The organist librarian

 Monday 28th  to Batemans a lovely garden and beautiful day. We had tea and sandwiches. Then on to Bodiam castle lovely and sunny so had an ice cream. From there a short run to Northiam and The Annexe for comfortable with its own garden sofa and chairs. Wine and lollies in fridge! Natalie very nice. Liz went shopping so we had microwave meal. Slept well but still some back ache in the morning. Goose quilt quite hot! University challenge. Living liturgy talk hard to hear on kindle. Out like a light!  Tuesday to nearby Great Dixter which is a superb country garden. Wills bakery for sausage rolls and St Mary's Northiam -unimpressive interior and organ looked unused and unloved! On to Scotney castle for tea and walked around the ruin. Some traffic on way back. Natalie produced a box of chocs on hearing about my birthday and we had more wine. Very pleasant watching sun go down, Bake off and the Write offs. Slept well again. Lovely art mug and card and chocs from Bruce. Elephan...

 Martyn Noble playing at Gillingham Methodist church. eclectic programme. Kol Nidrei by Bruch from LJS was beautiful. Nelson on you tube. Us and Singapore grip excellent.

I was watching and listening to Durham cathedral organ recitals by Joseph Beech and Imogen Morgan then tried evensong but all I got was organ?  Malcolm Archer played a lovely English programme at St Michael Cornhill including FJ, Whitlock and Darke and some of his own works. Curiously he also played Howells Rhapsody no 3. Lovely programme on Bernard Haitink at 90. We loved it and the contributions from Sarah Connolly and Thomas Allen were excellent. It was great that he was able to speak and explain. The "magic" is something that the really great have - Haitink, Giulini, Solti, Abbado, Furtwangler, Klemperer, Toscanini ( a golden era) Some of those were really loved by all musicians and public. Others do approach it Salonen, Rattle, Harding, Jarvi. It's all about conveying the score and knowing the score intimately and not caring how you look! Humility with authority! I'd put Boult up there too - not so sure about Beecham and Sargent. Andrew Davis and Colin Davis Yes ...

 Finished reading Michael Bourdeaux's One word of truth which is fascinating. I have written to him. It was Muti not Svetlanov who was conducting Nevsky and it was interrupted by demonstrators. The concert was live on radio 3. Hurtado centre prayer and reflection was helpful. Played wedding music on piano. It is years since I played for a wedding! Nice parcel from LMP welcoming us to the friends. Tsar's bride on you tube.  I   I was watching and listening to Durham cathedral organ recitals by Joseph Beech and Imogen Morgan then tried evensong but all I g watching and listening to Durham c recitals by Joseph Beech and Imogen Morgan then tried evensong  and listening to Durham cathedral organ recitals by Joseph Beech and Imogen Morgan then tried evensong but all I got was organ?

I have copied this email because it refers to events not mentioned in my blog. His book says "In 1980 the Free Scharansky protestors" invaded the Festival Hall to protest and disrupt the live broadcast of Nevsky which featured a remarkable Russian mezzo. In fact it was Arkhipova and the correct date was 23/3/1977! Muti had been warned and remained calm but clearly angry and he reassured the soloist who had to start her solo three times and we finished. It was actually frightening hoe easy it was for the protestors. What if they had had a bomb. I am very ambivalent about this while supporting the cause is it right to disrupt a concert? The same thing happened at the Israel philharmonic Prom. I also don't agree with the Last Night being turned into a political football. Let's all wave EU flags, Union Jacks, the lot!   Dear Michael, Liz bought your excellent book for me and I found it most interesting. We remember Gillian with affection and I always think of her when I h...

 Apollo 5 concert in Voces 8 series. 

 Blackfriars, Walsingham morning prayer, Br Bernard's funeral from Belmont (he was irreplaceable). Proud songsters James Robinson and Paul Plummer - I was able to sing along for Dichterliebe instead of struggling with piano part and German text while singing! Put up some more pictures. Builder cam to discuss redecorating ideas. Programme on London Zoo during COVID. The first LMP classical club a delight Prokofiev Classical symphony and Schumann cello concerto eloquently played by Maciej Kulakowski. Bake off an extra slice. 

 More dreams! I fell over! Next to tall tenor who was talking about chatting up women, I got a drink and Meryl said "that's my job. Sorry I am amused by middle aged men chatting up women, I could not remember name."  Your goddaughter being baptised tomorrow, lots of cakes better keep some for later. The chorus can't sing at the service after all.  Sang wrong line in National anthem at RAH. Very strange arrangement women in 3 parts, it was sad - somebody died? Or was it an echo of the Britten arrangement?FJ playing Flor Peeters pastorale at a wedding. It's not as easy as it looks he said. LA conference with Meryl. Fr Peter and Daphne Sherwood entertaining! 3 children waiting to be confirmed but mental health problems so done privately. York Minster saying evensong choir much smaller could not find my red academic gown (never had one) Heart attack? Lou and Bruce came looking in vestry for ir. Returning small ladder through disabled door at Balham library (old versio...

  https://drive.google.com/file/d/14ln0F69GNELeBbnBGB78Brz-vq3sVrtz/view  The first video to come through Rachmaninov features the sopranos singing the Bells at 17.17. I could not save it. Too big. Our Lady of Walsingham Blackfriars and Walsingham. To Carew Rd recreation ground to meet 3 from art group including Julie 2 in masks lovely chat. SLIFG lunch and committee went well. Proud songsters on You tube. Talk on dissolution of the monasteries. Gresham lecture on Musorgsky Pictures at an exhibition. Gallery prommers zoom. Zoom for Laudato Si animators. Zoomed out! 

 Blackfriars St Pio. Interesting Faith action zoom on funerals Hindu, Buddhist and Jewish and recent problems. Met Fanciulla del West with Voight. Funeral of Christian Strover - a fitting tribute. Sorting out frames for paintings. Roast chicken for dinner. Most interesting Gresham lecture on England's Catholic reformation followed by zoom ACTA Tom O'Loughlin on Eucharist and COVID.

 Blackfriars. BT fixed crackle on our line which they spotted. Chores done so enjoying La Rondine from the Met 2007. Alagna and Georghieu were married at that time. Saw La Rondine from Covent Garden on screen in 2013. Signed up to eb Friends of London Mozart players and their classical club is good value. Interesting Sisters of Sion zoom on Sukkot with Rabbi Michael Hilton. This is a first - zoom Bulawayo circle meeting 67 there. John Rayer was nonchalant about carrying on the zooms Ed has developed so well. Made new kitchen trolley Liz bought at B and Q. British bake off is back. Bojo announces 6 months of restrictions. 

 Blackfriars. I painted 2 small pictures while listening to the Met's Norma a new production. An impressive recital at St Michael Cornhill by the Canadian Hilary Punnett - the Willan was excellent, no so keen on the Fricker. Faith action zoom on community cohesion then Gresham lecture on Offensive Shakespeare followed by Living liturgy zoom on missing Easter this year and the implications. Managed to fit in my exercises! The big Easter gap was not seeing the family and not renewing baptismal promises. University challenge and Supernanny. Liz went to Post Office and Bingo with Anerley UCM. 

 Liz came to Caterham. I played Ketelbey, Brahms and Slater at service and we measured up places for the choir. 2 metres is far more than I realised. To Waitrose. The recital went well with a couple of fluffs. People enjoyed it and David came for a chat. It was good to see Geoff and Imogen there. We had an excellent lunch at Today's cafe and Gemma's Dad was delighted to see us. Got home and had a sleep on the bed. Watched National Trust series and Us which was funny. Tom Hollander is great.      Welcome everybody – please feel free to move quietly around the church following the sign posted route. 1. Prelude “An Easter Alleluia” Gordon Slater (1896-1979) “Lasst uns erfreuen” is the tune of “All creatures of our God and King” based on the hymn Laudato Si’ by St Francis of Assisi in which all the world praises God.   2. The theme from “All creatures great and small” Johnny Pearson (1925-2011) This theme was originally called “Piano parchment” and was used...

 Blackfriars, Shower was fixed yesterday thank goodness. Watching the ordination of 2 deacons and 3 priests. Said litany of course but I was singing! Congratulations to them all and especially David Knight! Wonderful homily from the Cardinal and who would not be moved by the ordination prayers. Part of Rosh Hashanah service from LJS shofar blown outside Buckingham Palace and the cenotaph. Andreas Scholl singing the St Matthew Passion - fabulous! Weber's Euryanthe from Vienna crazy libretto, some great music, psychological production. The villain sang a whole aria completely in the nude! 

 To St John's for Ensemble 26 concert which was well attended. Delightful trio Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Schubert, Debussy and a discovery a cello sonata by Gaspar Cassado,. I wonder if Gaspar Sanvicens who was named after the great cellist knows about it. Contacted Justin his son.  What a joy to join the Liberal Jewish synagogue for Rosh Hashanah on Youtube. Lovely prayers and singing. Watched the rest of Down to earth series on Netflix. 

 Blackfriars. Belmont Abbey retreat on Hildegard of Bingen with Dom Brendan. It was excellent. Did mt exercises. Our trip to the North East next month has had to be cancelled because of the Covid 19 situation so busy letting everybody know! Ironically Terence and Adrian are heading there tomorrow! Excellent zoom for Laudato Si' co-ordinators and such a joy to be joined by Bishop John Arnold of Salford! We both went to the excellent recital of English organ music by Roger Sayer and 2 of the Temple church boys. 60 at St John's. My first visit for many months. Good to hear Patrick Hawes Toccata and Plymouth suite. Alan Ridout songs and O lovely peace. Watched Antiques roadshow on Battle of Britain and the blitz. 

 Blackfriars Mass. Liz to Bromley to sort out I pad. The road back from Kent House is terrible for traffic so using the Crystal Palace route. The closure of side roads has caused chaos. Ally video call and very pleased with my progress and exercise routine on Youtube. I feel stronger and more balanced. Put up shelf slats in back bedroom cupboard. Heythrop Association zoom went well and well attended. Taronga Zoo programme. 

 Blackfriars and Fr Bruno gave a great homily. Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Exercises and Werther from the Met. Chrism Mass from the cathedral with the Cardinal. Nice chat to Clare. Tim Harper played well at Howden Minster. Most interesting Sion centre zoom on the Jewish high holy days. Nina dropped in. Gillingham Methodist recital Chris Manson. University challenge and Supernanny. Excellent zoom on liturgy well attended. Liz finished painting bathroom ceiling. 

 Played Land of hope and glory and people were asked not to sing, also Peeters on Lasst uns erfreuen and Pastoral song by Woodgate. Put up display. More CBSO 100th concert. Gallery prommers final session. Joyce DiDinato is absolutely superb and so moving and a wonderful programme. From Jochum.  Nelson did another art history lesson. Watched Extinction with Sir David Attenborough and George Clarke's National Trust. 

 Mass from Blackfriars. Checked on diocesan websites and some now have Season of creation. Checked Dennis' front door and got drawing pins from Sainsbury's. The green store was crowded and too many without masks. Long chat to Ann. Prepared display for flower festival. Exercises. Gallery prommers -only one more to go! Excellent playing from Sheku and Isata on BBC4. Saturday put up hooks next to back door in the middle of SLIFG getting to know you zoom which was fascinating. Daniel came about the loo and kitchen and Liz has plans to paint bedroom doors and bannisters. Watched first part of Les pecheurs des perles from Met but last bit not there so watched Theater an den Wein with Israel opera - a modern production which I didn't like. CBSO 100th concert Sheku and Rattle excellent. Last night so delicious Thai takeaway and wine! It was fun with super light show on London landmarks. Did not like new version of Jerusalem but we did have the original with the organ. Missed Home s...

 Madeline's letter appeared on Facebook. Ed Murphy has resigned from Catenians after really bad treatment. Blackfriars Mass. To Woodcote Green garden centre to look at sandstones and chose Harvest. Coffee and cake. Back for Facebook lecture on Victorian churches by Prof Whyte and then Sion centre zoom with Sr Therese on gifts of the Spirit - it was a little dull! Still thinking about last night's zooms. Priests who are overworked and depressed, others who don't know the people or don't turn to volunteer groups for help, people preferring online to the "real thing". Why we need to gather (a prehistoric need to be round the fire away from the dark and fear) Lack of teaching about Christ in the assembly, in the Word and in the Bread and Wine. How we can strengthen our communities. Reaching those who do not have the technology. How do we bring the domestic church into liturgy? How do we address the rising need for mental health care and why are BAME missing out? A...

 8 a.m. and 2 gas fitters arrived. One is Polish and came before and the other is from Durban. It was a relief to find that the connection from where the cooker used to be is fine so no need to run a new pipe through kitchen and out the back! The old boiler is out and the new one in and the system drained. Listened to Jessye Norman Prom - new Judith Weir piece. Excellent lunch at Apenfield Inn and on to Emmetts garden where we saw parts of the garden we had not seen. Could not get onto Gallery prommers zoom. Shocked by Tim Harper telling me Ripon cathedral want £75 for me to play the organ. Outrageous amount! Tim says some charge even more to cover cost of somebody opening and closing the building. Why can't the resident organist do that?  Tuesday went smoothly and we stayed home. I did exercises and watched Mass from Blackfriars. There was no meditation from St John's or organ recital at Orpington. Voces 8 second online concert very good. Hilarious that I took the new tenor f...

 Tonight's prom BBC Scottish conducted by Alpesh Chauhan with Stephen Hough on iplayer. Glorious Strauss and George Walker. Beethoven piano concerto 2.  Today's music Greensleeves arranged Ralph Vaughan Williams, Angelus by Boellmann.  Chorale and fugue from A fugal trilogy Healey Willan  To the tip on the way to church at 8 a.m. It was busy but you should have seen the queue on my way home at 11! Cleared downstairs loo, airing cupboard and under stairs - the gas man cometh tomorrow to fit new boiler. 8 a,m, service on the saints with Lucy WInkett and Neil MacGregor. Death cafe zoom. Lovely prom from Sheku and Isata Beethoven, Barber and Rachmaninoff.Nelson on prehistoric art. George Clarke' National Trust.    NeloowNe interesting.

 Blackfriars Mass. Put stuff in car for tip and did tires. St Matthew Passion Part 1 from Prom Herreweeghe 1997 with the incomparable Bostridge and Scholl who says he was raised Catholic. Exercises and walk. 

 Blackfriars Mass and a nice joke in the homily about English people commenting on meals. Watched the rest of Sadko conducted by Gergiev. Organ on you tube by Tobias Rihm and David Aprahamian Liddle. I spent time checking diocesan websites about the Season of Creation. Some were excellent especially Southwark, Salford and Clifton. Others not so good so let's hope they respond positively. Some were dire especially Liverpool! And out of date too! Charity Clothes 2 collect came and collected clothes, books and baby equipment which is great! They support the homeless. We need the place tidy ready for the new gas boiler installation next week. Zoom in preparation for the John Main seminar Mexico Oct 19-22 on indigineous spirituality and it will be online. Anoushka Shankar's prom quite relaxing. Jonathan Vaughn played Buxtehude and JSB at Christ church Greenwich. Andreas Scholl from Edinburgh. Reading Tablet and Music and liturgy. 

 St Gregory the Great. Walsingham and Mass from Blackfriars. Nixon in China from the Met alas no sub titles. We went to the Prom of this. Interesting lecture on graffiti in Winchester cathedral. Part of Sadko. Zoom on civil society London Interfaith network and Laudato Si' zoom. The OAE Prom with Nicola Benedetti  wawas

 Blackfriars Mass. First bit of Sadko Russian version also modern Amsterdam version very odd. Meditatio for some quiet. I finally got to connect to St John Cirencester for James Lancelot's impressive recital. I prepared the flower festival recital programme and advertised it. 3 zooms tonight Interfaith network on the new Green UK deal, gallery prommers and Laudato Si' group. Iplayer for the BBC Phil prom from Salford Quays not an inspiring space. Allan Clayton sang well but he always looks a mess and I had to look up the text of the Britten. Haydn and Tchaikovsky good. Chester Zoo repeat. 

 Lovely singing at the Blackfriars Mass today.   The seminar on Ecology and religion was a mixed bag. Norwegian rabbi, a scholar of ancient Greek philosophy and a more interesting scholar of Islam. Zoom with gallery Prommers and Lourdes folk. The prom on Iplayer was London Sinfonietta with some interesting works including Reich. Listened to Brahms clarinet quintet. The Gesualdo 6 concert from the Voces 8 series gorgeous. Excellent programme on Kenyan art and culture.