The organist librarian

Baptism of the Lord and I got wet! We sang Like the murmur of the dove's song by Alan Smith. I thought We have a gospel at the end was an inspired choice. I played Bach The old year now away is gone and Christ the Lord to Jordan came. The latter was Dad's party piece and a steady speed paid off with an accurate pedal part on 4 foot clarion. The Great has a 16 foot diapason so that works well against the choir flutes in the right hand. Watching BBC Icons. How to choose? Thatcher No but Churchill, Roosevelt and Mandela are icons.  Here is the little door at evensong.  Christ's chapel Dulwich for Marilyn Harper's excellent recital. She played a cradle song by Howells. Enjoyed Call the midwife. Grouting at mosaic not my favourite task. I was expecting an organ recital at St Martin's in the Fields. St Martin's voices were excellent especially bass and tenor. Soprano too Emma Kirkby for my taste! Nils Greenhow excellent as the blind Samson, Nathan Harrison exciting...

To Worcester for the Society of St Gregory AGM. Delays on tube meant we missed our train and had to pay. Stayed at Travelodge and visited Greyfriars House NT and the Commandery where we learnt a lot about the Civil War. Evensong at the cathedral lovely Poulenc Tenebrae. James Lancelot is temporarily in charge. It seems Peter Nardone left under a cloud. Sadly no organ. Excellent drink at the Cardinal's hat and delicious Italian meal. Fr Brian from St George's great company. Excellent lecture from Alan Smith on Elgar and St George's. Fr Paul Gunter gave a most interesting Crichton memorial lecture. What a treat to play for Mass despite a difficult rehearsal - very hard to hear what was being said. Daquise is not great! I played the Vesper voluntaries using the stops Elgar used. 1 and a half hours from Paddington to home via Tulse Hill. This is in fact the first time in all these years that SSG has asked me to play anything and it is all thanks to Alan Smith. 

Pentecost and we sang Veni creator and Like the murmur of the dove's song by Alan Smith. Got train from Coulsdon South to 12.15 confirmation at cathedral. 40 hort reception in hall and then to Philipino club in Hinsley Room for lunch and Philip's cake. To Jugged Hare for smoked trout. Changed trains at East Croydon - Purley would have been better as I just missed it. Short practice but all went well. Andrew Wilson was there and people were complimentary. Attwood Come Holy Ghost and Come down O love divine. Vickie had been rather too prescriptive in the booklet including don't move at the peace! Something softer at the end - played John Cook on Veni creator. Bishop Alan Chesters was good. Nice cake in hall.

To the tip on the way to church to dump old compost. As I had my newly cleaned best suit on I donned an apron - there were 2 long queues of cars so I was a little delayed but picked up 2 ladies for church at bus stop as a result. I played Wyton and Thiman on Veni creator and we sang "Spirit of the living God" as an introit. Come down O love divine, Breathe on me Breath of God, O thou who camest and There's a spirit in the air. Veni creator at communion followed by Alan Smith's "Like the murmur". Straight to cathedral for 12.1 5 confirmation with Archbishop Vincent. Liz read the sequence very poetically and a splendid homily without notes. Stunning improvisations from Edward Tambling on Veni creator and I thought Mahler's Adagietto was creeping in too - mind you I am worrying that my copy of that is lost which I need next month! Come down O love divine, Breathe on me, O bread of heaven and Love divine. Lourdes Mass is a little tedious. Reception in the ha...

Friday Molly came in good time and we did some useful work and the new anthems went well. Karen was back although still coughing. Saturday I was off and went to Our Lady of Hal Camden Town for session on Lent groups theme "Holy Spirit" 3 of us but Mark Nash is always inspiring. Liz was at confirmation class. To Vespers and mass - 6 servers! Sunday Liz summoned to Grandma's after midnight and ended up at King's hospital - compressed vertebra so she couldn't sing at morning prayer or Mass. Coulsdon went OK - we did Alan Smith's "Like the murmur of a dove". I returned for evensong - Malcolm Archer's Brightest and Best is delightful, Shera setting, Psalm 97.One lapse in Ayleward responses. Visitor from Old Coulsdon was impressed. I played Daquin Noel etranger. 2 of the choir were late for rehearsal. Antiques roadhow and Lark Rise which was delightful. Monday a foul day with heavy rain. I couldn't find front door key (it was with church keys) and ...