Low Notes on a High Level

A quirky satirical comedy from 1954 by one of the twentieth century's most prolific, influential and versatile writers. The world's greatest composer, Stannsen of Norroland has completed his Tenth Symphony and to coincide with the official visit of Norroland's President to Britain he has offered the honour of its world premiere to the English Broadcasting Company Symphony Orchestra, and its outlandish and moderately-talented principal conductor, Sir Lancelot Telly. The Royal Festival Hall is booked, Royalty is invited, there is a heatwave of publicity, but there is a huge problem: Stannsen's score includes a part for a seven-foot-high instrument called the Dobbophone, invented and played by his former best friend Dobb. The two men have fallen out and Stannsen hopes his symphony will reconcile them. Dobb refuses to participate and without him there can be no performance. There is panic and dismay at the E.B.C., not least for Sir Lancelot who sees his chance of fame slipping away from him. Enter the beautiful Inga Dobb, niece of the instrument's inventor and goddaughter of Stannsen who will attempt to break the deadlock between the two men and reunite them as friends. Will she succeed? Will the performance go ahead? Will Sir Lancelot conduct this great symphony? Demonstrating Priestley's love of music along with his playfulness and versatility as a writer, this zany and at times anarchic romp satirises the contemporary world of broadcast media, its avant-garde playwrights and poets, its philistine administrators and its inane panel games and their too receptive audiences. As our national broadcaster comes in for ever increasing scrutiny, this is very much a novel for today.