Tribute to John Byrt, 1940 - 2021
Around the Piano
Clem
4 February 2021
It’s wonderful thinking back to so many memorable off the cuff piano performances by John at family gatherings - very often in St Andrews Street at Christmas time. There would inevitably be requests for obscure pieces and songs, and John nearly always could play them by heart. Usually better than the version you were originally thinking of actually. All he needed was a starting point.
I especially remember one performance of Flanders and Swann’s ‘Gnu Song’. I think someone badly hummed a fragmented line from it - John then launched into a full recital that had the whole room singing along together by the end of the first verse. Then followed it straight up with a barnstorming rendition of ‘Have Some Madeira M’Dear…
It’s the energy of those recitals I’ll remember most of all – something that also characterised an electrifying production he put on of the musical Grease a few years ago. I can still recall that night vividly, the atmosphere was buzzing from curtain up to curtain down - all emanating from John leading the band on keys from the corner of the small town hall. CH.
I especially remember one performance of Flanders and Swann’s ‘Gnu Song’. I think someone badly hummed a fragmented line from it - John then launched into a full recital that had the whole room singing along together by the end of the first verse. Then followed it straight up with a barnstorming rendition of ‘Have Some Madeira M’Dear…
It’s the energy of those recitals I’ll remember most of all – something that also characterised an electrifying production he put on of the musical Grease a few years ago. I can still recall that night vividly, the atmosphere was buzzing from curtain up to curtain down - all emanating from John leading the band on keys from the corner of the small town hall. CH.
