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11
- Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
One day the notice board at the Naval Base held a new message.
It was to a gramophone recital of classical music at a house
on the road to Kilindini that light refreshments were to be
obtained. At that time classical music had no more attraction
for me than a farting horse. The light refreshments were something
else. No one else seemed interested so I set off solo.
When I got there I discovered that it was a magnificent two-storied
house standing in its own grounds. A Naval Sub Lieut. greeted
me in the entrance hall whom I recognised from the Naval Base.
He told me to go inside, telling me that he would be in shortly
as he thought that most of the guests had arrived. I would
be given a drink by his major domo.
When I walked off the patio I could have sunk through the
floor! The only people I could see were Naval Officers and
a few wrens. It appeared that they were all subbies and seemed
to have been locally enlisted.
Included amongst them were a few civilians. However, I was
taken by the arm by one of the latter and led to the drinks
table. Our host asked for silence and started off the radiogram.
This was one of the same type that had been thrown overboard
from the USS United States in Singapore. The first piece struck
no chords in me but the second was a stunner. It was Mozart's
"Eine Kleine Nachtmusik".
After about two hours music the concert ended. More drinks
and eats served by white-coated natives. Mine host came over
and asked me what I thought. I told him that most of it was
over my head but that Eine Kline had knocked me sideways.
He smiled a huge smile and said that most of the others were
the same but were not so honest.
After a little while I said goodnight to him and departed.
Since then I have enjoyed and expanded my knowledge of certain
kinds of classical music.
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