Thursday 15 December 2005

A search for Future Pilot and 'Eyes of Love' at www.bleep.com will also find the track 'Changes', featuring all four of us (including DG's answering machine fiddle solo), available as a download.

Usually I have an embargo on playing in Christmas concerts, after playing in a Messiah on 2 January several years ago, and wishing I'd spent the day on holiday instead (wishing so even more after the feeble cheque arrived). I'd rather have peace on earth at home, than festive choral racket. But this year I'm making an exception to play in John Butt's version of the 1742 Dublin Messiah next week. Unfortunately I lost my playing score of the piece years ago, which had all my bass figures in it (Handel followed his Italian training and didn't write many in), so I've been sitting playing through the piece to remind me how it all goes. Schetky's keyboard music will have to wait for a few more days to get my attention.

As I've been typing, Maria Kalaniemi has been on Radio 4 talking about the extraneous noises available on her accordion ...

Our broadcast from Perth as part of A Bach Christmas on Radio 3 is Wednesday night from 10pm.