address in google and google will give you a street view; not as good as being there (if you’re a fetishist like me who thinks that “being there” is cool!), but not bad either.
Shane
