Joseph & Mary Resurgens

 The tone of “Please don’t shoot the piano player” comes across as a bit endearing, perhaps just a bit jokey, and that is well.

A sign reading “It is forbidden to shoot the piano player” risks being taken for practically an invitation.

Porridger’s Almanack (Breakfast of Ganglions)

Your pedal extremities are colossal.

— Fats Waller

I pretty much finished reconstructing the score of Op. 53, Joseph & Mary yesterday. In mistaken zeal, I nearly phased out the clarinet part. I had played in the original, but am not as yet fit to play this year. The zeal was mistaken, because another clarinetist is likely to be available, In part today’s finishing work was therefore making certain the clarinet line was properly restored, and partly practically complete reversion of the organ part to to Ur-text. I could not speak intelligently (at this remove) as to why the Danvers edition of the piece went in a different direction with the organ writing, and the original has Vaughan Williams-ish planing chords which I fancy rather. Talking with Eric and Greta today about my Christmas music, I was gratified to hear such enthusiasm for I Look from Afar, to which I shall begin to attend tomorrow (the only significant modification will be to drop the timpani. I also remembered, but did not speak of, The Snow Lay on the Ground, Op. 68. So the rest of my work today was adding bassoon and trumpet thereto. All in all, a highly productive day. And now, done with work for today.