Two works entitled Christ lag in Todesbanden, one by Pachelbel and the other by J. S. Bach, had been added to our programme. I played the cornetto part in the latter, playing on a straight cornetto in three parts, pitched in A = 490 Hz (i.e. a tone above A = 440 Hz). I enjoyed playing next to the two viola players, Joanne Miller and Stephanie Heichelheim.

Our performance at Stour Music Festival felt much more like a development of the October project, rather than merely a repeat performance. Instead of fading over time, our interpretation seems to have matured in the interim. It was fun to play natural trumpets without holes here again, and the performance of the finale, J. C. Bach’s Es erhub sich ein streit, was particularly stirring! I look forward to returning to Stour Music Festival next week: they are the finest hosts and we enjoyed a wonderful spread of homemade savouries, salads and desserts—the apple and gooseberry crumble was exquisite! The church was absolutely full with listeners too, and the atmosphere was brilliant. I look forward to next week!