One-handed pleasure

6 December, in the year of our Lord 2022

Up, but with some little nerves for my Solo Performance Workshop at the Conservatoire, where I am to perform, upon the keyboard, in front of the whole class of 20 students, a Nocturne by Mr. Alex. Scryabine, the famous Moscovite — which to look at on the page appears not an undue challenge, only that it was written for the left hand alone, so the conceit is to make what was written for five fingers seem played by ten. After I introduced myself, Mrs. Sturt, an exponent of the bass vialle, asked if I was really going to attempt the feat with one hand for surely two would make it easyer, to which I made reply that I was confounded by the question and was resolved to play it as wrote, for to do otherwise would defeat the morning’s purpose and was an exercise in which, I scoffed, I saw no point whatsoever. Despite some sudden apprehension, the piece rendered decently, if not indeed admirably, and to not a little applause, which greatly contented me (and did bolster, God forgive me, a vanitie that I had chose to play a work of such ambition that also did give pleasure to all assembled). Then Mr. Lewelyn, our tutor, come with some ideas, which with some irritation I granted him, on how I might improve it still — one such being, to my annoyance, to essay the piece with both hands so as to hear how the melody might sound with a greater legato, at which I stole a glance at Mrs. Sturt, who had a wry grin upon her face. Then asked he of me what I was to do with the piece now, to which I made answer that I was going to place it forever in a locked drawer, if not actually burn it, for I did practise it so much these few weeks that I wished never again to set eyes upon it, which I think vexed him. Also in our Session Miss Millar did sing and Miss O’Brian play the horn, and another very well upon the sackbutt, and all greatly joyed by the making of such fine musick together. After, took stock that we have left only eight days of term, and I can scarce believe half the academick year almost finished, and I think this decision to study the best I ever made in all the years since I left the Naval Board, for musique is still the thing of the world that I love most.