Music and Parliament

Walked over to St Mary's Cathedral for a piano recital by John Bryden : 
Bartok Andante
Rachmaninov preludes in B minor, B major, G sharp minor
Brahms Ballades in D minor, D major, B minor, B major
with good words about the scenes and stories evoking the compositions 

Excellent playing, and a grand setting with the Steinway in the centre of the building, sun streaming in through the fine stained glass windows. Nearly 100 people. 

In the early evening a last minute invitation to the Festival of Politics Launch Reception, at the Parliament building. (Extra) More interesting from a people watching point of view; we talked with the MSP for Lothian (the only person I know in Scottish politics) and the MSP for South Scotland, and our neighbours who had put us on the guest list. Really poor from the point of view of the quality of the of the music and performance. The Presiding Officer, who was supposed to talk about the Festival, was late, so we left early .. 

No rain all day, a glorious sunset in the evening.