The organist librarian

Dennis gave us a lift to East Croydon so we were early at the bus station. Straight through in 3 hours and Robert picked us up. His wife had an ankle replacement. Lovely upside down house very comfortable right next to Pittville Park. Good chat. Walked in park 23 degrees and to Turtle Bay Caribbean restaurant. Excellent cocktail jerk chicken whiteboard and grilled pineapple.Jamaican Red Star beer. Edinburgh won University challenge from Teddys but it was close. Tuesday Good breakfast with Robert. I woke at 4. Nice walk through Pittville park and got sandwiches atSpar. Arrived at St Nicholas at 9.30. 16 on course. Eucharist at 10. The rector prayed for all church leaders and bishop Declan. Great way to start. Holst's father played at All Saints Pittville. Drawing lightly. I chose Risen Christ which Ian did for Lichfield cathedral. Liz went to Holst birthplace museum. Wednesday. Slept 8 hours. Drawing and first lines after transferring the tracing. To the ladies college and Sarah ...

To Mass then took Henry to Kelsey Park. He loved it! Pub lunch with Beckenham Catenians. Quiet time at St John's. Liz went to servers council. To Peter Sanders at Petts Wood for an evening of recordings made by Chris Town. An interesting mix including carols by Norman and Christian Strover, Bromley orchestras and 2 of my pet hates harpsichord and Messiaen! Good audience. I took popcorn. 

On iplayer the Prom of Holst Ode to death and Vaughan Williams Martyn Brabbins conducting - lovely way to start the day! We sang Bread of the world arranged by Alan Bullard. I played Poco adagio from Saint-Saens organ symphony and Flor Peeters on Cwn Rhondda and Lasst uns erfreuen. Train times changed again so home in time to listen to "I'm Sorry I haven't a clue". Played Dancing years Novello selection and Brewer Marche heroique on piano. Took music to David Dibbs miserable rain. Great singing and playing from Southern Cathedrals festival at Salisbury Blair in B minor, Jonathan Dove, Vierne. RVW Pastoral symphony and Parry Symphony No. 5 on Iplayer. Poldark came to an end for the moment (sad). Watched Shostakoich, Beethoven and Rachmaninov from prom. Henry came to stay overnight and went off to sleep happily. 

Mass St James day.  Catching up on TV watching Diana our mother.  Diana her fashion story at Kensington Palace beautiful dresses and photos as is the garden which is white for 20 years on.  Excellent John Wilson prom RVW 9 and Planets. Glad I went to preprom talk as broadcast left out 2 stories from Tony Palmer. Holst's room at St Paul's had double glazing so he could be hot for his arthritis. His pen was strapped to his hand. All composers dread old age. Britten was 52 when Prince Philip remarked at Snape "What has the old man written this time?" Britten was so angry he sent the newspaper cutting back to the critic saying you may never come here again and do not call me old!! Home by 9.30 so watched Proms extra and Japanese cities.

To Mass. Went to Battersea to get mosaics but found room locked as flower arrangers not there. Contacted Pat and she will let me know when I can go again in the morning. Home for lunch. Played for 2.30 funeral at Caterham. No coffin! We were told very little about Carole apart from her love of travel and arranging trips through the Miller centre! I played Faure, Vierne, Moore and Handel. To preProm talk on Sargent - he was a Christian and stayed in England during the War working incredibly hard. First conducted at 14 and Henry Wood allowed him to conduct his composition. He saw himself as the music not the musicians for whom he had little empathy denying them contracts and pensions! No wonder they did not like him!  I first saw him when I was aged 14 when my Dad arranged for both of us to sit in front of the huge Johannesburg Town Hall organ. Harry Stanton played the organ for The Planets and was shown how to do the glissando with both arms! For some reason we wore evening dress p...

A really lovely day playing organs in Thaxted and Saffron Walden but a lot of driving! At Mass at the cathedral appeal for Columban missionaries - result finished 7.15 so abandoned going to the hall for the Prom and enjoyed it on the radio! Interesting programme on Tom Daley. Good pub lunch and did some sketching. Saw Holst's house and windmill at Thaxted. Asked about Hugh Mathew but way before their time at Saffron Walden. 

Swam 20.  Lovely Nielsen and Mozart from Northern Sinfonia wind ensemble. Sat next too aena prommer of 23 years and briefly saw Simon Surtees and Mary Smith. Mosaic going well but now need to buy glass tiles. Tried to get battery for smoke alarm - no luck so far. To see Dr Ojo. Keep an eye on knee, bloodtest as prostate needs checking and prescription for malaria tablets. Delicious pasta with butter. Talk on film music with Stephen Price. First half of Prom awful, Boulez too loud and scores impossible to follow. New violin concerto notmuch better. Planets god but choir too loud. 

Thursday woke early but slept late as we got home late last night. Ann Marie got a job at Shirley hospital. To art and progress is slow. Lunch at cathedral cafe and welcoming. There were 3 of us on and one of them kept hogging people! To Tate Britain to see the Victorian sculptures which are beautifully made and the silver and salt photography. Tea and banana loaf in members room and then to Alexandra Palace. Organ and RCM forces.Crown Imperial with thrilling brass and percusssion. Toccata and fugue in D minor very well played. Nielsen flute concerto with Claire Wickes. Planets - loved the tambourine and bells player. Home at 11.15.

Despite a fire at Victoria we got there in time to be acolytes. The singing was superb - Pizzetti and Holst. Not sure that Cranham was a great choice for the remembrance hymn Think O Lord in mercy, The new anthem worked well, Shirley Williams fluffed her reading. Excellent sermon from Canon Christopher and the Canon from the Abbey was very friendly. Saw Dorio, Paul Joslin, Freddie Mayes and Alistair afterwards. Had lunch downstairs, Patrick Rogers gave us a tour of the marbles - not very interesting. There are 129 varieties! To interfaith group and 13 came including 2 from Brixton. William Rhind spoke well on Gandhi and interfaith. To LSE and the prof from Columbia, USA namedropped and did not quote Pope Francis on pvoerty and never mentioned previous Popes or Catholic social teaching. Liz went to sit and I watched The Apprentice.

Took Ciaran to swimming crash course. He was reluctant to move from play to lesson but chocolate muffin offer did the trick and he did well. Windows fixed - looks great. Prom was the Borusan Istanbul philharmonic who were stunning - strings, percussion and winds all outstanding. The talk showed the state of music in Turkey with government removing subsidies and the great educational tradition under threat. Why no Turkish composers, conductors or soloists in the prom? Balakirev, Holst (Beni Mora), Mozart, Handel and Respighi - an unusual programme but the Turkish encore was the highlight. Gabriel Prokofiev violin concerto lots of crashing - poor Daniel Hope! We stayed for two of the Rameau motets conducted by William Christie but found the soprano hard and singing too loudly. Reuben was singing. Also tired and got back to Acton on bus and train quickly so worth leaving early.

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. 

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 ...

Liz to cathedral and I went directly to Beckenham to practise the Mozart Requiem extracts for Thursday and the Faure In paradisum. Service went well despite 4 big hymns for Peter and Paul! To Crystal Palace station where behind the cafe there is a large room and we heard 2 sopranos one American and the other sang Ivor Novello accompanied on the harp by Keziah Thomas. There was a good mediaeval ensemble with recorder, singer, percussion and small harp. Christian played well including a Bach trio sonata which he likened to Pride and Prejudice and he used the copy from school 60 years before! Edward Marsh and Lefebre-Wely and 2 blues type preludes. I turned and there were 21 there. To evensong Stanford in B flat and Give us the wings of Bullock. I stayed on for the Spectrum concert of wind and brass arrangements of Sibelius, Shostakovich, Ravel and Debussy and Holst - very well played. The ideas was to see colours with the music but that does not work for me at all. Cake and wine at inte...

Reading about Meister Eckhart. Scanner playing up again. Listened to excellent evensong from Chichester cathedral. Duncan rang - seems I am playing for Mass tonight on a keyboard! Good The Choir with Mary King and University challenge was good too. Last night watched excellent programme on Syrian history with Dan Snow.

One of my favourite feasts and a day at the cathedral. Liz to college. 10.30 a.m. Mass I was boat and Emmanuel was smoke - he is a pain. All in Latin. Choir sang Tallis, Victoria Mass O magnum mysterium and superb Holst Nunc Dimittis. Dubois Toccata. Time for tea with Jason then 12.30 Mass for religious/with Bishop Alan Hopes. I was acolyte with Andrew. Fr Alexander was cantor and Edward did a clever improvisation on Christ be our light. Nice lunch in hall and saw Miriam and had a long chat to nuns from Hayes, Middlesex - two Sister Marys one who knows Michael Barnes and the other had been in Oxford and is now 84. She taught history in Moscow University. Did some reading and to St Paul's bookshop for sale and tea with Liz at M & S. St Martin Anglican choir from Roath, Cardiff at Mass with their vicar - excellent Mawby and Will Todd - one of the best. Home to watch Art Deco icons, a Spanish Hollywood house in Devon and the Orient Express, also Make me a Muslim  

Swam 20 - chatted to Dave Cameron. The music group from Thornton Heath plays for Mass at Brixton prison every second week! He said Julie Henry was unwell. He had not heard much of Catenians. Also spoke to the little ginger lady - she is a Pentecostalist and worked at Lloyds bank at the Olympic village. Reading for course and set up charity standing orders. Claire came to get empty jars. Listened to evensong by Clare College from Aldeburgh parish church featuring Britten and Holst. To Rosemary and Lyn's for a very nice meal with champagne - fish pie. Both Lyn and I dropped off after the meal while Liz was showing ordination photos! They will be off to Sydney very soon. Liz gave me the book of the history of Belmont Abbey and Rosemary gave back the Minotaur programme.

To Bow to play for 11.30 a.m. Mass. Ross has been helping there for 6 weeks and is going to seminary in a year's time! Organ small but nice so played from Elijah to match the first reading. The small choir were pretty bad - not singing right notes, not in time, adding harmonies to plainchant! Guitarist seemed competent. Was given wrong number for Alleluia! They launched into an extra hymn after communion which was not needed. Oh well offer it up! Nice to see Fr Michael again. The reader was useless. Had a bacon roll in the hall watching Olympics. Visited Bow church and had excellent homemade food at new Nunnery cafe. To prom of National Youth wind orchestra and National Youth brass band. Super Crown Imperial with organ. Virtuosic playing. To pre Prom talk on Schoenberg with BBC singer (why a soprano?) trumpet and cello. Liz came home to watch closing ceremony with Dennis - I saw Eric Idle to the end. Gurrelieder - excellent soloists and choirs did well although I would have loved ...

To Bow to play for 11.30 a.m. Mass. Ross has been helping there for 6 weeks and is going to seminary in a year's time! Organ small but nice so played from Elijah to match the first reading. The small choir were pretty bad - not singing right notes, not in time, adding harmonies to plainchant! Guitarist seemed competent. Was given wrong number for Alleluia! They launched into an extra hymn after communion which was not needed. Oh well offer it up! Nice to see Fr Michael again. The reader was useless. Had a bacon roll in the hall watching Olympics. Visited Bow church and had excellent homemade food at new Nunnery cafe. To prom of National Youth wind orchestra and National Youth brass band. Super Crown Imperial with organ. Virtuosic playing. To pre Prom talk on Schoenberg with BBC singer (why a soprano?) trumpet and cello. Liz came home to watch closing ceremony with Dennis - I saw Eric Idle to the end. Gurrelieder - excellent soloists and choirs did well although I would have loved ...

To Bow to play for 11.30 a.m. Mass. Ross has been helping there for 6 weeks and is going to seminary in a year's time! Organ small but nice so played from Elijah to match the first reading. The small choir were pretty bad - not singing right notes, not in time, adding harmonies to plainchant! Guitarist seemed competent. Was given wrong number for Alleluia! They launched into an extra hymn after communion which was not needed. Oh well offer it up! Nice to see Fr Michael again. The reader was useless. Had a bacon roll in the hall watching Olympics. Visited Bow church and had excellent homemade food at new Nunnery cafe. To prom of National Youth wind orchestra and National Youth brass band. Super Crown Imperial with organ. Virtuosic playing. To pre Prom talk on Schoenberg with BBC singer (why a soprano?) trumpet and cello. Liz came home to watch closing ceremony with Dennis - I saw Eric Idle to the end. Gurrelieder - excellent soloists and choirs did well although I would have loved ...

Thursday took Ciarán and Bruce to Gambados Beckenham and read the Tablet while they enjoyed the slides and cars. To Voces 8 concert at St Peter Eaton Square - lovely church with a big organ. A lovely concert - really enjoyed it. John Wardle and Tommy Hewitt-Jones were there. Nice that we got to the group as we left so saw Chris Wardle. Louise picked us up at East Croydon as she had been out to dinner while Bruce babysat.