Maestros and their motor cars (45): My Mexican jalopy
UncategorizedThis is the outstanding Mexican composer Manuel Ponce with his other love.
From OTERO, Corazón, ‘Manuel M Ponce and The Guitar’ (1980), p59
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Outstanding composer or jalopy?
1937 Chevrolet Master Coupe
Does “jalopy” have a different meaning in the UK than in the US of A? To us it does not mean just an old car, but an old crappy car. And it also means a car that is old and crappy NOW. Not an old photo of a car that was then brand-new. That’s a gorgeous car that Ponce was standing next to in the photo. Not a jalopy then or now.
We violinists have to be grateful to Ponce. He composed a lovely violin concerto (championed and recorded twice by Szeryng, and more recently by Miranda Cuckson), a nice sonata or perhaps sonatina that Szeryng recorded and which others should explore, and of course the song Estrellita, memorably transcribed by Jascha Heifetz and cleverly introduced by the composer into the fiddle concerto. People who write good violin music deserve to drive nice cars.
Hi David, I agree with your comments about a jalopy. I don’t know the man’s music at all.
I pointed out the misuse of “jalopy” quite a while back (Schoenberg’s Hudson), apparently to no avail. Better luck to you!
I must say that I find this entire collection of male genital symbols, comparable with such symbolism among some subsahara tribes, quite distasteful.
A side of a certain type of maestro is revealed that shows their ‘more human side’. But it is diminishing, not increasing their status. I think it is good to know this.
Mr. Lebrecht,
Re: Maestros and Their Motocars (45): My Mexican Jalopy
I’m all a-quiver
What a mess you’re making
The neighbors want to know
Why I’m always shaking
Just like a FLIVVER!
This is a 1937 Chevrolet Master or Master Deluxe coupe. There were different designs of coupe which can not be distinguished from this angle. My guess is that it is a Sport Coupe and not a Business Coupe.