The organist librarian

To St Mary's to practise - fitted in between roaary and 12.10 a.m.mass. There was a delay starting and I played Sumsion and Bairstow and Willcocks arrangement of Veni emmanuel (Dermot's favourite) and I know. 7 choir members there so they sang well also people from the Railway club. At the end Michael Fleming's arrangement of Now the Green blade riseth. We got a little off the rack going to Long Ditton but did see the grave - it's a lovely cemetery and nice meal at the Ditton. We gave Louise Sage a lift. Parked at Battersea Park and of course the one night there was no 452 straight after the concert! LPO under Jurowski Bantock, Prokofiev Piano concerto 3 stunning playing from Anika Vavic, Sibelius and Also sprach. 

Swam 20.  To nurse for Hepatitis booster and new passport came. Liz went to the osteopath and I went to the South London interfaith group meeting at which I spoke about the Conversations for the soul plans for Streatham mosque in November. 6 people interested. To Guildhall art gallery - the special photography exhibition was actually very small. More interesting were the portraits. The London amphitheatre ruins are well presented. The Victorian paintings do not inspire and there is a harrendous marble statue of Thatcher on loan from the House of Commons! To the Courtauld for a one room exhibition on collecting Gauguin. Arrived at the hall early and to the talk with Robert Simpson and the principal clarinet of the Phlharmonia who gave some interesting insights into Essa-Pekka's approach. The Mozart was fun and rather liked Midori playing the new Eotvos concerto. Bruckner 7 as inspiring as ever and used torch for my own score. Up early and finished dissertation and sent it off - 13...

Swam 20. To Glyn Close and cleared garage a bit. Carpet cleaner came. Took chair and keyboard home -I will use the chair in my study. To Bromley library to get scores. Having returned 4, the ones I wanted came from the stack and I found the Gorecki on the shelf. There was then a problem as it seemed I had 9 out but the Bruch had definitely been returned and the stack ones I had just returned could not be found. In the end I got the 4 I wanted and the £1 charge was waived. All took ages! Home to work on dissertation and lunch. Liz went shopping. I went to the talk which was works by Charlotte Seither. She also had a piece in the concert - not worth bothering with any of it. Stravinsky and Brahms violin concerto. No sign of Clive Nettelton. Before the concert the same darkhaired steward who spoke to me at Gotterdammerung commented on using the torch to follow the score. She said some people complained because they thought it was a mobile phone! I said the lighting needed improving and I...

Swam 20. Put washing away and tidied up and had lunch. To Senate House library to get more scores and work on Davies and Walshe on Eckhart. Ironically now an invite to the Eckhart conference for £150 but it coincides with the end of the Proms and while I'd love to her Michael, Ganeri is also speaking! Lots of graduates about in gowns and mortar boards. No 10 bus to hall and late for talk. Vickie kept our seats. Last night some people stayed in the bar after first Prom and may not have paid for the Wilson Prom at all! One couple took our usual seats and then stood at the rail! Brilliant Billy Budd from Glyndebourne. Mark Padmore excellent and Andrew Davis conducted. It was a pity the talk got bogged down in whether Melville is gay or not! 

Bank Holiday Monday and nice weather after all the rain yesterday morning. Up early and worked on Michael's suggestions regarding the dissertation. To Bromley parish church for joint recital by Norman and Marilyn Harper. They played a duet by Wesley and divided the programme between them including Dupre, Leighton and Mango Thrist (Lovely girl commented Norman). I left before the Bach Passacaglia to get home for lunch and then to Royal College of Music for 2.30 workshop with Mary King on singing musicals. Muriel was there. Enjoyed singing Somewhere over the rainbow, opening number from Show Boat and the scarecrow song with actions. Also a Waxman song. The light music organ prom was well played by Richard Hills and included Ireland, Sullivan, Waller and German and a fun encore. Excellent talk on film music with David Benedict and the John Wilson prom was excellent with a wide variety of film music and songs. I am playing for Dermot Molony's funeral on Friday at St Mary's.

I added Dermot (died aged 92) and Mum and Dad to the cathedral prayer list last night. I played Dad's pieces and we sang Father hear the prayer which we had at our wedding and My God accept my heart to St Botolph which Dad set as a confirmation anthem. The programmes for the recitals are ready to print and Hayley took them and discussed the organ Mass for Sept 29th. Home for lunch and to talk on Parsifal. Stephen Fry seemed to defend Christian content but then said Christ was not mentioned in the libretto which is clearly incorrect. The Prom was excellent and Mark Elder conducted. The Halle youth choir and Trinity boys were in the gallery near me and did really well. I dropped the torch at one point - a sure sign of sleeping! 

Saturday to Cadogan Hall and Reuben Thomas was in the queue. Finished 4th Kubu novel -  this one more gruesome about muti. To Balham library to get scores and home to tidy and clean up. Unpacking all done and everything put away. It rained all day. Took clothes to the Passage in the car. Excellent prom at Cadogan - Britten, Purcell, Lutoslawski ECO with Paul Watkins. Ben Johnson sang beautifully - better than Pears and Richard Watkins horn. I went to Mass with Fr Alexander and the choir from Farnham singing Mozart and Bruckner. Liz to the Prom and I got there in time for the start - Wagner, Ravel and Shostakovich 5. Picked up car at Victoria and home in 35 minutes.

Thursday was a lovely day and we had a big breakfast including delicious black pudding. We went for a walk round Headham village and saw the alpacas then had a swim, sauna and jacuzzi. The wedding itself was at 2 and the room was beautifully decorated with lights, candles and flowers. The registrar was charming and the whole thing went off very well. Shirley and Levantha's sister were witnesses and it was great to see Shirley and Jim's grandchildren. We had a delicious meal and sat with George and Jane from York and Marion. There was a good band and excellent ballroom dancing plus a disco. I went off the bed around 10.45! Friday up for a swim and short sauna and a large breakfast. I had rung the parish church vicar and arranged to play at 11 a.m. We duly arrived in a taxi at 10.50 and there were flower arrangers around and the lady said the the vicar is here as his car is here. By the time she went to the office he had gone. I tried the library (wearing my organ shoes) but no ...

Left early and got X68 to Holborn and train from King's Cross. Met a man going to York races. In Darlington by 11.30 and met by Andrew - are you the organ people? Took us to St James and played the fine organ there and he played Bach very well. He has played there for 40 years. When we got to the parish church we found the vicar had taken the organ key away at 12 - why? To Post Office and new passport checked and sent. Got some blue pocket handkerchiefs for the new jacket in BHS. Taxi to Headlam Hall. A lovely room Lilac in the mews section. To the spa and no sooner got out than Jill had us all back in again at 5. Levantha met us and we met his sister from Croydon. Florence and Tom on good form. We all gathered for a lovely meal in the evening and chatted to young Helen. He brother studies art at UCL. 

Tuesday to the Horniman where Liz took Ciarán to see the Amazon adventure and aquarium. He liked the animals section and the bees which he remembered. I enjoyed the music section and the Art of Harmony exhibition. We had a very nice lunch outside and loved the chimes in the garden and the water fountain. Had ice creams. What a view on a lovely day! I was pleased to see that there are now lines across the glass doors where Ciarán ran into one. The Prom talk was about Britten's setting of text. I asked a question about Pears and Britten's religious beliefs which was well answered but it did not make the broadcast. Pears was the dominant one I think. Britten veered between conscientious objection to declaring himself a Christian in the 60s. The prom featured Ian Bostridge singing Les illuminations, Tippett and Elgar 2 instead of Sibelius 2. It was LSO and Daniel Harding's tribute to Sir Colin Davis. The Elgar was very fine. 

Woke early and Ciarán came in for a story. To Bromley library and got Elgar and Britten scores - both were on the shelf not in the stack! To Ightham Mote and we arrived at opening time. Had cappuccino and biscuits and toured house. Ciarán enjoyed the searching for objects and had his own clipboard. It has been beautifully restored. Loved the gardens and the water features and a nice picnic on deckchairs. Lovely day! Visited the shop and home by 4. Liz went off to the Prom. I altered Johann Strauss tribute and did a draft of the chapel service. Michael Barnes has some good comments so will work on the magnum opus. Rang Nicola Postlethwaite who is a friend of David Walker's and runs interfaith seminary. Looks a bit wierd. She knows Anthony Gear! Louise put the Ocado shopping away and I did ironing and watered garden. Listened to some of the Prom especially the Mendelssohn piano concerto no. 1 Proms extra featured Mary King and Marin Alsop. There have been some good comments on the B...

Up early and got kids stuff out, made beds, hoovered, etc. Fr Aidan celebrated - loop not working again so couldn't hear him. Suggested again to Bill that he sing the psalm from the ambo. He said he was worried about the stairs but after communion he nipped to the loo and got upstairs quite quickly! Debbie wrecked the carefully rehearsed psalm.  I played Orb and sceptre March of Walton at the end. What a tune! Tidied up garden and Hyacinth came to see it. After lunch to Streatham Mosque for Muhammad display. Saleem showed me round and Zia came. Met Charles and the imam - seemed keen on dialogue so that's good. Had tea. To Balham on bus and to preProm talk on the Firebird - I fell asleep in the front row and John East noticed. Matthias Pinscher conducted his own piece which was very noisy. Ravel and the Firebird very well played by BBC Scottish orchestra. 

Woke at 3.30 but went back to bed and woke at 7 so had a lie-in reading Kubu and finished the third novel - excellent. To Battersea Park library to pick up reserved scores and reading group folk were there. The care home next door has been replaced by a modern block! To Royal College of Music for Mary King on Brahms Requiem - acres of altos. Tenor next to me from Hackney - Gary. Is aid he should join a chorus. Enjoyed the session - quite a lot of time on 'Wie lieblich'. I was first in queue. Got 70 bus to South Kensington and got passport photos one - £10 for 6. The afternoon concert was CBSO Dvorak, Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Strauss. Not impressed by the soprano but the strings were excellent. To cathedral and Fr Archer was on. Appeal by the Spiritan father who got up too soon for the Gospel. Scottish. We got in for the Prom. Schumann 4 and Brahms Requirm. The pro choir spoilt it and the period instruments sounded hard, Tenors showed no understanding of the piece.

Swam 20. The man came to fit the ADT alarm and it seems easy enough to control! Who will be first to set it off by mistake? I was up early and did final draft of dissertation adding the material collected yesterday at the British library. Sent it to Michael. Compiled a list of jobs to be done. To Acton and went to Gunnersbury Park. Sean gave me a great big smile and loved the tunnel. Had tea and then to the hall. I slept through much of the talk on Tippett but enjoyed Midsummer Marriage following the full score from Senate House - not all that easy. Liz came for Act 1 only. Delighted that Johann Strauss;s sons are in tough with photo and obituary. Lovely tribute from Jenny Gandar about Mark. Very excited! 

Swam 20. Liz at Acton. To British library - trains late but had enough time to read the Ueda articles and then to Senate House. Staff helped to find larger miniature scores which were actually full scores! Bus to Mount St and 1.05 Mass at Farm Street for the Assumption. The priest hummed and hahed a bit and was dull - nothing sung. Sr Campion was at the Mass and had a lovely chat lasting 2 hours. Mount Street centre being refurbished. Had to get sandwiches at the hall and looked after queue while 2 of the ladies went to the pub! The preProm was Dame Monica Mason talking about Nureyev. Saw him with Fonteyn in 1973 in Romeo and Juliet. Loved the prom RPO conducted by Charles Du Toit. Stravinsky, Lutoslawski concerto grosso - 3 celli soloists. Quite noisy. Debussy and Ravel. Love Daphnis and Chole! Pity there was no chorus!

Swam 20. To Croydon to buy a new jacket - ended up in Marks and chose a nice blue blazer and light trousers to match -very smart! Home to eat and then to Royal Academy where we met David Walker and had tea. Had a quick look at the huge Richard Rogers show and then to talk on Tchaikovksy - dropped off. Liz did shopping. Bournemouth Symphony Janacek Sinfonietta, Beethoven piano con 2, Tchaik 3. Stayed on for Tallis scholars Taverner and Gesualdo but tired so left before end. Little variety of tone.Home by 12 and Liz to Acton.

Swam 20. Dr OJo suctioned my ears - it hurt in the right one. I will be referred to a central unit for a new hearing test - not been done since 2006! To hearing aid clinic and right one retubed and got batteries. Straight to Clapham Picturehouse and lots of time to have cappuccino and carrot cake in the sunshine. Turandot from the Met (2009 broadcast). Fantastic set and costumes. Marcello Giordani was a bit wooden but sang well. Liu sung by Marina Poplavskaya moved me to tears. How much better 'Nessun dorma' is in context! Andris Nelsons conducted.To Tate Modern and had a look at 4 exhibitions. In the African art library lamps made of burnt books becayse 'when an old man dies, it is like a library is burnt'. How wise. I liked the sculptures of Saloua Raouda Choucar. Ellen Gallagher and Ibrahim El-Salahi did not impress. Earl Grey in members room and phoned David Walker. 15 and 9 to the hall. Spoke to RSPB guy near Millenium bridge - there are peregrine falcons on the ...

Awake in the night again so read more Kubu. Result woke too late to swim. To mosaic and No.1 finished and very good progress on No. 2 Brought everything i need home. Tai chi went on late and included massage! Linda doesn't like ti so Tony used me to demonstrate. To Balham library and then to Morden library tog et Parsifal and Tippett miniature scores. Home for meal and late for pre-Prom talk because of diversion round Hyde Park corner area via Sloane Street. it was about the London symphony. Used full score and David Atherton conducted BBC NO of Wales. Holst Indra and Nishat Khan sitar concerto attractive. Not many there - lots had taken 2 nights off to avoid free Prom and the Urban music prom. Met Malik on train and chatted about prom and S.A. Home to raspberry roulade and rose wine and watched Blue Danube concert. 

Watched R.achmaninov 2 conducted by Pappano and Starvinsky Rite and Rameau eij period instrumenst.s.

Woke at 3 so rose and caught up on emails. Went back to bed and up at 8 a.m. I was practising before service (Walton Orb and sceptre) and Sue (?) came up to the loft and asked if I could keep the sound down as people were wanting quiet to pray. Interesting that Fr Paul and Sean were not there at that stage. Later I noted some loud chatter downstairs. Fr Aidan thanked me afterwards. I played Pilgrims chorus from Tannhauser and Water music. I said nothing but put it on Face Book and informed Paul. I think the solution is to arrive earlier and stop at 10 a.m.and insist Bill does psalm alone from the front. Both ladies missed practice of it before service. The loop still not working. To Claire's to see Grainne and Dino - kids 7 and 3 Sophia looks older. Had a good chat. Home for lunch and ironed while listening to Chichester Southern cathedrals festival evensong. Searched for my new passport but cannot find it. It cost £80! Sorted out scores and nice chicken dinner with wine and bake...

Arrived outside Cadogan Hall far too early with my folding chair so sat and read Kubu. Eventually another guy arrived so had a chat. It would have been fine to arrive much later! At 10 got my £5 ticket and to Peter Jones for tea and croissant with a wonderful view over Chelsea. Had a look at jackets - one was £535! To Royal College of Music for Britten singing workshop with Mary King - folksongs, Billy Budd, St Cecilia sections and a tricky Ballad. Liz came and not in good mood again. Eventually went to hall and got her a ticket and had light lunch at Peter Jones. The concert was Camerata Ireland directed by Barry Douglas with Alison Balsom - Britten, Berkeley, Shostakovich and Rainier. Fr Gerard Skinner was there. To vespers and Mass with Fr Michael Durand. Nice to see David playing Bach. Did not go to Urban Music prom. Home and fell asleep then had spare ribs and kebabs. Watched Proms plus programme. 

Watching Cadogan Hall prom by Norwegian ladies brass group of 10  = brilliant. Diana Burrell new piece Blaze. Great to watch the choreography too. 

Swam 20. Spoke to Paul 'Fuzzy; and he has been on to the college chaplain and archivist still  waiting for the Head! Booked overnight stays in S.A. look really good. Rob Sceales is coming - the replies so far are great. To Bromley library and got 11 scores - staff very helpful. Saw a lovely book about the English landscape and composers. The only one not found was Gorecki. Late meal and just got to pre Prom talk on Mahler in time - it was full and I was sleepy. I spoke to the floor manager about being 'on air'. Waking up too early and working on dissertation adjustments. Excellent concert Mahler 2 Janssons conducting Bavarian radio SO. The chorus in white tie and tails came on after part 1 - they were amazingly quiet so much so that I couldn't hear them! Stayed on for Bach conducted by Gardiner - excellent but sleepy. Saw Peter Stevens and Joey Draycott from afar.Home by 12.15. 

Swam 20. Spoke to Ann - had a chat about South America - wait until autumn 2014! It would eb possible to do a cruise in between my course sessions! To Heythrop library after lunch for last session looking up periodicals and presented donations. Larry not here. Liz submitted her PowerPoint again - the one that did not go through properly and she was unfairly penalised! To Marks - had a look at jackets - £99! Tea, bun and fruit and bought nuts and a baquette. The Pre Prom talk was on Sylvia Plath and the Bell Jar published 50 years ago. An excellent convert. Mitsuko Uchida playing Beethoven 4 and Berlioz - on TV so watched Ligeti encore at home! Uchida played a Bach Sarabande as encore. 

Paul Britton wanted the photo of the late Mark Gandar in Benjamin Pogrund's book which we could not scan from the website so I went to SOAS library to find the book. I tripped outside and hurt my knee - just skinned it. The assistant tried to find a plaster without success. I was given a day pass whereas I should have been given a SOAS card. Having found the book I then needed an ID electronic pass which lasted one day only so I pt £1 on the photocopier and made 2 copies which should have cost 10p. I was not able to scan and send. The whole business took far too long and I got very cross. Staff are there to help not make life more difficult! I was late for Sarah's first session at spirituality day. Reading Jimmy Mizen book  -it is very moving. It was a good session on Come unto me. To PreProm which was young composers works played by the Aurora ensemble. Most impressive was the 13 year old's work. The prom was Lutoslawski and Holst - the chorus were not good at the end of ...

Woke early and put into the dissertation the bits I garnered yesterday. I've told Michael Barnes I need to stop. One more trip to Heythrop library and that is it. It's like hacking through a forest of quotes but I think my path is clear. Spoke to Paul and the reunion plans sound good - the tour needs to be fixed - it will start around 1.30 p.m. I can practise on the organ at 11 a.m. very friendly response from the school musicians. Listened to MacMillan Violin concerto from the Prom.

Woke early so did more work on dissertation and some pruning. Swam 20. Spoke to Ann who is back at work. To Senate House library to consult 2 items and get scores, Home for lunch and then to Rachel Leach's preProm family event with kids playing instruments and conducting. The Prom was BBC Phil and was good. Orb and Sceptre is a great tune, Rubbra, Bruch and Korngold symphony. Not many there! Very chuffed that the organ recitals leaflets have come and my name is in there!

Swam 20 before I went I rang Nicky and she confirmed I am invited to do the spiritual direction course every 2nd Friday for 2 years at St Matthew's - very pleased. I rang Sr Campion and told her. To mosaic and tai chi - progress very good on badge 1 although it is fiddly. To Balham library - traib developed technical fault ar Clapham Junction so all off and to platform 13. Mysteriously the train move doff and we came back to platform 15 to board another train. Stir fry then off to PreProm on Edward Cowie - his music is attractive. I particularly like the marimba piece inspired by painitng of canyon in Oz. The concert conducted by Noseda was good -  an ideal prom - Borodin, Prokofiev, Cowie and Tchaikovsky 2. I got wet going as had sandals and shorts on! Man gave me 2 books on meditation as a result of our conversations.

Played Stanley and Karg-Elert to mark wedding anniversary and practised for recital. Sean remarked on Dambusters march and Bizet (menaning Verdi!). Also worked on Couperin Mass. Surprisingly for August 23 in church! Home for lunch. I was up early as did not sleep well and uploaded Paul's photos to Face Book. To Mary King's workshop in the Britten theatre. I was delighted that I was singing so well and enjoyed the session very much. Fell asleep in the preProm talk. I was first in the queue but there was not a large turnout. Very good singing and playing conducted by Runnicles. Liz got on my train at Streatham - she had been to the Iftar at the mosque marking the end of Ramadan and enjoyed it. 

Did some work on dissertation. Served at 2.30 wedding - big Nigerian affair -  I was holding the radiomike for Fr Archer. Tea at M &S and had snacks. Vespers and Mass with Fr John and Fr Xavier. To Tooting Banana Leaf Sri lankan restaurant - lovely food and a great chat with Xavier. He liked his mosaic very much. Home by 11.

Woke up too early - still have Wagner on the brain! Swam 20 - the pool was busy! To British Library to finish what could be looked up there. Shopped at M & S St Pancras and got the train back to East Croydon. Arrived early at St Matthew's but the caretaker let me in. 3 ladies interviewed me about undertaking the spiritual direction course over years on 2nd Fridays. Went well.  I had bought flowers and chocs for Liz for the 39th anniversary tomorrow. Put shopping away and then off to the preProm talk with the composer Naresh Sohal. We heard string quartet extracts and an attractive song. John East gave me some details for the reunion yearbook.The commissioned by Sohal was attractive. Rachmaninov Piano concerto no. 3 very well played by Nikolai Lugansky but the miniature score was very small. I was drooping for Tchaikovsky 5th. Finished late but we were home by midnight. Apparently the young man we met last night is Nicholas and he is to study organ at the Academy and be scholar...

I should have mentioned that Liz went last night to 6 p.m. Mass at Farm Street for Feast of St Ignatius. I was full of Heythrop folk and she was unimpressed by the choir singing Schubert Mawby and Peeters. The reception in the Mount St gardens ran out of glasses! She came to the second part of the Prom. I swam 20 and went early to St Pancras and the British Library. Did a lot of work especially using the Keel book on Eckhart; an Asian perspective. Had lunch there. Got a 10 and it was very hot. I missed the talk on Tippett. The prom was a non-event. Noisy Henze, Stravinsky concerto and a wierd piece where he was trying to be modern. Tippet Symphony No.2 doesn't end right - pity he did not go back to his first movement themes and do something with them!