Apologies for this one, folks - had we an early music forum, I'd have posted it there...but perhaps this is as good a way to do this as any: I would appear to have organised to do a test-run of my LTCL recital this Sunday. Clearly it's not worth the trouble of a bigger journey to come and hear it, but should anyone want to lend a (friendly, please!) ear, and be somewhere close enough to Edinburgh, and be free, then I'll be making a noise at St Cecilia's Hall at about 2pm. Earplugs would be advisable - I much prefer early music. but the exam syllabus stipulates a range of eras, which as you know, is difficult to find for recorder. As I don't much care for romantic stuff being nicked for recorder, I'm stuck with avant-garde or nice-but-rather-boring 1930-1950 stuff, and have opted for the former, as it's easier to hide mistakes . Shinohara's Fragmente is a beastly piece but over relatively quickly - and the rest of the programme would include Castello's sonata prima , a piece by Pete Rose called Medieval Nights, a Quantz sarabande and doubles, and a Bach flute sonata, BWV 1032 .
I realise that most forum members are well south of Watford anyway, but for those who might have nothing to do, are local, and might find the idea of killing a bit of time with this one: you'd be welcome.

PS for those allergic to singing, there is unfortunately some of that too, in the Pete Rose piece.

Hope it goes well, anacrusis. Sadly, I shall be a long way south of Edinburgh on Sunday - playing the organ in the afternoon for a service of remembrance - but I hope some forum members will be there.

shame that i will be in london with some old friends from school (getting a small break before diving back to the practice routine). hope it goes well.

Well I'm not doing anything, but Edinburgh's a bit of a trek for a Sunday afternoon - were I nearer, I would certainly come along to have a listen.

Edited to add: I was just browsing some of the 'discounts' we get through work, and there was a search for flights (with lastminute.com, I think, but with an additional discount on top). Seeing as I live all of 4 miles from Stansted Airport, I thought I'd see how much for a flight to Edinburgh (arrive noon Sunday, depart Monday), and they want £170 for that. Ah well, if they'd had one of those 99p offers on, it might have been good fun

Sorry I'm SO far away. or I would have certainly supported you. My teacher always made me do a public concert of my diploma programmes before taking them, and it really does work. You do it under pressure and you find out any corners which need a bit more attention. You are also reassured that you CAN do it! Good luck - let us know how you get on!

Can't quite manage it this time, anacrusis, which is a shame as I'd have loved to be there. Hope it goes well.

I would love to be there too but can't. I hope that it goes really well and that you gat a decent audience, and that the venue is nice and warm.

That sounds fantastic, anacrusis, and I'd love to hear the Bach especially. I hope it goes well for you - and that you enjoy the day.

I'm afraid I'm another one who won't be able to make the trip to hear you, Anacrusis.

But I do hope it goes well.

Good luck anacrusis. I shall be literally at the other end of the country - we're off to Devon tomorrow - so won't be able to make it. I hope it goes well. I remember you were a great help to me when I was learning the accompaniment for the Castello over a year ago; the recording you sent me then was pretty good, so you must be amazing now. I'm sure you'll do well in the concert and the exam.

Many thanks for eveyone's kind words and good wishes .
Broadly speaking, I think it went reasonably well - we did have the luxury of a beautiful acoustic, and a small but friendly audience; there was also a forums presence in the form of my accompanist and his wife, who did his page-turning . Now I've got to psych myself up to listen to the recording my son did of it, and maybe even to look at the video - my daughter is keen to point out a grimace I made during one of the more obvious mistakes so I can try to learn to bluff better. Made most of the avant-garde piece up anyway, but then again, my audience didn't have the score, and the examiner will have .

It was definitely worth doing, though, and I recommend the idea to anyone doing a music exam - I'm sure it's going to have helped.

I'll be working hard earning my £60 that I earn for a days work.

Sorry that i can't attend

Have you got a TARDIS, then? Coz I think it's already taken place according to the posting above yours!