Elgar Vs Smith ?

[olddutch]

http://www.telegraph....ational-disgrace.html

Telegraph today reports

“£20 Elgar note withdrawal 'a national disgrace'

The arts will no longer be represented on Bank of England notes from this Thursday – a decision branded a "national disgrace" by a music academic

The older style £20 note bearing an image of Sir Edward Elgar ceases to be legal tender at midnight on Wednesday (June 30), replaced by a new note featuring the Scottish economist Adam Smith.”


Smith expounded, in The Wealth of Nations, how rational self-interest and competition can lead to economic prosperity and well-being. It also provided one of the best-known intellectual rationales for free trade and capitalism. Smith also wrote other philosophic works .The Wealth of Nations is considered one of the great achievements in human intellectual history". P. J. O'Rourke describes Smith as the "founder of free market economics".

Whilst

Elgar gave us the Pomp and Circumstance Marches (with Land of Hope Glory lyrics since added), the glorious (played on Remembrance Day) Nimrod, Enigma Variations, masterpiece First Symphony, the Cello Concerto, the Violin Concerto, and many more great works. “… Anyone who doubts Elgar's genius should take the first opportunity of hearing The Dream of Gerontius, which remains his masterpiece,”


Do you agree with Prof Jeremy Dibble that: "The withdrawal of the Sir Edward Elgar £20 note is a national disgrace” - and the view that Elgar was the greater of the these two British giants ?

[olddutch]

Jno - I think Smith is pretty well respected by economists and others round the world but I find Elgar far more inspirational in that I find Music inspirational - but cant say the same re economic philosophy - horses for courses ?

[Quizmonster]

I have to confess, Old Dutch, that when I pull a score out of my wallet - to pay perhaps for a round in the pub - my mind does not drift away into realms of soaring music or cathedral architecture!
To be honest, I'd be perfectly happy if the note showed NOTHING but the figure £20.00. However, since it doesn't, I can see no reason whatsoever why the only 'note' currency that is legal tender throughout BRITAIN...ie Bank of England ones...should not feature Scots as well as English 'celebrities'. (Scottish banknotes are not even legal tender in SCOTLAND, never mind the hassle one gets if trying to use them in ENGLAND!)

Smith for the £20.00 note, I repeat.

[olddutch]

Quizmonster - thanks for your comments.

“Smith for the £20.00 note, I repeat” Final Answer

I accept that all my arguments re aesthetics and inspiration seem to have fallen short. It’s a shame, especially when you “totally concur with my views on Elgar's music”

Reminders of things that inspire us can never be too many. As I see it - it’s a bit like carrying a photo of your nearest and dearest with you. Strikes me that Elgar lovers, like you and me, should be only too happy to be reminded of something that’s dear to our hearts - and what better than a comforting image on a £20 note. For me, a pleasing inspirational image on a £20 note makes far greater sense than nothing or a cold Adam Smith.

But I have to accept that I’m a success at failure in the persuasion stakes - still its said that success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm - so I’ll plough my lonely furrow and accept your “Final Answer”

[TCL-MUMPING]

Sorry to have to correct you QM but BoE notes are legal tender only in England and Wales. Only BoE notes under £5 WERE legal tender in Scotland but since they stopped issuing the one-pound note, there are now no legal tender notes in Scotalnd.

[Quizmonster]

No problem, TCL. If I need correction, I need correction. (At least that's what I keep telling my strict Swedish instructress!)
To be honest, although I was in the homeland just a few weeks ago, I didn't even know the £1.00 note was now discontinued. Probably been gone for years, has it? I do recall for ages having to correct one loud-mouthed Jock or other for saying aggressively to a barman/shop assistant/whatever, "I think you'll find that's legal tender, pal!"
Cheers