Philip Howie
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musicianbynight.bsky.social
Philip Howie
@musicianbynight.bsky.social
650 followers 970 following 930 posts
Materials scientist by day and musician by night in Cambridge, UK. Christian. Percussionist, pianist, flautist, conductor, and instrument maker
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musicianbynight.bsky.social
Moving timpani ahead of Sunday's concert wasn't really what I wanted to spend my lunchtime doing, but never mind; at least it's done now
Me in the car, wearing a blue coat, with a small tap-tuned timp on the front seat and two larger drums in the back.
November 27, 2025 at 12:33 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
A friend asked for an opinion on this car she's thinking of buying. It looked great, but I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if I hadn't pointed out the number plate could be... misinterpreted... 🤭
A black MG hatchback car with the numberplate BJ71 LVN.
November 24, 2025 at 6:27 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
Today is the feast day of St Cecilia, patron saint of musicians. I celebrated with a concert of English music, in Sir Henry Wood's church 🎶
View from the front of a large, traditional English church. Various orchestral percussion instruments sit between the choir stalls, which are lit with individual lights. Beyond this are a wind band and an audience, flanked by arches. A vibraphone, with four red mallets lying on it. The boot of a white estate car, filled to bursting with drums and other percussion instruments.
November 22, 2025 at 11:00 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
This really is a fabulous place for an orchestra rehearsal
An orchestra rehearses in a well-lit and modern brick-built church with arches along the sides and a large organ at the far end. Percussion instruments - a suspended cymbal and triangle - and music stands are visible in the foreground.
November 18, 2025 at 8:28 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
Once in a while, it's fun to actually LISTEN to a gig I'm not playing in. Yesterday, Flook at the Junction in Cambridge
Four folk musicians perform on a stage lit in pink and blue, under a banner saying 'Flook Sanju'. An alto flautist stands on one leg to play, a guitarist and bodhràn player sit, and an Irish flautist finishes the lineup.
November 18, 2025 at 5:26 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
In Birmingham today, for the Lab Innovations trade fair
Me, wearing a tweed jacket and blue lanyard, in a large exhibition hall.
October 30, 2025 at 1:28 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
Tonight, I'm being a Little Mermaid 🧜🏻‍♀️
An orchestral percussion setup comprising clash and suspended cymbals, triangle, glockenspiel, and a pair of individual tubular bells.
October 21, 2025 at 7:46 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
After a busy concert last night and accompanying a church service this morning, my xylophone and I have made it to Sudbury for a quick Shost 5, before driving back to conduct tonight's rehearsal 😵‍💫
Orchestral percussion, set up at the back of an orchestra, in a church. A xylophone features prominently.
October 19, 2025 at 12:40 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
This outfit screams "professional orchestral percussionist", right? Right...??
Me, in front of a whole pile of percussion instruments on a stage. I'm wearing a sweatshirt depicting Mickey Mouse rocking out on a drum kit. Visible behind me are a concert bass drum, wind chimes, a vibraphone, three suspended cymbals, and a glockenspiel.
October 18, 2025 at 6:18 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
Pointless change to the government's visa rules, aimed only at hurting students while pandering to the right. Graduate-level employers don't WANT new hires to be limited to 2 years, or 18 months; we want to enable people to build their careers here with us
www.gov.uk/government/n...
To ensure graduates contribute effectively to the economy, the maximum post-study stay will be reduced to 18 months from the current 2 years for most from 1 January 2027. It comes after data clearly showed that many holders had not transitioned into graduate-level employment as intended.
October 15, 2025 at 8:04 AM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
Quite a setup for the Lindberg clarinet concerto we rehearsed tonight - and this is just the half of it that I played. Let's just say the car was rather full
A multipercussion setup including a bass drum, wind chimes, temple blocks, a vibraphone, a glockenspiel, and three suspended cymbals.
October 14, 2025 at 10:42 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
Five years ago today: our first wind band rehearsal back after the dark times. Half the hand, sitting two metres apart from each other in a freezing village hall with the windows open. That figure on the right, visible around the pillar, is the distant conductor. Interesting times...
A socially distanced wind band rehearsal in a village hall. Individual players sit with their instruments and music stands, separated from each other. Lots of warm winter coats are visible. There's a pillar in the way. The conductor is only distantly visible.
October 1, 2025 at 1:03 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
Behold! My black squirrel - and he's found a nut
A black squirrel sits on a fence panel, holding a nut in its mouth.
October 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
Another wonderful - if very long - evening at the opera 🎩🎶😁😴
The cast of Verdi's 'Sicilian Vespers' takes a bow on the Royal Opera House stage. Joyce El-Khoury takes centre stage, bowing low in a white wedding dress, surrounded by assorted ballet dancers, Sicilian peasants, and French soldiers on a three-level stage.
October 1, 2025 at 12:09 AM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
Back the the Royal Opera House for the second time in a month! This time for Verdi's 'Sicilian Vespers' - all four hours of it 😬😁
The interior of the Royal Opera House, all gold and red velvet curtain.
September 30, 2025 at 5:27 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
Ooh, new reading material 🤓
The title page of a book: "The Crumhorn - a concise method for the crumhorn and other wind-cap instruments" by Edgar Hunt.
September 22, 2025 at 6:24 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
Amazing gig tonight from Fascinating Aida. Laugh out loud funny, poignant, and impeccably delivered
A stage, lit in purple, containing a small electric grand piano, a pianist in a black jacket, and three ladies of a certain age wearing sparkly dresses and taking the audience's warm applause.
September 21, 2025 at 10:05 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
All set up for this afternoon's gig with Cambridge Wind Band. Come down and hear us on Parker's Piece!
A wind band setting up in a marquee on a field, taken from behind the drum kit.
September 20, 2025 at 10:41 AM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
The latest incremental upgrade to the workshop: these bins will tidy up and organise so many of the little bits that clutter up the space and make it all that more usable
The corner of a workshop, with a router table and a wall-mounted rack for storage bins. The corner of a workshop, with a router table and a wall-mounted rack for storage bins, now with several red and yellow bins holding components and tools.
September 16, 2025 at 10:53 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
And here we go with another new orchestral season! 🥁 😎
An orchestral percussion section, set up in a church with pinkish orange carpets. Visible are a xylophone, glockenspiel, bass drum, four suspended cymbals, clash cymbals, a triangle, and a mark tree.
September 16, 2025 at 7:07 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
Chinese and a cider in front of the Last Night of the Proms. Who else is watching?
A plate of Chinese food on a tray on my lap, in front of a TV showing Katie Dereham presenting the Proms, in a friend's living room.
September 13, 2025 at 7:40 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
Two concerts in one day? Why not! This time, early music for choir, accompanied by His Majesty's Sagbutts and Cornett's, in Coventry
View toward the altar end of a large traditional English church. A modern stained glass window depicts Christ, while a red-robed choir sings. Musicians accompany on sackbut - a type of early trombone - and cornett.
September 12, 2025 at 8:07 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
While in Birmingham, I thought I'd take in a lunchtime recital at the cathedral, and was introduced to the piano music of FE Bache by the wonderful Dr Elizabeth French
The front of Birmingham cathedral, looking between marble-clad columns towards the altar and stained glass. A baby grand piano takes centre stage while the pianist, wearing a red dress, speaks into a microphone.
September 12, 2025 at 1:27 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
Fascinating round table discussion with other representatives from across engineering industries, about what we want from young employees entering the workforce
A conference room with brick walls and a large, open, rectangular table. A dozen or so people mill around networking, while coffee mugs and notebooks sit on the table.
September 12, 2025 at 12:07 PM
musicianbynight.bsky.social
Why am I in London, you may ask? For a special sneak preview of this (sure to be) stunning opera, with Netrebko, de Tommaso, Finley...
Me, wearing a red pullover and tweed jacket, in front of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden - an ornate building with a colonnade and red flags flying. Poster advertising the Royal Opera's of Puccini's Tosca, featuring Anna Netrebko wearing a red gown in the title role.
September 9, 2025 at 5:39 PM