The organist librarian

I have been working on my life story again and am very struck at the number of concerts, operas and ballets that were broadcast on BBC2 in the 70s. Now we are reduced to the occasional programme on BBC4 often not announced in advance. Lord Reith would be horrified! The same goes for religious programmes on TV which are a shadow of what used to be shown.  Part 1 of the St Matthew Passion Netherlands Bach society Van Veldhoven on YouTube. Superb soloists and I like the way the soloists sing everything. The 6 boys shine through!  St Matthew passion part 2 wonderful. Mark Potter amazing. Just listened to Kathleen Ferrier accompaniment is so plodding! I grew up going to hear this on records (Klemperer) which Anna Gabler played on Palm Sunday in Johannesburg and Dad and I sang chorales.i first heard it live in Florence in 1972 with Kurt Equiluz. Bach choir once and once at St Martin's. I think at the Proms and sang it at St John's. It's like Everest a gigan...

Really enjoyed One man, Two guvnors with James Corden from National Theatre. At 8 we were clapping the carers. St Matthew passion Vaughan Williams in English and piano, Willlcocks incredibly slow, Cleobury good but I think I would prefer something to watch and there are several on you tube. Watched ROH Acis and Galatea 2009, start of Joseph and dream coat then Pilgrimage part 2. Serbia and Bulgaria clearly have many treasures .Zoom session with Mick. More painting faces. Sat Fr Andrew at cathedral, Stephen Wang excellent on crisis. Delightful conversation between Chief Rabbi, Cardinal and Welby. 

Swam 20.  Our second session talking about our marriage for Explore at Christ the King Lewisham some good questions. Do you ever get fed up with each other? what would you do if one of you cheated? What was the attraction? To meditation at St John's and wrote it up in my journal and Liz went to the Oratory for St Matthew passion. I went to oil painting on aluminium with Nelson. Wednesday took Sean to Osterley and enjoyed the walk. Lunch at the Osterley garden centre. Picked up Liz and to Guild of St John SOuthworth talk on Bentley. Brian Cuthbertson of the Diocese of London stimulating on Laudato si' 9  came and a good discussion. Slow bus journey to Brixton 6 Buddhists and me discussing transformative action. Start by creating a blogspot to which all can contribute. Watched the excellent Richard Dimbleby lecture on Shakespeare.

To St Joseph's for Mass celebrated for interfaith harmony and peace by a Philipino priest. We sang some unusual hymns/ After lunch I led a session on interfaith dialogue and prayer using Evangelium Gaudii and Ecclesiam suum. It went very well with lots of contributions and they liked the Conversations for the soul booklet. Finished around 3.30 with lectio and I used the Pax Christi prayer. To Marks for tea after 2 bus journeys and served Mass after vespers. All of the servers were there. I missed the 52 and decided to go home. Liz came home after the first half of the St Matthew dramatised version and I listened on the radio with the score. 

Took Seán to music which he enjoyed although he fell over a couple of times and was tired - maybe he is teething again. After a quick lunch to Hinsley Room for afternoon of spirituality day on Lazarus with Fr Robin. The highlight of the day was listening to the rehearsal of the Bach. To Marks for tea and food and then back for 6.30. A moving and memorable event. Fr Damian behind me. I remarked on what a Muslim would make of it all and he said probably say it didn't happen but like the music! Margaret Tobin, Sylvia and Hannah very chatty at the break. Glad I took my cushion and there was just enough light to follow the score! The boys did exceptionally well and so did the various soloists including Reuben. Ian wasn't singing. Very impressive counter tenors.

38 lengths and the last swim for a few days. Sad to see that the pool is open Good Friday and Easter Monday - the staff need a break too! Spent the day completing PRP statements and getting them signed. Staff meetings went smoothly and there was time for once for some discussion rather than just me telling everybody everything! I also had to fill in the training statistics which is never easy. I left at 5.30 and picked up the car. Thornton Heath is being dig up for gas works for 5 months so chaos reigns and it means using the Selhurst route. The service at Coulsdon went well. The choir moaned about being in the nave but it was more intimate and sensible as the congregation was sadly small. We sang Rutter Gloria, Wood Mass in the Phrygian mode, To mock your reign to Tallis tune, Psalm 116 and at the end Psalm 22 and Taize Stay with me. The altar of repose in the Lady chapel looked lovely. The hymns were "Soul of my saviour" "An upper room" "Now my tongue" t...

Mosaic from Palermo Just back from Coulsdon where everything went really well. John brought his flute and we started in the hall with Wilson's Hosanna to the Son of David. because of the atrocious weather we processed through the corridor to the church with the flute giving great support to "All glory Laud and honour". I insisted on this being in B flat so it did not go too high. We sang Bairstow in E flat which is such a fine setting - pity the Benedictus got left out - what better day to sing Hosannas! The Passion was read by lots of readers. Vicky preached on Holy Week itself. At communion we sang "Is it nothing to you?" by Ouseley with a real sense of the sorrow in the music. We also had verse 1 of "O sacred head" . After "Ride on" I played "Tears of grief" from Bach's St Matthew Passion. After coffee I practised - odd to be playing Easter music today! At the cathedral Thomas sang the Passion with Deacon Ed and one of the la...