The organist librarian

Up early but cancelled train meant I got to the library after 10. However I added a lot of non-fiction. Samuel Ali stood in at Bedford Park and played well. It would have been good to used the pedal Reed less and finish in G major but not to detract from his skill.  busy afternoon welcoming at the cathedral. 2 requests re Diana! The 3 children's guides look great. To Queen's gallery for lovely Charles 11 and the audio worked well on the loop. My entry converted to 1 year pass! To Holy Trinity Brook Green for celebration Mass Michael Chute has been serving there for 60 years. Archbishop George Stack gave a fine homily

Wed March 25th to the Queens gallery to see the beautiful Breughel to Rubens exhibition with excellent commentary featuring our friend Jenny Scott! We had tea at a nice Italian place nearby and I went to Lent group and then to extra chorus rehearsal. Thursday Liz went to Birmingham with Jet in the van to take Bruce's stuff and she returned on Saturday and all is well. I went to chorus on Thursday evening and to choir practice on Friday on public transport so decided to go straight there and practise. I am not playing Bairstow's Toccata prelude on "Pange lingua" this Maundy Thursday. I have revived a fine piece by William Wordsworth on "Nicht so traurig" instead. The tune is set to "Go to dark Gethsemane". I kept up the pace at rehearsal but at one point I told choir to shut up so I could explain the plainchant pointing of the psalm. I was mot embarrassed but really there was no alternative! Friday's interfaith lunch gathering at All Saints was ...

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.