RIP, Ian McDonald. "In The Court Of The Crimson King" (live, 1996, Tokyo, & King Crimson recording)

[highplainsdem]

LBN topic about his passing:

https://democraticunderground.com/10142867953


I ran across a live performance of "In The Court Of The Crimson King" that I really liked checking YouTube earlier, and I want to post it here. This is from Steve Hackett's Tokyo Tapes DVD of concerts in Tokyo in 1996 with Hackett, McDonald, John Wetton, Julian Colbeck and Chester Thompson.

McDonald's amazing flute solo starts at 4:18.

King Crimson's studio version:

[hippywife]

1. Always stunning every time I hear it.

Amazing orchestration. So sad to hear of Ian McDonald's passing. I suppose it's my age, but this is becoming all too frequent.

I was only about 10-11 when this song was released, but it made a huge impression on me. We had a creative writing assignment and had to write a first chapter of a story of our own imagining. I named it after this song, but in no way drew from the lyrics, just the feel of the music, to create a story of two children making their way through the eerie dark, watery caverns below a castle. After I handed it in, the nun who was teaching the class gave it back to me the next day and accused me of plagiarizing the story, she said it was too well written for someone my age. I never finished the story and never tried to write again.

[highplainsdem]

3. Yes, we're losing way too many classic-rock musicians. Re that incompetent, sadistic teacher you

ran into (and I don't care that she was a nun, even though my extended family included a nun and a priest; I have some bad memories of parochial schools too but fortunately went only a few years)... I believe that if we get the life review some people (including those who've had near-death experiences) say we get, one of the first things that nun learned when she crossed over was the harm she inflicted on you with her stupid comments and accusation.

But she can't grade anything you do any more.

And you're never too old to write. So there's nothing stopping you from trying writing again...and if music inspires you, so much the better. Go for it.

[hippywife]

4. Thanks, highplainsdem.

I have a few really bad memories from parochial school, none as bad as the ones my dad retells from his days in an all boys Catholic school run by priests. Fortunately, I escaped their clutches eons ago.

Not sure I have what it takes to write anymore, but very much enjoy reading, as always, and have happily shifted my creative spirit and focus to other outlets.

And music has been my life's blood since before I could form whole memories.

[cos dem]

2. King Crimson was my cross-over into full-on prog rock

Pink Floyd and Genesis were my gateway drugs. Once I got to KC, it was all over.

I was not aware Ian had played with Hackett on Genesis Revisited. That's awesome! Obviously, I need to track down a copy of the Tokyo Tapes.