Days to go: 980 -- Pieces to go: 10

Day 20: At this moment (10:39 am) Duo Majoya is setting up for their last concert in the series, which starts at 11:15. "Break a leg," as they say in the theatre world. Hey, Reader, you still have 36 minutes to catch the concert. Get going!!!

I just sent a card to John McIntosh to see if he would like to hear the Bach P&F when it is finished. It would be great to see him and Diane, and to visit Goderich, the "prettiest little town," I think their motto is.

Headed for Bowmanville in a few minutes, where we will celebrate my sister Cathy's birthday. I went to pick up some sweet corn at the Markham farmers' market to add to the feast.

Happy long weekend, everyone!

Days to go: 999 -- Pieces to go:10

Day 1: It has begun! I went to the church, sat at the Letourneau for the first time (a perfect fit!) , and played slowly through the Passacaglia and Fugue. It makes so much sense to start with Bach! "Ahh, Bach!" as Radar says on M*A*S*H* reruns.

My score is my 41-year-old Peters edition with fingerings originally taken from John S. McIntosh's copy. He played the Bach during a September 1969 recital at First. St. Andrew's United Church in London, Ontario. It was my first year at Western, and I fell in love... .

Half way through the fugue, a parishioner came in. What to do? Even though I was using 8' flutes, they have a lot of presence and some people might find the sound disturbing while they are trying to pray. So I stopped until the man left. Sigh!

I started again and another man came in. At this point I decided to go outside for a break. But this man came in BECAUSE of the organ playing and wanted to listen. Sigh!!

I began reading the Durufle and it sounded so lovely on that organ. I made a list of supplies needed: more pencils, metronome, timer, counters (I STILL believe in your 16 reps, Marcel Dupre!), a towel (for sitting on) and another list of music to order.

Can't remember the last time I was this happy!