24 Pieces: 8 - Ricercare

This piece is an interesting one for me. Not because it is interesting musically - it isn't, in fact it is very boring. It isn't even that memorable. Most of it is played on a single flute, with occassional Hautbois intervention (Oboe Amore on Skinner organ).

No, the reason it is interesting for me is because back in June/July when I first got the 24 Pieces, this piece was way beyond me - it contains 6 flats in the key signature. The notion of playing a C as C-flat and F as a flat just confused my hands and brain. However, after playing a lot of Langlais and Vierne between July and now, when I re-visited this at the weekend, it was so natural for me, it was like playing an easy piece. That doesn't mean that it inspired me any more - it is still a boring piece.

I post it merely for the sake of it completing the set of 24 one day. For me, this was an achievement and a pay off after months of working hard to improve my playing level.

Hope you en... stay awake!
John