Pip Eastop
Principal French Horn
London Chamber Orchestra
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"Best musical moment?"
Tthe first time I heard Weather Report (oneof the greatest ever jazz fusion bands) live at the Hammersmith Odeon. Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul and Jaco Pastorius were playing and I could feel my hair standing on end
"Funniest musical moment?"
The time I was nearly beheaded onstage during a concert by a falling cymbal on a stand. Mind you, this was only funny in retrospect, the sharp edge of it skimmed the side of my neck as it whizzed past like a scythe
"Favourite clothes?"
Pyjamas
"Interesting hobbies"
I'm learning jazz trumpet. It's a hobby and much more. I find it completely absorbing
"Film?"
I love watching films. Due to a birth defect I've never had stereoscopic vision so seeing the big screen is as real to me as seeing reality. I get completely involved. Once I leaped out of my seat in a cinema as I thought I was going over the edge of a tall building with Tom Cruise. It was most embarrassing hearing the people sitting behind laughing at me
"Favourite place?"
Italy
"Children?"
Two girls and two boys. They are all beautiful and brilliant. What could be better? Nothing
"Food?"
I've tried everything, all over the world, and my firm favourite is hot buttered toast
"Drink?"
After music, and toast, Belgian beer (the sort made by trappist monks) is the best thing mankind has ever produced
"Holiday?"
I don't like holidays
"Sports heroes?"
What is sport? I don't get it
"Desert island disc?"
A solo piano track from an album by Lyle Mays. The album is called "Lyle Mays" and the track is "Mirror Of The Heart"
"Ideal dinner party?"
Toast and Belgian beer. No guests
"Shop?"
Gadgets
"Gadget?"
Yes, please. Anything with buttons and a screen
"Artist?"
Various jazz artists including Clifford Brown, Wynton Marsalis and Pat Metheny and a number of classical pianists such as Vladimir Horowitz, Emil Gilels, Glenn Gould and Sviatoslav Richter
"Photographer?"
Cartier-Bresson – I try to take photos like him but always fail
"I don¹t go away without.....?"
Some kind of music player. Now it's an mp3 player with thousands of my favourite tracks. I listen to more music than anyone I've ever known
"Environment?"
The environment, our home, is being damaged. We are all going to die, and die out. It's our own fault, although we can't be blamed. The whole thing is perfectly natural, as is everything else. Everything that starts has an end – and that includes the human race. What a great pity!
"Your instrument?"
I recently purchased a new horn made by Engelbert Schmid of Bavaria. I sincerely believe it's the best horn ever made. How lucky is that?
"Two wheels or four?"
A long time ago I was the owner and driver of a Robin Reliant (otherwise known as a Plastic Pig) – that was a great car. So, three. I also rode motorcycles and have been known to drive a car. So, two and four. I can ride a unicycle. So, one
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