It was the annual organ concert (free because of the endowment by Marianne Webb and David Bateman). Last night it was David Briggs. And although we haven't been to all of the concerts in the ten-odd years they've been given, nor are we (in spite of my B-3 surname) organ connoisseurs, it was far and away our favorite concert. I realize the organists must get bored, and feel they've got to be creative, but all too often they play stuff that's not really suited. This was LOUD:

• Prelude & Fugue in B minor (Bach)--great, and not one I'm familiar with.



• Naiades & Adagio (Vierne)--the first was OK for displaying technical virtuosity, I guess.



• Promotheus (Liszt)--great, even though it was a transcription.



• Popular Song (from Facade, by William Walton)--cute.



• Sonata #1, Op. 42 (Alexandre Guilmant)--I've never heard of the guy. This was wonderful.



• An improvisation. I was afraid we wouldn't get it, or it would be muddled, but it was clever of him to base it on "America the Beautiful", a tune that everyone in the audience knew, and the improvisation was very appealing.

It was all listenable. How dreadfully bourgeois! How we liked it!