I was in the mood for slow music. First came the last movement of Mahler’s 3rd Symphony – the slowest version on record, by Leonard Bernstein and the Vienna Philharmonic. I was never aware of key issues over the full 26 minutes. D major with its heavenly character, and a piece that gained a special place in my heart over 40 years ago in my teens.

Next choice was the slow movement of Bruckner’s 7th symphony, Wagner tubas and all. This glorious piece migrates through keys but begins in C sharp minor and ends in its major and happier brother rather rare key of C sharp major. The music settled towards its close after its last grand climax. I became aware that I was able to choose which key it was to end in: both C sharp major and the semitone-up key of D major were available. I could choose between them at will. C sharp major of the original, or the spiritual heavenly side of D major as in the Mahler. A blessed choice as the soft chord in brass faded to nothing – or everything.