Yesterday I played the Dukas Villanelle in horn class, on a piston horn in F. It was... interesting. The Besson piston horn that the College has for student use has a fairly large wrap and very awkward placement of the pistons themselves, so I'm glad I didn't play most sections more than once, because even what I did was making my left arm hurt. On the bright side, the horn itself is so much lighter than my ancient, modified Alex 104 that I didn't need to use the support stick at all and was able to play standing up.

On the whole, playing only on F horn is quite tiring, especially on that particular instrument which doesn't have an amazing high range. I'm definitely glad I spent a week playing the Villanelle on my own instrument using F fingerings. I didn't have a whole lot of trouble with changing from one fingering to another, probably because my own horn has the Slowest Valves in the West (I'm awaiting a quote from Paxman to have it fixed).

We also got to play with Vienna horns. Like the piston horn these are single horns in (one in F, one in Bflat) rather than double, so very much lighter to hold. The tone was rather amazing, as well.

So, now I'm considering playing the Dukas Villanelle on a piston horn for my final recital next year (but not on Trinity's Besson, that would be a recipe for left-hand RSI), and also considering whether I might get a single F horn again at some point just because they are just so lightweight. I'd really want something that doesn't interfere with my ability to play the Alex, for obvious reasons, so any horn shopping will involve quite a bit of looking around. And of course I still want a good natural horn, and while I'm at it I may as well get hold of a serpent. Perhaps after I graduate...

Practising this morning... ugh. I wasn't feeling terribly well. I don't know if it's something I ate, the feeling-icky bug that's been going around Trinity, or a particularly bumpy bus ride this morning, but I'm still feeling a bit delicate.

I did the only thing that one can do in such circumstances: play a bit, rest a bit, play a bit, rest a bit. I'm glad I did.

At 11am the Brahms trio (we still haven't a name) had a two-hour coaching session with Stephen Stirling. We seem to be on the right track technically and musically, at least in the first two movements. I still want to rehearse in a larger room at some point, but of course this is easier said than done.

I met briefly with J, a mentor for my Year 4 Project. I'm not yet ready to announce it here, because there are still many decisions to be made, but I think I've scaled it back to make it a little more manageable, at least.

Now? A little more paperwork, and then home to rest.