The organist librarian

Liz and I spent my day off on a drive to Uppark near Petersfield. Rhododendrons are out. The weather was atrocious going down and it took 2 and a half hours to do 53 miles thanks to traffic and roadworks and a fire on the A3. We had a good lunch and enjoyed the house which is National Trust. We went there years ago with the kids. Liz's aunt Kay RIP gave us life membership of the NT which was a super present. We had tea and cake and toured the exhibition about the disastrous fire of 1989 and the restoration work completed in 1995. By then the sun was out and we walked to the dairy and stables. I got out at Morden and got the tube up to chorus rehearsal of "Fidelio" with Mark Griffiths from Covent Garden, who is young and enthusiastic. Liz went with Louise to order the wedding cake and came home with the lovely invitation which has a peacock feather theme - very nice!

Here is Revd Beverley Mason's meditation on this icon. Imagine sitting in the beautiful darkened St John's Upper Norwood with just a few votives burning before the icons on the altar as we did last night with Allegri's Miserere playing. This image of the Holy Trinity is based on a mysterious episode in the Old Testament in which God appeared to Abraham and Sarah in the form of three angels (Genesis 18:1-5). The angels depict the manifestation of the Godhead - reading from left to right, they represent the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Allow your eyes to draw a cricle along the outer contours of the angels. This is an endless circle of perfect unity and loving communion. Notice how the three figures resemble one another and notice too their inherent unity: One God in three Persons who complete one another in an endless circle of loving communion. At the centre of this Circle of Love is a chalice, which signifies the mystery of the Incarnation and the life-giving blood of Chri...

We interviewed for casual assistants this evening and found 3 suitable candidates! It is exhausting work. To St John's Upper Norwood for an illustrated talk on icons by Revd Beverley Mason which was most interesting. At the end there was an opportunity to pray at different altars with icons. I chose the Rublev Trinity which is my favourite!

A very wet bank Holiday. Liz was asked to operate the tower lift at the cathedral so I went to Bromley Parish church to hear Timothy Byram-Wigfield from St George's Chapel, Windsor. He introduced a delightful programme. In Saint-Saens' Danse macabre he mentioned the special cockerel stop to herald the dawn! Some fine Buxtehude and Bach and sweet Alfred Hollins. Guy Bovet and Jongen Toccata. What a treat! To the British library for the magnificent Sacred exhibition on the 3 Abrahamic faiths. Wonderful books and objects and the audio guide most helpful. It's free so i will go again especially as there is a display about the Proms as well! Found some hilarious organist videos on You tube but not sure how to load them onto this blog!

Sunday afternoon to the organ recital at Westminster Cathedral given by Huw Williams assistant DofM of St Paul's cathedral. Bach, Heiller (not to my taste - too loud), Leighton and Durufle all based around Veni creator. To Churches together in Westminster service at St George's, Hanover Square which is a magnificent building where Handel and George II worshipped. Simon Williams of RCO fame played and directed the professional choir in 3 anthems. The service was based on materials for the Week of Prayer for Christian unity and there was an opportunity to share news so I spoke about the interfaith plans and spirituality centre at the cathedral. As a result I met lots of people who take the info leaflets! Mary Maxwell was also there from the cathedral. Indian Pentecost from PadreRob!

Come down O love divine, seek thou this soul of mine... Let earthly passions turn to dust and ashes in its heat consuming... Let holy charity mine outward vesture be, and lowliness become mine inner clothing; true lowliness of heart which takes the humbler part, and o'er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing. Bianco da Siena (d.1434) Come, Holy Spirit! Come, Father and Mother of the poor! Come, our sweet refreshment, our solace in the midst of woe, our light in darkness. Healer of our wounds, dew upon our dryness, warmth for our cold hearts. A version of Veni Sancte Spiritus the sequence for Pentecost by Carroll Stuhlmueller, C.P. Caroll Stuhlmueller's daily Biblical meditations on the readings of the day have been my companion since 1997 (10 years!) and they are still in print and worth getting! He has a gift for linking the readings together. This week has been very special with Into great silence, Gerontius, confirmation, Othello, Pat Gaffney and the Queen's gallery. ...

10 people attended the Cathedral Justice and Peace meeting addressed by Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi. She was so inspiring and spoke about interfaith work and what each of us could do. I said I thought we needed a vision of the epace that each of us can bring and that everyone can make a difference! See Isabel Losada's Tibet how one person can change the world. At the Pentecost Vigil Mass Bishop John Arnold celebrated confirmation. Liz sang the psalm and Alleluia as she is a catechist. Bishop John's homily was just right and he too spoke of the vision and inspiration we all need and how we need to look again at where we are in our faith journey. He spoke to each candidate before confirming each one - it was a lovely experience. I am sitting in the second row in the photo from "Solomon, I have surpassed thee". We sang "Come down O love divine"! Afterwards there was a reception in the hall. Thanks to Padre Rob for the Maronite and Coptic icons of Pentecost! I ha...

Mgr Mark Langham mentioned in a homily at the cathedral the excellent exhibition at the Queen's gallery, Buckingham Palace, of the Art of Italy. I spent a happy 90 minutes enjoying pictures, sculptures, drawings, furniture and books. The audio guide is excellent. Alas the shop did not have postcards of the pictures I really liked but here is the Caravaggio.

Wow! 101 posts. Thank you to all who have commented on my blog. I also have My Space and Father Rob has posted hilarious videos about organists.

Thursday's performance in the cathedral was very special! At the afternoon I spoke to Sir Andrew Davis and he signed my score. He remembered conducting the work with the chorus. James Gilchrist was a stunning Gerontius really singing out. I put him up with Stuart Burrowes as one of the finest I have heard. Peter Sidhorn a commanding Priest and Angel. Catherine Wyn Rogers has made the Angel her own and the final section was taken very slowly and tenderly. She bears comparison with my beloved Dame Janet Baker. The chorus did well we think and there was a good audience. Bruce came to sell programmes. We saw Gervaise afterwards and several friends. I certainly enjoyed the experience and it made me think hard about my end and what I have done in my life. Maybe we all need to think more about hell and judgement! Yes there is a loving God who will accept us all and purgatory seems like a logical idea especially for those who have no chance to repent. Othello has a line about not wishing t...

Wednesday was an extraordinary day. I spent some time reading "Othello". Ann did not come on Skype. To Coulsdon to choose music for June with Vickie. There was a line side fire at London bridge so had to get train to Victoria and then tube to Southwark. Met Bruce at Shakespeare's Globe for the outstanding production of "Othello". We had excellent seats against the wall in the lower gallery. The couple next to me had seen Paul Robeson play it at Stratford and apparently he sang after the performance - quite a feat! Olivier's film has influenced our perceptions. Tim McInerney commanded the stage as Iago. There was a class of 11 year olds from a special needs school and they were restless - what could they make of such a play? Fortunately they went at interval. The final scenes were so moving with Desdemona fighting for her life and Othello's tragic end taunted by Emilia. "Oh the pity of it" "It is the cause" "farewell the pomp and ...

On Monday I swam 42 lengths - my best ever effort! Tuesday and Friday I overslept so missed out on my swim but I did go on Thursday but I was late so only did 20 lengths. There is a Bank holiday on Monday so I will have to wait until Tuesday to get back into normal practice. I did go to Tai Chi on Monday and Jeff told us all about his trip to China and Hong Kong. Graeme was on the train on Tuesday and today as Dom caught a bug on the plane back from Florida. It was good to see him again! On Tuesday we served at the Mass for volunteers and there was a delightful reception in the cathedral hall. Mgr Mark urged us to meet new people and I met 5 people new to me including the new Cathedral manager, who has been very helpful with bookings for the Interfaith sessions. June 20th 3 to 5 is the launch of the new interfaith group.

I was very struck by a phrase in the second reading for the Ascension from Hebrews 10. "So as we go in, let us be sincere in heart and filled with faith, our minds sprinkled and free from any taint of bad conscience and our bodies washed with pure water". I had earlier in the day been reading about how Muslims must ritually wash before prayer. We wash the priest's hands before the consecration prayer and after he distributes communion. The eucharistic ministers wash in the same way. I was always taught to wash my hands and clean my teeth before going to a communion service. And how good it would be to be able to approach the service with our minds free from any taint! Father Rob rightly reminds me about blessing ourselves with holy water as we enter the church and Asperges (sprinkling) especially in the Easter season - this has so far not happened at the Vigil Mass at the Cathedral to my knowledge!

Ian Hislop presented a programme on BBC4 to mark the centenary of scouting. He interviewed Paul Moynihan who is Scout archivist about Baden Powell's original manuscript of "Scouting for Boys". Paul is a natural and very relaxed.

Tonight we rehearsed with Sir Andrew Davis. It was quite like old times. I have been in the Philharmonia Chorus for 33 years and Liz several more years than that. I like Sir Andrew's approach to the work especially his idea of the demons going away afraid. The concert is in Westminster Cathedral on Thursday at 7.30 p.m.and promises to be a memorable occasion. Catherine Wyn-Rogers is singing the Angel - I see she signed my score as did Dame Janet Baker and Benjamin Luxon. The latter signed when we sang in York Minster in the 70s. We also have a photo of the chorus at the Festival Hall with Janet Baker and Sir Andrew. This is my favourite work - as the late Dom Alan Rees said of the Angel's farewell "This is a loving God waiting to receive us home". Sir Andrew still has his chuckle and he spoke of his time at Kings' with Sir David Willcocks and the purity of their vowels in those days "I was gled".

They are engaged at last! May they be very happy together! 4 years since we met AnnMarie who is a nurse from Dublin. Dennis has a new job in Sligo - general medicine and not histopathology which is what he wants to do. There were 120 applicants for the 20 jobs in Scotland! He has done well at interviews.

gListened to choral evensong from the St Pancras festival of contemporary church music. At St John's we sang Gibbons Short service and Pitoni Cantate domino and 2 hymns to tunes by Percy Buck who died in 1947.He was cathedral organist of Bristol and Wells and became Professor of Music at Dublin then London University. he was knighted in 1935. The tunes were "Gonfalon Royal" and "Martyns" - both very singable. We sang "Gonfalon Royal" to an Ascensiontide hymn at the cathedral last night and use it for "The royal banners forward go" at Passiontide. Adrian Adams played Psalm Prelude Set 1 no 1 by Herbert Howells - a favourite of Dad's although I don't think I ever played it in public! Liz was working in the garden and I fixed the water fixture (again). When I went to get bird seed out of the shed, found that the mice had attacked the fruit slabs for the birds. The birds like the seedballs the best! The garden is looking good with fine i...

Today we sang Psalm 121 "I will lift up my eyes unto the hills" to the chant Barry Rose composed for the Queen's Silver Jubilee service at St Paul's. Clare had asked for this - she went to school in India and the hills mean a lot to her! The readings on the weekly sheet gave the Easter Alleluia verse instead of the post-Ascension one but I maintained we must stick with what the people had in their hands even if it is "wrong". The psalm was supposed to be next week as we had no tenor apart from me but in the event all went well. Statham in D is a good setting and Tallis's "If ye love me" a favourite motet. The tenor has a lovely phrase going up to a top G and the counterpoint is a masterpiece with the alto sailing over the soprano at the end! We also sang "Our blest redeemer e'er he breathed his tender last farewell" from A & M - such a lovely sentiment! I played the Dubois Toccata and Bach "Christ is erstanden" prelu...

My Mum would have been 88 today. She would have had a party with cake and candles and smiled! Clare suggested to Ann that Mum would prefer money to be given to charity and she's right but I still think a celebration is right! How I miss her and Dad! The choir from New Hall school, Chelmsford sang at the Mass this evening and they were superb. Kyrie from Messe Basse by Faure, Thou wilt keep him by Wesley and a lovely haunting Agnus Dei from the Little Jazz mass by Bob Chilcott. Good to see Deacons Peter and Richard.

Superb singing at the cathedral Mass this evening of Mass and motets by A. Gabrieli with the boys soaring up and basses ending low! Padrerob has excellent comments on his blog about the Ascension which RCs now have to celebrate on Sunday and St Brendan's Day. We are told that the shortage of priests has meant that holy Days of obligation must move to Sundays. I think this a great shame. There is no shortage of Catholic priests - what of all those who left to marry? Bring them back into ministry and the problem is solved. Last night we had Sung Eucharist at Coulsdon. We sang Harwood in A flat and Croft's "God is gone up". Last year we managed the Finzi! Thanks to PadreRob's blog for the picture which is fun! Find it here

My second trip last Saturday to Cambridge for the Bromley and Croydon organists association. The highlights 2 years ago were Our Lady and English Martyrs (OLEM) and St John's. This time we started at 10 a.m. at Great St Mary's where Sam Hayes demonstrated both organs, the parish and university ones. He played a piece by Ibert on the Father Smith organ. Then to Emmanuel College where Joseph Fort was a delightful host. Next to King's where Peter Robinson demonstrated the organ and Martin Ball showed him how to adjust the tremulant! We were not allowed to play here but it was marvellous to be in the loft! After a quick lunch to Pembroke chapel where Gregory Drott demonstrated and relaxed too! Selwyn College has a fine Letourneau and Sarah Macdonald was excellent. Then back to Sidney Sussex college where Jamal Sutton played for us on the Harrison organ. There was time for several of us to play each organ. Time for tea with Marilyn Harper and lots of MAs about in their ...

Stayed the weekend at a Best Western hotel (The Roebuck) near Stevenage and had a delightful lunch with Pam Winters in her lovely home in Baldock. We sang in the choir at Mass there. The director is Philip Dean, brother of Stephen, and director of Pax Travel so he knows the cathedral staff well. The music was good apart from the dreary American eucharist! A most unusual diamond shaped church with an Allen organ. Pam is such a lovely person and she meditates - we had not seen her for 5 years. We had such an interesting chat.

On Wednesday to St Ethelburga's in the City. A tour from Dr Chris Hewer and we sat in the tent and discussed his Discovering Islam course. I begin to think that Catholics need to be told about the documents form the Vatican. I then went to meet Anthony Bailey who is offering help. Served at Mass and then to Justice and Peace group meeting. Richard Nesbitt was there having recovered from collapsing when running the marathon - he is 40 and due to be ordained next month. He looks well. The planning section was very unsatisfactory and I left feeling annoyed. However I will attend what I can. Martin Ball gave an interesting recital at St Michael's, West Croydon - Ralph Vaughan Williams, John Ireland and Telemann!

To Catenian meeting on Monday evening and to pub lunch on Wednesday although I left early to get to Martin Ball's recital at St Michael's West Croydon.

Isabel's new book on Men is fascinating. She says women are more empathetic where men are systematic. I like to empathise with people and listen to them but I also like order and system. Her previous books are excellent too - Anglican nuns, Battersea Park road to enlightenment; Tibet and changing the world.She visits the library and has been to talk to our reading group twice. See her website www.isabellosada.com I have now finished the book. She is urging absolute honesty and if this leads to divorce so be it. Staying together for the children is usually not a good idea. She has a brilliant section on the affects of divorce on those involved. It would certainly make any man think twice! She will be at the library on October 20th 10.30 a.m. to 12 noon See also www.librarything/com/catalog/JohnWoodhouse

I drove to Gloucestershire on Tuesday once the car brake lights had been fixed! On the way I saw a sign to Down Ampney so I had to go and visit the church and there found a copy of the famous hymn tune pinned on the organ console and an excellent exhibition about the life of Ralph Vaughan Williams who was born there but left aged 2! Traffic round Gloucester was bad but I reached Lydbrook in the early evening and stayed with Trish Clarkson who used to teach IT at the library and works at Monmouth library. It was through her looking at this blog that the invitation came. Everything is homegrown and organic and there is a stunning view from her home. On the Wednesday we drove to Monmouth and to Tintern Abbey. The dedication day office at 12 noon in the Abbey was led by Archbishop Peter Smith and the Bishop of Monmouth preached about migrants. The rain held off until the procession to see the sculptor Philip Chatfield working on the statue of Our Lady of Tintern. I must confess I was surp...

An absolutely splendid day with the choirs of St John's and St Michael's, West Croydon joining the choir of St Stephen's for evensong, a scrumptious tea and a meditation about angels. The link between the 3 churches is that john Loughborough Pearson designed them all. We set off by coach at 9.30 a.m. and reached Bournemouth at 12.30 p.m. The weather was dull until the evening. The church is very fine but not as big as either of the Croydon buildings. Percy Whitlock played here and the organ is tucked away high above the choir. Christopher Moore was on great form at the organ. A beautiful Easter garden complete with the symbols of the Passion, a lovely Lady statue and a tasteful display about St Cecilia! The singing was splendid with the massed choirs enjoying Stanford in A, Bairstow's Blessed City, Howells Magnificat Coll Reg, Stanford in B flat Te Deum, Faire is the heaven of Harris, Let all mortal flesh by Bairstow, And I saw another angel by Stanford. There could per...

The Eucharist with baptism today began with that wonderful hymn "Come down, O Love divine" to "Down Ampney" by Ralph Vaughan Williams. I played Henry G.Ley's voluntary on the tune. The words are such an inspiration. "Let holy charity mine outward vesture be and lowliness become mine inner clothing. True lowliness of heart that takes the humbler part and o'er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing". Cardinal Hume understood this so well. Bishop George last night at the confirmation said that none of us are worthy of the love of God. Bianco de Siena has this sublime thought: "O let it freely burn, till earthly passions turn to dust and ashes in its heat consuming: and let thy glorious light shine ever on my sight, and clothe me round, the while my path illuming". It reminds of me Wesley's great "O thou who camest from above" - "kindle a flame of sacred love on the mean altar of my heart. There let it for thy glory burn ...

The brake lights failed on the car so it has been public transport since Friday evening. I went to Coulsdon on the train and had a long organ practise before choir practice. As there is no choral evensong this month because various people cannot make the dates suggested, we do not need practices on 2 Fridays. Today I went by train to work. The computers were off all day (pre-arranged) so it was very quiet and I cleared a large backlog of local papers. I cut out items about Battersea. it is shocking how many murders and gang-related incidents there are. Not much good news! I got to the Cathedral in time to be in the congregation for Vespers - normally I am in my servers robes for this. Good to have the 2 Pauls to serve at the diocesan confirmation. Came home on the train and bus with Liz and we watched some snooker while eating pizzas. I felt so sad this morning - I was thinking about how I need cuddles and love and the tender touch of my Mum when I was a little boy. I think it was sayi...

To the meeting at Wimbledon of the Southwark ecumenical commission of which I am still vice-chair! Parish unity contacts were invited and there 4 of us from Croydon deanery. We saw an excellent DVD of 40 years of Catholic involvement in ecumenism which was inspiring and useful. Lots of men in funny hats giving the kiss of peace! Still we have come a long way but how one longs for true intercommunion!

Today the Philharmonia Chorus took part in a concert in the refurbished Royal Festival Hall which has been closed for 2 years. At the morning rehearsal it was clear that the sound was much better and the larger stage and comfortable choir seats made a noticeable difference. It was good to see the names of people who had given new seats on them. I wonder if some will insist on sitting on "their" seat! The first half was Royal Academy of Music students doing songs from the shows and very well done it was to! Particularly enjoyed "Always look on the bright side of life" from Spamalot! Imogen Cooper played a Mozart piano concerto C minor movement and we sang Verdi's superb Te Deum. Robin O'Neill is a very clear conductor and Britten's Young person's guide to the orchestra was great! Aidan Oliver was encouraging as chorus master for this event. In the afternoon to the Centre for spirituality for study of the Road to Emmaus. Chris Hewers came to meet me ab...