Friday in Edinburgh – What’s On Today

Bach Before Breakfast: John Bryden plays Bach and Shostakovich on the Cathedral Steinway. Coffee and croissants follow. 8.05-8.35am, St Mary’s Cathedral, Palmerston Place. Free: retiring collection.

Mythical Maze Ceremony: have you completed the Challenge?  Come to the ceremony to collect your certificate, medal and prize! For ages 4-11. 2-3pm, Central Children’s Library, George IV Bridge. Part of the Mythical Maze Summer Reading Challenge.

Be A Legend! Stockbridge Library Summer Reading Challenge Closing Party. Fancy dress competition – come dressed as your favourite hero, heroine or mythical creature; design your own coat of arms and collect your Reading Challenge awards! 3-4.30pm, Stockbridge Library, Hamilton Place. Part of the Mythical Maze Summer Reading Challenge.

Isa Genzken: Botanical Garden Curator’s Tour. Inverleith House Curator Paul Nesbitt and Exhibitions Officer Chloe Reith present an insight into the artworks presented in Botanical Garden, focusing on the last 15 years of Genzken’s artistic practice. 2-2.45pm, tour begins from Reception, Inverleith House, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. No booking required. Inverleith house is currently hosting Botanical Garden, the first Scottish exhibition of Genzken’s work, featuring sculptural assemblages and wall and floor based photographic collages. The exhibition is open 10am-5.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday, until 28th September as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival 2014.

Easel Sketching in the Gallery: inspired by the Titian exhibition and working from a costumed figure. 2-4pm, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free; no booking necessary.

Self-Portrait, aged 51 by Rembrandt: Art historian Andrew Paterson will discuss Rembrandt’s possible motivations for making this and his many other self-portraits, and ways in which the painting might be interpreted in the light of the artistic and religious culture of 17th century Holland.  12.45-1.30pm, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.

Scotland The Brave: A Graphic History of Scotland 1514-2014: Portobello-born Martin Fowler launches his new book, which is available in a limited hardback edition of 500. This history of Scotland in visual form contains highly detailed and dramatic ink drawings which appropriate the formal style of the 18th century political cartoons of James Gillray. ‘They present an accessible and dynamic aide-memoire for those interested in Scottish history, while serving as a timely comment on ideas of nationhood and identity.’ 6.30pm, Word Power Books, 43-45 West Nicolson Street. Admission free! Donations welcome!

Lunchtime Concert: Ivor Clayman (baritone) and John Bryden (piano.) 1.10-1.50pm, St Mary’s Cathedral, Palmerston Place. Free: retiring collection.