A bit about music exams in UK and France
They're really different. I think I have already mentioned that while in the UK people generally find a private teacher for their instrument, or do it through a school scheme, here there are municipal music school, conservatoires and so on. The situation is a little more complex than I had first understood, because the schools vary in the rigidity of their organisation: the most, the conservatoires, next the municipals, then the associations. Our music school is an association, but it tends to apply the standards of the municipal schools with its programme of cycles, etc. Britain - grade 1 to 8, grade 8 being roughly equivalent to A-level, pre university/conservatoire. France - 3 cycles, each taking about 4 years, with 3ème cycle being roughly equivalent to grade 8. Theory of music - UK to take grade 8 you need theory grade 5. In France you study theory alongside your instrumental studies, very slowly. Catrin's flute music is MUCH more difficult than the stuff she does in theor...
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By the way, 1, the author of the article seems to neglect a whale (or Big Fish), as a means or motivation of arriving at Ninenvah, and 2. although the poster doesn't explain where Mermaid Quay is, from the description that is rendered, I take it to be either Liverpool, London, Bristol or one of the cinque ports.
You may also find the following 'link' of interest if you like Masefield and don't wish to buy a book:- http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/masef01.html
(Whilst on the subject of Masefield, I had previously thought that the poem I now know to be called 'Night Mail' had been written by Masefield, probably because of the comparable staccato rhythm of the last stanza of 'Cargoes'. However, to correct my error, I now know it to have been by Auden. I bet I forget and attribute it to Masefield again at some stage in the future!)
One possible tenuous link with France could be Napoleon's comment that the British are a nation of shopkeepers?
Oh yes! And also just how boring they were and how late they went on, (always well past the anticipated time), and just how fed up and tired my sister and I were by the time we got home. Anyone who makes their children participate in them should be tried as war criminals. (Sorry Mum)