Monday 23 August 2004

A day off.  Last week brought some very interesting plans for the 2005-6 season. Can't give too many details yet, but I've got a fair bit of budgeting work to do, and I'm getting back up to speed on the current state of research about the performing forces required for the John Passion, and another big baroque warhorse. 

Yesterday I got up early to drive down to York, where the assembled throng of the British Flute Society gave Chris Andy and me a very warm welcome indeed. In fact, after the first set of tunes was greeted with cheering, Chris's response was 'Oh. I thought you were going to be cynical'. A fun gig, and I got to play the organ that I used to get up early to go and practise on every morning when I was a student 20 years ago. Met some old friends there too. And despite over-running our slot, the audience insisted on an encore, so I just had time to say 'what key is this in?' and watch Andy's hands very closely for the chords (dropped D tuning, I think I can follow that).

Marlys, Chris, Alison

Our occasionally fragmentary attempts to keep up with Chris in Marlys Norman's Reel ended with Chris turning to me before the final phrase on the last time round and saying 'Diminished'. 'Thanks.' Wry smiles all round. Marlys herself was already in the foyer with Alison selling CDs anyway ...

Alison had come up on the train from London to hear us, so afterwards we all went for a walk around the city walls, and had a pint outside the Kings Arms - an essential part of York culture (well it was when I lived there). 

But 9 hours of driving there and back are a bit much for my tired eyes, so today I took Paul his harmonium back and we sat drinking tea in the kitchen, listening in vain for the new Blue Nile single to get played on Radio 2 - it's released today, new album next week. A few days ago I found out after a bit of investigation with a reed puller, that the instrument wasn't built in the 1930s as I'd guessed and confidently printed in the CD notes to SADN, but rather in 1969. The company Pearl River didn't even start until the 50s, just as all the American organ companies were going bust. Their website suggests that they've just started selling harmoniums again (4 designs, including 3 folding ones). This seems unbelievable - I wonder if they'll respond to my email.

And now I'm sitting on a bus on the way to the local friendly computer shop, before I'm go back to reorganise the huge pile of paper on my desk. I'm not going to deal with any of it yet, just reorganise it. Dealing with it will take most of next month. I had to turn down the chance to do a Highlands tour of tango numbers with Mr McFall's Chamber in September, as I really need to stay at home for a while and just deal with stuff. And it would be nice to feel like a useful member of my family again.