It should not go unremarked - as I have just heard from BBC Radio 3,
still on after the First Night of the Proms - that yesterday was the 65th
birthday of Harrison Birtwistle (they're now playing an extract from "The
Mask of Orpheus", which I am gradually coming to admire very much) and the
50th birthday of John Casken.  65 is a significant birthday in the UK -
Harry will now be able to draw his state pension, and to apply for a free
pass for bus travel.  I should love to hear some of the conversations he
might have with fellow-travellers . . .

As for "The Mask of Time" - I missed the first 15 minutes as I was late
back from a visit to my Rastafarian osteopath, but I saw some of it on TV
and heard the rest on the radio.  My opinion is unchanged.  I doubt that
exposing it to the TV audience has made many converts to contemporary
classical music.

Ian Crisp
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