The organist librarian

High winds. 468 late but just got 407. Played Homage to Howells by Ronald Watson and De profundis Aus der tiefe Hendrick Andriessen. We sang Lent prose and All my hope on God is founded. Anne-Marie Garton preached on spring cleaning and Lenten promises. 6 weeks with no alcohol....Superb singing on radio 3 from St John's college Cambridge and the second reading was riveting! Disturbing BBC news item on poaching of Botswana's elephants. Evensong Thou knowest Lord Purcell and Harris in A not his best setting. Great playing by Eleni Keventsidou at Christ's Chapel Dulwich and a good audience enjoyed the eats afterwards. It has been a good start to Lent with quiet reflection on Ash Wednesday and a moving funeral on Thursday.It strikes me that the outside world seldom sees the church at its best when a community is united in grief and joy at the loss of a beloved brother and friend. The media seldom portrays this. All they see are the faults. And that is not to deny the fa...

Unpacked and watching the Trooping - good old Britain. It's hotter here than in Botswana and Zambia. Good flights with SAA apart from the muddleup on the flight home. As it happens I needed 2 seats so I could elevate my leg. I grazed it getting off the safari vehicle so had to have treatment at the Avani hotel. We met a lady from Florida who said she normally came to London every year but not this year. Understandable but sad. The LMP concert attracted a good audience no doubt attracted by community choir singing Adiemus. Ken Burton conducted Vivaldi Gloria. Good for all to hear Poulenc and Mozart. The ensemble in the organ concerto was remarkable. Hot and trains replaced by buses so going whole way on tfl buses. We sang Day by day by How and I played Ronald Watson Elegy in memoriam Herbert Howells and June Nixon improvisation on Adoro Te. She signed my copy when I played it at Melbourne cathedral. Happy 50th birthday to her. Super concert by the London Mozart Players at St Joh...

Can't believe Mum died 10 years ago today. I played Vierne Berceuse which I played at the crematorium for Mum and Dad. Also Willan on St Peter and Ronald Watson's Elegy in memoriam Herbert Howells which quotes the tune Michael ( we sang All my hope). At the end Janacek Fanfare from Sinfonietta (ironically John the server who heard me practising this was not there!). Richard Broadberry celebrated - amazing for 85! Berceuse by Andrew Moore as we were 5 minutes late starting.  The visiting organist last night played nothing at offertory and did not play many of the responses - I wonder if something was missing from the console or his information?

Fr Paul Francis from St George's  and Stephen was there too it being St Bartholomew. I played Dyson and Willan on Song 34, Watson tribute to Howells and Dad's postlude. Mum and Dad were included in the prayers. Good hymns All my hope, For all the saints, O thou who camest, Forth in thy name. 28 there. To Clare's for lunch with Grainne and the kids and Dennis - very nice. To talk on Czech music which was rather dull. The Czech Philharmonic strings are superb - Janacek, Dvorak cello concerto (Alisa Weilerstein and a Bach encore) and Beethoven 7. Listened to 3 encores on the bus. 

Swam 20. Do not like Liz's haircut much - too short. I loaded up the pots in the car and she took them to the tip - she fell over the old washing line. Set off early and went to Balham library - delay as only 3 staff on and not pleased when 3rd staff member came up to desk and did not ask who was next - result woman queue jumped - sent a message to Jeremy. Cannot remember her name - she used to work at York. Got to Heythrop around 12 noon which was OK. Schola out in force for Dominic's debut. The Purcell Hear my prayer actually was OK but little sense of ensemble singing. Everybody grimly holding on to lines - 8 part and the tuning is tricky. Gemma was OK if a little bossy - I found it hard to hear her. I played Purcell, Watson and Karg-Elert. Michael Holman gave a great tribute to Rocco who finishes his degree next term and is posted to Japan by his order! Went to coffee and told Sr Mary about Rocco concelebrating at the cathedral - I will miss it! To Acton on 452  - long det...

To 8 a.m. Mass at St Mary's - Canon Collins and a good reader. The congregation mumble the responses and at communion the whole congregation stands up and queues round the building! Had a friendly argument with Pat Ryan. He says crossing Our Lady by not singing hymns to her in May led to Paul and I leaving Addiscombe. Strange that we both ended up at the cathedral - did Our Lady have a hand in that too? This made me miss train so waited for 337 bus. When I got off it a taxi came at the right moment. I said to the driver you are heaven sent. He was Muslim and remarked on this comment. So I said we are all heaven sent. Got to All Saints Putney Common at 10 a.m. Strange Greening setting and a poor Eminent organ. I played Watson In memoriam Howells, Eric Smith and Jerusalem, Bus to Putney Bridge and to Mary King's workshop on "Nixon in China" - tricky to sing and learn. Met Stephen from Bath who knows Pat and Keith Bennett. He came to Di Mario's for an excellent pizza...