Thursday 23 February 2012

Witchfinder General

It is a crying shame that it has taken me so long to write about one of my favourite characters from English history - Matthew Hopkins, The Witch Finder General. It would be easy of me to paint a picture of him skulking around Essex in the late 17thC century, praying on lonesome, ostracised and off-key women whilst collect bulging sacks of guineas.  Easy because this is exactly what he did.  It has been estimated that 40% of those brought to the gallows via witch-trials from 15th - 18th centuries were the result of Hopkins.  Below is a woodblock carving of Hopkins entering the house of an accused witch.


 To prove that she is a Witch we see her beautifully named Imps or Familiars scattered around the room.


1. Ilemauzar
2. Pyewackett
3. Pecke in the Crowne
4. Griezzell Greedigutt  

Other named imps appear to be Vinegar Tom (a bull/hound 'mash-up'), Newes (some form of stoat or ferret), Sacke & Sugar (appears to be a black hare) and Jamara (a Proto-Dougal from the Magic Roundabout).

Hopkins stands bossing the scene, his trade mark stick and hat screaming authority.   Below is a still from the classic horror film centred around this remarkable villain.



You can read an amazing book Witch Hunters (Malcom Gaskill) which although is fairly heavy going, will arm you with all you need to know on the subject matter. Further more, one of my favourite UK horror films has to be Witch Finder General, featuring Vincent Price playing the vile witch finder. When this was released in the US it was renamed 'The Conqueror Worm' which I've never quite understood.

Originally scenes were deemed so harrowing that they were cut from the first cinema release. The reels were lost however VHS copies of the outakes have been found and were inserted into the version available today on DVD. This heightens the horror of the more violent of scenes as they suddenly switch into grainy short blasts of horror footage, which leaves you feeling you are watching a 17thC snuff film. It is reasonably chilling.
 


Monday 20 February 2012

MUSIC IS MATH

If music is sonic-architecture - here is a guide that might help you build your next audio megalith.:

http://composertools.com/Theory/PCSets.pdf


London Pirate Radio: timeless.

Andy Eschaskech (friend and colleague) edited this clip from many London pirates, timeless stuff and long may it all last.

.Jurassic Park Slowed.

Friday 17 February 2012

Disappearing Car Door

Is this actually cool?

It's cool.

Friday 10 February 2012

Further Iceland/Faroes

Found an older post that had been lost so thought it wouldn't do any harm to put it up. Some photos from Iceland and the Faroe Islands...