Sunday

2 baptisms at St Andrew's - both older boys who grabbed the mike! The music was straightforward "Guide me O thou great Redeemer" "Spirit of faithfulness" (to Blow the wind southerly - shades of Kathleen Ferrier) "Just as I am" (to "Saffron Walden") and "Colours of day" (not a favourite of mine - very suitable for cremations - so light up the fire and let the flames burn. What does the line about the sun dying mean?) The setting was the Hurdy-gurdy one by Norman Warren with the Agnus sung to "Caswall". I played Nobilmente and Toccata by Dom Andrew Moore and at a communion a plainchant based piece on "O sacrum convivium" by John Lee and a Stanley slow movement.
Afterwards spent time rehearsing "O happy day" with the children and some adults for the wedding. After all this work the bride has cold feet and we are not singing it after all! Still it gives more time to rehearse the other pieces on Saturday!
Visited Grandma and Mary and she has now seen the doctor. Nice to see Evelyn McBride and a nurse who looked after me when I had my knee op! Constructed the new gas BBQ - had to change the legs round in order to get the wooden side panel to lie flat.
Lovely evensong on the radio from the 3 choirs at Gloucester - Blair, Elgar and Harris. Superb "Gotterdammerung" on the radio from the Proms. The BBC chorus were most impressive and Sir John Tomlinson as commanding as ever! Donald Runnicles conducted. Having seen it recently on TV helps a lot!

Comments

Edward said…
A hurdy-gurdy mass--now that beggars the imagination! Although there's a composer here who's done masses with steel drum band (quite effective, actually), bagpipe, and so on. My harpsichord builder friend has a large collection of historic hurdy-gurdies and musettes--always fun to see and hear (although I suspect this is not what you were talking about!).
13 August 2007 at 16:56
John the organist said…
Tee hee - I call it that because it's in A major and sounds like a carousel tune!
13 August 2007 at 23:57
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Vigil

 Saturday a memorable day. SM walk in Muswell Hill. To Parliament and met up with Kate, Lyn and Graham. So many people and buggies! The tourist trade has clearly revived. Glad I took my chair and the 2 hours went quickly. Ecological Stations and Rosary and Laudate Deum meditation. William Rhind and animators came. Sean and Ciaran came and Louise and Tom went to a party in Coulsdon. We went to Mass and I spoke to the lady from CAFOD. Petition nearly at 1000! Sunday Lent 1 Played Demessieux on Attende domine which Linda and I sang. Prelude and fughetta Franck. A mosy enjoyable family lunch at Westow House. Lamb and lemon posset. Had a sleep! Evensong Howells Like as the hart. Wierd hymn Christian dost thou see them to St Andrew of Crete by Dykes. Throwdown was good. Ben Fogle in the Congo. Antiques roadshow. Petition passed 1000!  Monday woke at 6 and 9.15. Chat to Ann. Swim and aerobics. Barbara's Mum had died last week - she is Jamaican. CMF zoom on the situation with Tim Live...
Read more

Optician

Image
 Monday swim and aerobics with the formidable Grace in bright red! To Crystal Palace optician and we are both having new glasses. Mine are 10 years old! Tea and cake. Tuesday swim and to Bromley cinema to see Message in a bottle amazing dance about refugees. Got a charger for my mobile. Enjoyed Santa's book - it made me cry! Golden wedding spreadsheet started. Exc talk by Fr Rob Esdaile on the white flag comment of Pope Francis. Sewing Bee was good.  Wed nice reply from Santa. Dm Brendan elected as abbot of Belmont. He will be good. To Our Lady's for annual Mass remembering deceased Norwood catenians. Fr Keith read the names at the start. Declan and I did the offertory - no prayers this time. Best turnout so far - Brendan, Mike, Tom, Declan, Mike Belfourd. Coffee in the hall. The new Polish priest has long silences after the consecrations. Prayer posture throughout the gospel?? To St Michael's for recital by Martin Noble from Chapel royal St James' palace. Very good. No...
Read more