Friday 12 November 2004

North Reading Room, National Library of Scotland

I'm sitting here patiently at a desk waiting for some manuscripts to be brought up from the store. A kind person tipped me off in the summer that the NLS had bought what appeared to be some late 18th century Scottish harpsichord music in MS, so some months later here I am at last with some free time in Edinburgh to have a look.

The lighting here in the North Reading Room is effective but really ugly, unlike the main reading room outside, which I've only ever walked through but is probably the most latently erotic room I have ever been in. It's something about all these clever-looking people examining the objects of their affection/attention in great detail, in subdued light and faintly luxurious surroundings. I always emerge from this building slightly dizzy. But perhaps that's the fault of the awful lighting ...

I spent the morning at Delphian Records HQ putting the final touches to the master of The Red Red Rose, and I was able to stay just long enough to look at the films of the booklet and inlays on their way to the printers. It all looks very good indeed. I'll get the CD available for pre-order here on the website soon. Should be easily deliverable in time for Christmas.

Later today in Seattle (all being well - when I spoke to her earlier she was still in Tucson, Arizona) Alison will take delivery on my behalf of a Pearl River folding reed organ. I'll go and get it from her in London in a week or so. Yes, another eBay purchase, another harmonium (I use the term loosely) to tune. But this one might turn out to be an even better touring option than the Estey as it folds up into what looks like a wide and heavy briefcase, rather than a large wooden box.

later, on the train
Well, Margaret Robertson's Music Book came up with a few items of interest. On one page there's a minuet and gavotte are followed by 'The Millers Daughter' which is the tune we now know as Coming Through the Rye. I made a quick transcription of a harpsichord setting of Lord Banff's Reel.

In James Robertson's Music Book, there are additions to some of the tune titles ('Put the Gown upon the Bishop - but not on me') and an occasional musical direction: Maggy Lauder is to be played 'brisk. - as brisk can be'. But I couldn't resist transcribing two jigs with irresistible titles: 'Johnys bare arse' and 'Maggys covered arse'. Johnny's bare arse - a CD title perhaps?

Had an unexpected burst of creativity on Wednesday night when an email from Chris arrived with photos of new baby Evangeline. She's already got a 'Valse d'Evangeline' (which we recorded on La Mer Jolie), so now after a bit of frantic scribbling from me, she has a hornpipe to go with it.