Today I once again performed at the Dubois organ for some familiy members. Compared to 2015, 2016 and 2017, I felt relatively calm and well prepared. I played the program of about 35 minutes at home two days ago, yesterday, and one of the pieces this very morning at the target instrument. Not to mention the on-site practice sessions during the last couple of weeks.

Surprisingly, it turned into the worst performance I ever did – I lost contact to the sheet music two times. One time I had to resume the pièce, the other I finished a section a couple of bars earlier as intended. This very eve is the occasion to reflect what issues led to this situation.

• Despite many practicing hours, I do not cope perfectly with the pieces yet.
• The instrument is different than my practising instrument, so additional distractions happen every now and then.
• The two points are based on my lack of professional practicing habits.

Interestingly, the pieces I play the longest failed most, whereas pieces I thought could fail worked better than expected. Here’s what I played this year:

• Abraham van den Kerckhoven (1618-1702) – Cocquiel-Manuscript (1741) – Prelúdium & Fúga (en Ré mineur) – screwed up completely
• Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706) – Chaconne (en fa mineur) – minor imperfections
• Louis-Nicolas Clérambault (1676-1749) – Premier Livre d’Orgue – Suite du lle Ton (en sol mineur, 1710)
  • Plein Jeu – minor imperfections
  • Duo – minor imperfections
  • Basse de Cromorne – screwed up completely
  • Récit de Nazard – minor imperfections
  • Caprice sur les Grands Jeux – minor imperfections
• François Couperin (1668 – 1733) – Messe a l’usage des Paroisses (en sol mineur, Paris 1690) – Benedictus (Chromhorne en taille)