What can the SEDs of first hydrostatic core candidates reveal about their nature?

The first hydrostatic core (FHSC) is the first stable object to form in simulations of star formation. This stage has yet to be observed definitively, although several candidate FHSCs have been reported. We have produced synthetic spectral energy distributions (SEDs) from 3D hydrodynamical simulations of pre-stellar cores undergoing gravitational collapse for a variety of initial conditions. Variations in the initial rotation rate, radius and mass lead to differences in the location of the SED peak and far-infrared flux. Secondly, we attempt to fit the SEDs of five FHSC candidates from the literature and five newly identified FHSC candidates located in the Serpens South molecular cloud with simulated SEDs. The most promising FHSC candidates are fitted by a limited number of model SEDs with consistent properties, which suggests the SED can be useful for placing constraints on the age and rotation rate of the source. The sources we consider most likely to be in FHSC phase are B1-bN, CB17-MMS, Aqu-MM1 and Serpens South candidate K242. We were unable to fit SerpS-MM22, Per-Bolo 58 and Chamaeleon-MMS1 with reasonable parameters, which indicates that they are likely to be more evolved.Comment: 26 pages, 28 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA

The application of antimicrobial stewardship knowledge to nursing practice : A national survey of United Kingdom pre-registration nursing students

© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Advanced Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/AIM: To assess student nurses understanding and skills in the application of antimicrobial stewardship knowledge to practice. DESIGN: Quantitative. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey. RESULTS: Five hundred and twenty three student nurses responded across 23 UK universities. Although students felt prepared in competencies in infection prevention and control, patient-centred care and interprofessional collaborative practice, they felt less prepared in competencies in which microbiological knowledge, prescribing and its effect on antimicrobial stewardship is required. Problem-based learning, activities in the clinical setting and face-to-face teaching were identified as the preferred modes of education delivery. Those who had shared antimicrobial stewardship teaching with students from other professions reported the benefits to include a broader understanding of antimicrobial stewardship, an understanding of the roles of others in antimicrobial stewardship and improved interprofessional working. CONCLUSION: There are gaps in student nurses' knowledge of the basic sciences associated with the antimicrobial stewardship activities in which nurses are involved, and a need to strengthen knowledge in pre-registration nurse education programmes pertaining to antimicrobial management, specifically microbiology and antimicrobial regimes and effects on antimicrobial stewardship. Infection prevention and control, patient-centred care and interprofessional collaborative practice are areas of antimicrobial stewardship in which student nurses feel prepared. Interprofessional education would help nurses and other members of the antimicrobial stewardship team clarify the role nurses can play in antimicrobial stewardship and therefore maximize their contribution to antimicrobial stewardship and antimicrobial management. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION: There is a need to strengthen knowledge from the basic sciences, specifically pertaining to antimicrobial management, in pre-registration nurse education programmes. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution. IMPACT: What Problem Did the Study Address? Nurses must protect health through understanding and applying antimicrobial stewardship knowledge and skills (Nursing and Midwifery Council 2018); however, there is no research available that has investigated nurses understanding and skills of the basic sciences associated with the antimicrobial stewardship activities in which they are involved. What Were the Main Findings? There are gaps in student nurses' knowledge of the basic sciences (specifically microbiology and prescribing) associated with the antimicrobial stewardship activities in which nurses are involved. Problem-based learning, and activities in the clinical setting, were reported as useful teaching methods, whereas online learning, was seen as less useful. Where and on Whom Will the Research Have an Impact? Pre-registration nurse education programmes. REPORTING METHOD: The relevant reporting method has been adhered to, that is, STROBE.Peer reviewe

Influenza A virus challenge models in cynomolgus macaques using the authentic inhaled aerosol and intra-nasal routes of infection

Non-human primates are the animals closest to humans for use in influenza A virus challenge studies, in terms of their phylogenetic relatedness, physiology and immune systems. Previous studies have shown that cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) are permissive for infection with H1N1pdm influenza virus. These studies have typically used combined challenge routes, with the majority being intra-tracheal delivery, and high doses of virus (> 107 infectious units). This paper describes the outcome of novel challenge routes (inhaled aerosol, intra-nasal instillation) and low to moderate doses (103 to 106 plaque forming units) of H1N1pdm virus in cynomolgus macaques. Evidence of virus replication and sero-conversion were detected in all four challenge groups, although the disease was sub-clinical. Intra-nasal challenge led to an infection confined to the nasal cavity. A low dose (103 plaque forming units) did not lead to detectable infectious virus shedding, but a 1000-fold higher dose led to virus shedding in all intra-nasal challenged animals. In contrast, aerosol and intra-tracheal challenge routes led to infections throughout the respiratory tract, although shedding from the nasal cavity was less reproducible between animals compared to the high-dose intra-nasal challenge group. Intra-tracheal and aerosol challenges induced a transient lymphopaenia, similar to that observed in influenza-infected humans, and greater virus-specific cellular immune responses in the blood were observed in these groups in comparison to the intra-nasal challenge groups. Activation of lung macrophages and innate immune response genes was detected at days 5 to 7 post-challenge. The kinetics of infection, both virological and immunological, were broadly in line with human influenza A virus infections. These more authentic infection models will be valuable in the determination of anti-influenza efficacy of novel entities against less severe (and thus more common) influenza infections

Evaluating priority setting success in healthcare: a pilot study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In healthcare today, decisions are made in the face of serious resource constraints. Healthcare managers are struggling to provide high quality care, manage resources effectively, and meet changing patient needs. Healthcare managers who are constantly making difficult resource decisions desire a way to improve their priority setting processes. Despite the wealth of existing priority setting literature (for example, program budgeting and marginal analysis, accountability for reasonableness, the 'describe-evaluate-improve' strategy) there are still no tools to evaluate how healthcare resources are prioritised. This paper describes the development and piloting of a process to evaluate priority setting in health institutions. The evaluation process was designed to examine the procedural and substantive dimensions of priority setting using a multi-methods approach, including a staff survey, decision-maker interviews, and document analysis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The evaluation process was piloted in a mid-size community hospital in Ontario, Canada while its leaders worked through their annual budgeting process. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyze the data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The evaluation process was both applicable to the context and it captured the budgeting process. In general, the pilot test provided support for our evaluation process and our definition of success, (i.e., our conceptual framework).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The purpose of the evaluation process is to provide a simple, practical way for an organization to better understand what it means to achieve success in its priority setting activities and identify areas for improvement. In order for the process to be used by healthcare managers today, modification and contextualization of the process are anticipated. As the evaluation process is applied in more health care organizations or applied repeatedly in an organization, it may become more streamlined.</p

Cytomegalovirus antibodies in dried blood spots: a minimally invasive method for assessing stress, immune function, and aging

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a prevalent herpesvirus with links to both stress and aging. This paper describes and validates a minimally invasive method for assessing antibodies against CMV in finger stick whole blood spot samples for use as an indirect marker of an aspect of cell-mediated immunity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Analysis of CMV in dried blood spot samples (DBS) was based on modifications of a commercially available protocol for quantifying CMV antibodies in serum or plasma. The method was evaluated through analysis of precision, reliability, linearity, and correlation between matched serum and DBS samples collected from 75 volunteers. Correlation between DBS and plasma values was linear and high (Pearson correlation <it>R </it>= .96), and precision, reliability, and linearity of the DBS assay were within acceptable ranges.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The validity of a DBS assay for CMV antibodies will enable its inclusion in population-based surveys and other studies collecting DBS samples in non-clinical settings, increasing scientific understanding of the interaction of social and biological stress and immune function.</p

Obeticholic acid for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: interim analysis from a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial

Background Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a common type of chronic liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis. Obeticholic acid, a farnesoid X receptor agonist, has been shown to improve the histological features of NASH. Here we report results from a planned interim analysis of an ongoing, phase 3 study of obeticholic acid for NASH. Methods In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, adult patients with definite NASH,non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score of at least 4, and fibrosis stages F2–F3, or F1 with at least oneaccompanying comorbidity, were randomly assigned using an interactive web response system in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive oral placebo, obeticholic acid 10 mg, or obeticholic acid 25 mg daily. Patients were excluded if cirrhosis, other chronic liver disease, elevated alcohol consumption, or confounding conditions were present. The primary endpointsfor the month-18 interim analysis were fibrosis improvement (≥1 stage) with no worsening of NASH, or NASH resolution with no worsening of fibrosis, with the study considered successful if either primary endpoint was met. Primary analyses were done by intention to treat, in patients with fibrosis stage F2–F3 who received at least one dose of treatment and reached, or would have reached, the month 18 visit by the prespecified interim analysis cutoff date. The study also evaluated other histological and biochemical markers of NASH and fibrosis, and safety. This study is ongoing, and registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02548351, and EudraCT, 20150-025601-6. Findings Between Dec 9, 2015, and Oct 26, 2018, 1968 patients with stage F1–F3 fibrosis were enrolled and received at least one dose of study treatment; 931 patients with stage F2–F3 fibrosis were included in the primary analysis (311 in the placebo group, 312 in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 308 in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group). The fibrosis improvement endpoint was achieved by 37 (12%) patients in the placebo group, 55 (18%) in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group (p=0·045), and 71 (23%) in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group (p=0·0002). The NASH resolution endpoint was not met (25 [8%] patients in the placebo group, 35 [11%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group [p=0·18], and 36 [12%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group [p=0·13]). In the safety population (1968 patients with fibrosis stages F1–F3), the most common adverse event was pruritus (123 [19%] in the placebo group, 183 [28%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 336 [51%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group); incidence was generally mild to moderate in severity. The overall safety profile was similar to that in previous studies, and incidence of serious adverse events was similar across treatment groups (75 [11%] patients in the placebo group, 72 [11%] in the obeticholic acid 10 mg group, and 93 [14%] in the obeticholic acid 25 mg group). Interpretation Obeticholic acid 25 mg significantly improved fibrosis and key components of NASH disease activity among patients with NASH. The results from this planned interim analysis show clinically significant histological improvement that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. This study is ongoing to assess clinical outcomes

Temporal and spatial analysis of the 2014-2015 Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa

West Africa is currently witnessing the most extensive Ebola virus (EBOV) outbreak so far recorded. Until now, there have been 27,013 reported cases and 11,134 deaths. The origin of the virus is thought to have been a zoonotic transmission from a bat to a two-year-old boy in December 2013 (ref. 2). From this index case the virus was spread by human-to-human contact throughout Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. However, the origin of the particular virus in each country and time of transmission is not known and currently relies on epidemiological analysis, which may be unreliable owing to the difficulties of obtaining patient information. Here we trace the genetic evolution of EBOV in the current outbreak that has resulted in multiple lineages. Deep sequencing of 179 patient samples processed by the European Mobile Laboratory, the first diagnostics unit to be deployed to the epicentre of the outbreak in Guinea, reveals an epidemiological and evolutionary history of the epidemic from March 2014 to January 2015. Analysis of EBOV genome evolution has also benefited from a similar sequencing effort of patient samples from Sierra Leone. Our results confirm that the EBOV from Guinea moved into Sierra Leone, most likely in April or early May. The viruses of the Guinea/Sierra Leone lineage mixed around June/July 2014. Viral sequences covering August, September and October 2014 indicate that this lineage evolved independently within Guinea. These data can be used in conjunction with epidemiological information to test retrospectively the effectiveness of control measures, and provides an unprecedented window into the evolution of an ongoing viral haemorrhagic fever outbreak.status: publishe

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

SummaryBackground Azithromycin has been proposed as a treatment for COVID-19 on the basis of its immunomodulatoryactions. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of azithromycin in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19.Methods In this randomised, controlled, open-label, adaptive platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19Therapy [RECOVERY]), several possible treatments were compared with usual care in patients admitted to hospitalwith COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 176 hospitals in the UK. Eligible and consenting patients wererandomly allocated to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus azithromycin 500 mg once perday by mouth or intravenously for 10 days or until discharge (or allocation to one of the other RECOVERY treatmentgroups). Patients were assigned via web-based simple (unstratified) randomisation with allocation concealment andwere twice as likely to be randomly assigned to usual care than to any of the active treatment groups. Participants andlocal study staff were not masked to the allocated treatment, but all others involved in the trial were masked to theoutcome data during the trial. The primary outcome was 28-day all-cause mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treatpopulation. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936.Findings Between April 7 and Nov 27, 2020, of 16 442 patients enrolled in the RECOVERY trial, 9433 (57%) wereeligible and 7763 were included in the assessment of azithromycin. The mean age of these study participants was65·3 years (SD 15·7) and approximately a third were women (2944 [38%] of 7763). 2582 patients were randomlyallocated to receive azithromycin and 5181 patients were randomly allocated to usual care alone. Overall,561 (22%) patients allocated to azithromycin and 1162 (22%) patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days(rate ratio 0·97, 95% CI 0·87–1·07; p=0·50). No significant difference was seen in duration of hospital stay (median10 days [IQR 5 to >28] vs 11 days [5 to >28]) or the proportion of patients discharged from hospital alive within 28 days(rate ratio 1·04, 95% CI 0·98–1·10; p=0·19). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, nosignificant difference was seen in the proportion meeting the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilationor death (risk ratio 0·95, 95% CI 0·87–1·03; p=0·24).Interpretation In patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, azithromycin did not improve survival or otherprespecified clinical outcomes. Azithromycin use in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 should be restrictedto patients in whom there is a clear antimicrobial indication

Jennifer Bate, órgano (Reino Unido)

Concierto interpretado por Jennifer Bate. Estudió órgano con su padre, H. A. Bate, célebre profesor y recitalista. En recientes años, con justa razón, ha llegado a ocupar un puesto prominente dentro de los concertistas internacionales del órgano, viaja alrededor del mundo dando recitales, clases de perfeccionamiento, conferencias y conciertos, actuando como solista con las grandes orquestas de toda Europa. En este concierto interpretó obras de John Stanley, William Walond, George Frideric Handel, John Travers, Samuel Wesley, Herbert Howells.Digitalizado por la Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango del Banco de la República, Colombia. JENNIFER BATE Organista - Inglaterra Digitalizado por la Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango del Banco de la República, Colombia. JEN · IFER T Or anista .. Inglaterr Jennifer Bate, inglesa, es una de las principales organistas internacionales de nuestros días. Su actividad a nivel mundial comprende recitales, concier­tos, conferencias, clases magistrales, conciertos para niños y radiodifusión. Sus presentaciones locales por televi­sión (Londres) incluyen la del Banco del Sur, en el cual fue consultora en el pro­grama sobre Olivier Messiaen (ITEV), y artista especial invitada en el programa de navidad de Si r Geraint Evans "Caba­llero de la Dama". En el exterior, se pre­sentó en una serie de recitales de televi­sión llamada "Grandes Instrumentalistas del Mundo", y los próximos proyectos de televisión incluyen un perfil de su vida y una historia del órgano y su música. Jennifer Bate ayudó a diseñar un órgano portátil construido por N.P. Mander Ltd., con el fin de hacer giras de música de la época barroca en recitales como solista, c~n conjuntos de cámara y con orquestas. Su vasto repertorio se refleja también en más de 20 grabaciones que van desde los conciertos de Vivaldi (Unicorn-Kan­chana), para quienes ella investigó nue­vas ediciones, hasta las grabaciones de estreno del vi rtuoso concierto para O rgano de Dickinson (EMI) con la Orquesta Sin­fónica de la BBC y la "Metasinfonía" de Panufnik (Unicorn-Kanchana) con la Or­questa Sinfónica de Londres. Sus gra­baciones como solista incluyen cuatro dtscos de música británica (Hyperion), Liszt (ASV), y entre sus famosas graba­ciones mundiales de Francia están las obras completas para Organo de Franck y Messiaen (Unicorn-Kanchana). Muchas obras se han escrito para ella. Recientemente encargó una obra de mayor virtuosismo a Dickinson: "Blue Rose Variations" que fue estren~da en Nueva York y después filmada en con­cierto en el Royal Festival Ha". Olivier Messiaen envió a Jennifer Bate el manuscrito de su última obra: "Livre du Saint Sacrament" para que la estrenara en Inglaterra en la Catedral de West­minster, en su presencia. Recibió una prolongada ovación y la aclamación uná­nime de la crítica. Pocos días después inició la prestigiosa serie de obras com­pletas para órgano del compositor. Olivier Messiaen invitó a Jennifer Bate para que hiciera la grabación de estreno del "Livre du Saint Sacrament" en su propio instrumento de la Iglesia de la Santa Trinidad de París. Esta grabación se realizó con la casa disquera Unicorn­Kanchana en 1987, Y el compositor asis­tió a todos los ensayos y presentacio­nes. El fruto de esta histórica cola­boración produjo los más elogiosos comentarios: "Bate tiene toda la paciencia, convic­ción y brillantez que demanda su música y la grabación corona su completo Mes­siaen" (The Times). Digitalizado por la Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango del Banco de la República, Colombia. PROGRAMA I oluntario, Opus 6 No. 8 en La menor / Largo Vivace vVoluntario, Opus 1 No. 5 en Sol mayor / Grave Movement for the cornet ¿¡Fuga en Si bemol menor ./ voluntario en Re menor y mayor ! A slow movement A movement for trumpets Voluntario, Opus 6 No. 10 en Fa mayor Andante larg hetto Moderato Lento ! Allegretto John Stanley (1713-1786) William Walond (1725-1770) George Friderie Handel (1685-1759 ) John Travers (e. 1703-1758) Samuel Wesley (1766-1837) Introducción y fuga en Do sostenido menor Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876) / INTERMEDIO vMaster Tallis's Testament Fenestra Compuesta y dedicada a Jennifer Bate Primera presentación en Suramérica Vfriaciones sobre un tema de Paganini (para pedales únicamente) Herbert Howells (1892-1983) . William Mathias (n. 1934) George Thalben-Ball (1896-1987 ) Bogotá, 27 de noviembre de 1990 Este recital se realiza con la colaboración del Consejo Británico ¿ ~ / r--cI -o-N-é -E1- RT-O-N-d. .. .-l--+j----,I-+)3 j/ Digitalizado por la Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango del Banco de la República, Colombia. notas al programa "Vol u ntary" Opus 6 en La menor John Stanley (1713-1786) "Voluntary" Opus 1 No.5 en Sol mayor William Walond (1725-1770) En inglés se da el nombre de "Voluntary" a un solo de órgano tocado en conexión con un servicio religioso, pero que no forma parte de él; ésto sugiere la idea de pieza instrumentada, y así los fue en un principio. El uso de esta palabra como término musical se a circunscrito a la lengua inglesa, pero su significado, en cuanto a la forma, es en extremo libre, pues se aplica a obras que igualmente podrían llamarse preludios o fantasías. Stanley, famoso organista ciego, mostró desde niño habi­lidad excepcional para la música; a la edad de once años ocupó su primer cargo como organista en AII Hallow Church, y a los trece fue organista en Andrew's Hol­born, Londres. Se graduó en la Universidad de Oxford a los dieciséis y en 1734 llegó a ser organista en la iglesia de Temple. Los grupos Opus 5, 6 Y 7 de "voluntaries" (plural de "Voluntary") se publicaron en 1748-1754 y fueron muy populares. En el Opus 5 No. 8 señala "órgano pleno" (el instrumento inglés de la época era de tono muy hermoso pero sin el inmenso sonido del instrumento moderno). Es al estilo de una obertura francesa (overture), y el movi­miento fugado que le sigue se interrumpe por tranquilos pasajes contrastados en otro teclado. Los "Voluntaries" de Stanley bien pudieron haber influido en Walond, organista de Oxford, pero su música tiene un estilo muy personal. Sus hijos fueron cantantes y su hermano George fue corista en el Magdalen College de Oxford. Willian Walond publicó dos series de "volunta- . ries", donde indicó crescendo y descrescendo; la caja expresiva ("swell box") sólo se introdujo en Inglaterra hacia 1713. El VOluntary, Opus 1 No. 6 es uno de los más finos para corneta inglesa. El primer movimiento contiene intere­santes contrapuntos y oportunidad para el organista de improvisar elegantemente antes del movimiento para corneta, que por excepción concluye suavemente. Digitalizado por la Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango del Banco de la República, Colombia. I I Fuga en Si Bemol menor George Friderie Handel (1685-1759 ) "Voluntario" en Re mayor y menor John Travers (e. 1703-1758) "Voluntario" Opus 6 No. 10 en Fa mayor Samuel Wesley (1776-1837 ) notas al programa La serie de seis fugas para órgano de Handel, publicada en 1735, fue tomada como modelo por sus contemporá­neos. Esta, la cuarta de la serie -maravilloso ejemplo-, es una doble fuga, cuyo segundo tema aparece hacia la mitad, desde donde son trabajados juntos. Travers, solista en la Capilla de San Jorge en Windsor, fue discípulo de órgano de Maurice Green (organista de la Catedral de San Pablo). Ocupó varias posiciones en I iglesias de Londres, entre ellas la Capilla Real. Sus com­posiciones incluyen muchas canciones, himnos y obras instrumentales. Esta pieza está llena de giros armónicos, especialmente en el movimiento inicial en modo menor. El segundo movimiento es uno de los más vigorosos e inventivos para las trompetas, escrito como una llamada a las armas, con una fanfarria con el tema inicial. Samuel Wesley fue una de las más importantes figuras en Inglaterra. Fue aplaudido como niño prodigio, tanto en órgano como en violín, y compositor desde la edad de seis años. Consagró mucho tiempo y energía a la divul­gación de la obra de Bach en el público inglés, en el cual la música de Handel, aunque muerto hacía mucho, conti­nuaba siendo preferida. Naturalmente esta intensa admiración por Bach se reflejó en sus propias composiciones, que sin embargo mues­tran un estilo muy personal. El movimiento inicial de este precioso "Voluntario" en Fa es un arioso con contrastan­tes pasajes de eco. El movimiento final, en la dominante, conduce directamente a una invención a tres partes, también en Fa. El tercer movimiento comienza en Re menor, pero la coda, inesperadamente, cierra con un acorde en Do, que opera como un enlace con el brillante final fugado. Digitalizado por la Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango del Banco de la República, Colombia. Introducción y Fuga en Do sostenido menor Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876) Testamento del maestro Tallis Herbert Howells (1892-1983) Fenestra William Mathias (1934- ) El único de los hijos que heredó las dotes musicales del padre, fue Samuel Sebastián. Fue organista en las cate­drales de Hereford, Exeter, Winchester, Gloucester y otras. Sus composiciones vocales e instrumentales, fue­ron señalados por sus "ricas armonías y sorprendente­mente bellas modulaciones". Esta introducción y Fuga es una de sus más dramáticas obras para el órgano. La sombría introducción contrasta diferentes tejidos y colores del órgano. La Fuga muestra toda clase de características del órgano: aumentación, disminución, inversión, separadamente; a menudo varias formas aparecen simultáneamente. Howells fue uno de los más grandes compositores del órgano inglés en este siglo. Estudió con el organista de la Catedral de Gloucester y también en el Royal College of °Music con Stanford. Fue profesor de compQsición muchos años en este colegio. Esta bella obra fue escrita como homenaje al gran com­positor de la época isabelina Thomas Tall is. Explicable­mente tiene un tema arcaico que aparece primero en una serie de serenas variaciones, conduce hacia u na gloriosa culminación y concluye muy conmovedoramente en los más suaves colores del órgano. El compositor, una dé las figuras más destacadas de la Inglaterra de hoy, escribió sobre esta obra lo siguiente: "Lo sombrío del comienzo de la obra se ilumina gradual­mente por ventanas sonoras de variados tiempos, brillan­tez y color. Se invita al ejecutante a que adapte esta metáfora en cada ocasión a la individualidad conferida del instrumento, aliada a la acústica en que está situado. Esta obra fue compuesta teniendo mucho en la mente a Jennifer Bate como primera intérprete y dedicatoria. Su idea básica fue, ciertamente, engendrada por el conoci­miento del infin:to cuidado que Jennifer Bate consagra a la importante cuestión del registro, en lo cual se ha pen- Digitalizado por la Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango del Banco de la República, Colombia. Variaciones sobre un tema de Paganini George Thalben-Ball (1896-1987 ) no 'as al programa sado nuevamente para cada ocasión y localiza~ión, Importante como es el color, continúa, sin embargo siendo una metáfora para el argumento musical de la obra, que procede y se desarrolla en el espacio de un movimiento, de la oscuridad a la luz". Thalben-Ball fue uno de los más grandes virtuosos. Nacido en Australia, vino a Londres muy niño y estudió en el Royal College of Music, donde más tarde enseñó, Fue Organista Municipal de Birmingham, asesor de música religiosa en la BBC, organista de la ciudad en Birmingham y, como John Stanley, organista de Temple Church, en Londres. La base de esta pieza de alta virtuosidad es el Capricho de Paganini que utilizaron también Brahms y Rachmaninoff. Es especial, sin embargo, porque con excepción de la última v~riación, fue escrito como estudio de pedales. Después de enunciado el tema, las diez variaciones: 1) para doble pedal en triple tiempo; 2) para doble pedal en tiempo de 6/8; 3) maestoso en tres partes; 4) allegro para acordes arpegiados ("broken chords"); en tresillo; 5) presto en semicOJcheas; 6) doble "glissandi"; 7) alle­gro, con los pies en movimientos contrario; 8) acordes adagio en tres y cuatro partes; 9) museta en Fa mayor en canon, con redoble fijo; 10) Toccata (con uso también de las manos), Otto de G reiff (Comentario: tomado de las ,notas elaboradas por Jenni­fer Bate) Digitalizado por la Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango del Banco de la República, Colombia. Digitalizado por la Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango del Banco de la República, Colombia