The organist librarian

Woke early, read then slept to 8.45. At end of Mass Sunith stopped - after I had lit my candles (5) spoke to him - he said with MS the body just stops. I said it was a miracle he is still with us! Scores back to Penge library - at bus stop chatted to lady who goes to Mass. Invites to public speaking done. One judge has cried off! Have two hearing aids again but have to go back to Guys in October. To Guildhall library to see the Tylers and Bricklayers display which was not well presented. Who knew Ben Johnson was a bricklayer? The new mosaic at Westminster cathedral won an award the martyrs one!  Guildhall gallery De Morgan Symmetry surprised Battersea not mentioned on the map of De Morgan London connections. Victorian landscapes. Interview with Sebastian Faulks fascinating. We need to remember massacres so they do not happen again. Above all the arms trade must end if we want a better world. Fabulous Bruckner 4 Rotterdam Phil Yannick Nezet-Seguin. Bravo the horns. Yefim ...

Swam, Mass, meeting with Mrs Boyle at BTG and plans for public speaking heat well in hand. Great to have the boys with us this week and they took art work and origami home. Mick came. Liz went with Henry to Gambado which they all enjoyed. Early to the hall so ate at the Union. The talk on Bruckner 5 was anarchic. Benjamin Grosvenor played Mozart 21 and a Rachmaninoff encore. Sakari conducted the Bruckner very well indeed.

First the crisis with the cleaner and the comments after choral evensong on Sunday, then having to cancel to talk on dementia awareness in November and great unhappiness over that, then Sheikh Ramzy cancels October 18th talk so woe! Trying to get another speaker. On the plus side encouragment at Belmont from the group and George, a kind email from Philip explaining things in a better way and now this morning a delightful coffee and cake concert by the London Mozart Players sextet at St John's. Mozart Divertimento and Tchaikovsky Souvenir de Florence what a joy and a large audience. The wit and the passing of melodies from cello to violin - a delight. Nancy is 93. Ian is coming tomorrow and so is Fr Andrew. Hovering around 30/40 at the moment. We got home at 6.45 last night and I collected Bruce at 9.45 at East Croydon - great to have him home. He has gone to Louise's. Collected the cake from Alena in Tooting and it is a triumph!  German choir from Bernkastel at Mass sang Pales...

To Mass and then straight to the hall to get raffle ticket.  Excellent recital by Charles Wooler at Turnham Green Bach, Franck and Vierne. The Chiswick book festival looks good.Welcoming at the cathedral and said Hello to the new Papal nuncio. I was late for the discussion on unfinished works with excellent readings as for some reason my seat tickets were not printed and they had to bring 2 more from upstairs. As it happens nobody checked them! Concertgebouw and Gatti played horrid Rihm but Bruckner 9 was thrilling and sublime. Who needs a 4th movement? Sad to hear of the passing of Cardinal Cormac - a tall kind man. Very chuffed that photo of the cathedral from the passage roof is in Oremus with writeup - only 3rd time in 10 years interfaith group has got in. 

Only twice this Proms season have I had a shiver down my spine. The first was the trumpet solo in Leonore No. 2 - like a royal silver trumpet. The second the clash when the main theme returns at the end of the first movement of Bruckner 9 - thrilling. Excellent discussion of Bruckner and his symphonies. I do not think the Bach cantata worked in the hall at all (at least in the gallery). Mahler youth orchestra conducted by Philippe Jordan. Had a lovely time taking Sean to Wetland centre while Ciaran was at circus skills workshop. Very interesting discussion on Tagore and I would like to read his short stories. Bryan Northcott's concerto not great, lovely Mozart Violin concerto 5 and Zemlinsky with the wonderful Christopher Maltman. Home in 45 minutes and wached Bakeoff.

Stunning Othello from RSC at Picturehouse Greenwich. What acting and direction and staging using water! Amazing and very moving.Having black actors playing Iago and Othello gave the play the whole new dimension.  Great Brahms Prom from OAE and Marin Alsop. Jamie Barton brought back happy memories of performing Alto rhapsody or rather going sick before the performance - that work seemed to jinx me! Interesting discussion about Brahms. I believe Britten disliked his music and influence. Lovly walk at Osterley with the boys.  Sean to Ciaran on high swing "Be very very careful Ciaran!" This from Mr Try anything himself!  The talk on the LSE was interesting and my question was well answered. It seems Harold Laski was very highly regarded by the Congress party members,  Messiaen at the Prom quite bearable, fine Mozart concerto 27 but what was that wierd encore? Bruckner 7! The encore was Shostakovich!

A very spiritual day! Syro-Malabar Mass and films about their music and Aramaic in their liturgy which is being lost. Vespers Ukranian Catholic cathedral Duke St. Served mass at WCathedral. Bruckner Mass at Proms - Soprano soloist awful and sopranos tended to flatness but they looked great in shiny white dresses!

Woke at 8.22 and checked website thinking the course started at 9. It actually started at 10 at St Margaret's Westminster and there were only 8 on it. Adam Boulter is Anglican chaplain at Al-Aqaba for the Missions to Seamen and Hatta is his mother-in-law! It was an inspiring day and we used grey background and erasers to take the grey away. I did 3 drawings 2 on the theme of Jacob at Bethel. Could the ladder to heaven have been a stone one? Nice lunch provided as well! The lay clerks sang evensong - Ives and Tallis and a Bruckner prelude and fugue. Tea at Pret with Liz who served at rite of election. Fr Alexander and we had a full compliment of servers. After Mass I picked up on boat and acolytes neatening up their movements. Mark and Isobel met us and we had a delightful meal at Zizzi. I had calzone and lemon meringue sundae. Have given up alcohol for Lent.

Got to the cathedral at 4.15 and found a good place on the centre aisle. Liz was serving - the rehearsal was on Wednesday so I could not do that. Several servers were in the congregation including 2 Michaels and Tony. A very fat man sat next to me but eventually he moved up which was a relief. The choir rehearsed and the cathedral was full! Splendid Bruckner Ecce sacerdos and I had a good view of the pectoral cross. The 3 pontificals were carried in procession and mentioned in the homily Cardinal St John Fisher, Cardinal Pole and Cardinal Allen. Schubert Mass in G, Victoria Te Deum, Mawby Ave verum. At the end Widor Marche pontificale. I saw sister from Heythrop and Ann Welch who said how much she enjoyed the Buddhist centre visit. I then went straight to the V and A but found the tunnel entrance closed and a huge queue in the rain. As the Islamic art meetup group were meeting at 6.30 and it was then 7.30 and I do not know anyone in the group I abandoned it and came home. Liz arrived ...

Friday took Liz to St John's for 9 a.m. in pouring rain for Walsingham pilgrimage until Sunday. Servers pilgrimage is tomorrow. To Streatham medical centre and saw very nice Indian audiologist. He said right ear is bad and worse so I am to have new Siemens aids on October 1st. Left is also poor. No wonder Liz has to repeat everything! To hall for 2.30 p.m. and got queue number ticket No. 11 for Last night at 4. To Royal Academy to revisit Richard Rodgers exhibition which is most interesting. On way back bought sandwich and tea at Pret - alas the tea leaked and the bottom of the paper bag collapsed - result tea all over bus floor! To Pre Prom Poetry competition results - most interesting. At the Prom we had Bach played by Klaus Sonnleitner who is organist at Linz where Bruckner played. His approach was more Baroque than Romantic. His encore was very quiet! Vienna Phil and Maazel played Bruckner 8 beautifully but somehow it was not as impressive as the 4th the other evening. Saturd...

Tuesday swam 20. To King's college hospital and X-ray and dentist advised a denture to fill gaps at top on both sides. Anythign else would be a waste of money! I was seen quickly. To talk on Bruckner - my question to the current organist of St Florian never got asked - do they have Bruckner's scores anf annotations to Bach and any comments on the the Albert Hall organ? Beethoven and Bruckner 4th well played by Petrenko and Oslo philharmonic. Lat night prom David Hill conducting Boy was born and George Lloyd requiem. To Acton and there by midnight. Wed had a lie-in. Ciaran's friend came to play and I took Sean to the park for a coffee. I also looked after him in the afternoon and he was good as gold! To swimming but the class was too big and Ciaran not happy although he is very confident in the water. To pre Prom meeting with Roger Wright, Petroc and Chris Cotton. I got to ask my question about better lighting in the gallery (agreed!) seating fixed down and asking people to...

Swam 20.  To nurse for Hepatitis booster and new passport came. Liz went to the osteopath and I went to the South London interfaith group meeting at which I spoke about the Conversations for the soul plans for Streatham mosque in November. 6 people interested. To Guildhall art gallery - the special photography exhibition was actually very small. More interesting were the portraits. The London amphitheatre ruins are well presented. The Victorian paintings do not inspire and there is a harrendous marble statue of Thatcher on loan from the House of Commons! To the Courtauld for a one room exhibition on collecting Gauguin. Arrived at the hall early and to the talk with Robert Simpson and the principal clarinet of the Phlharmonia who gave some interesting insights into Essa-Pekka's approach. The Mozart was fun and rather liked Midori playing the new Eotvos concerto. Bruckner 7 as inspiring as ever and used torch for my own score. Up early and finished dissertation and sent it off - 13...

To Senate House library to examine Britten score for tonight and also Prodigal Son and Curlew River. To St Mary Moorfields and 3 Carmelites made their first profession. Kate was there. After lunch the Vicar-General Pascal Ryan spoke on priestly formation since Vatican II. He highlighted ecumenism and Interfaith as 2 areas which needed more time and also post-ordination training. He was unconvincing on married clergy. If Anglicans can afford them why can't we? What about the former Anglican married clergy - who is supporting them? To St John Clerkenwell for Stephen Raw's moving texts from the War requiem - he signed my catalogue for me. A lady from Seattle was talking about Britten. Vespers and Mass and the Cardinal Vaughan schola sang Mawby and Bruckner and Kodaly Missa brevis.To Southwark cathedral by car as trains up creek from London Bridge. Fish and chips and ice cream at restaurant. Excellent opera and this time we were moved to back of nave although diction was not good ...

Woke early - watched programme on Heritage from Berkeley castle where lost Vivaldi scores were discovered. Still no sign of baby but Liz stayed home. To cathedral hall for Year of Faith conference about the new evangelisation - some of Liz's class were there and Brother Ben. Interesting especially Fr Michael Holman SJ now principal of Heythrop. Third speaker I was dropping off a bit. To vespers and Mass and I looked after Fr Michael Durand. Choir sang Bruckner and Rheinberger. Watched University challenge episodes and Royal Edinburgh military tattoo.

To the National Gallery to see Metamorphosis around 3 beautiful Titians. The Mark Wallinger did not appeal but liked the films about the ballet and the poetry. To National Portrait gallery to see the BP awards - I seldom agree with the judges. Also looked at the Olympic stars gallery. Old No. 9 to the hall - next week will seem very strange. The meeting with Roger Wright and Chris Cotton was pretty bland - none of my points were raised. Lighting in gallery needs improving, prommers hate the rope in the arena and the enforcing of no food. Coughing and late comers were other issues. Alwyn, George Lloyd, Hildegard, Bax, Arnold and Haydn were composers mentioned and an Archers prom? The concert by the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Haitink was splendid. Murray Perahia played Beethoven 4. Bruckner 9 - at start of slow movement lady fainted in front of us and hit her head on the floor. A doctor was quickly on the scene and the medical team. Watched paralympics coverage.

Cannot believe we are nearly halfway through the season! Last night the pre Prom talk about religion and music with James MacMillan and Andrew Carwood was fascinating. I asked a question about "from the heart to the heart" and both gave good answers. Andrew said St Paul's does everything from the heart and if the boys don't like a setting it is not repeated! Tristan prelude and Bruckner 6 well played by BBC Phil conducted by Juanjo Mena who is proving to be excellent after his dull debut last year. The premiere of MacMillan's Credo which has not set before - an effective work delivering the text clearly. Liz came home as she had a spot removed from her back today. I got to Acton at 10.30. Woke with a sore right shoulder. Ciarán wanted track made! Went with Louise to Westfield library which is lovely and lunch at M & S. Watched more Olympics. Pre Prom talk with Edward Gardner about his reading. Prom tonight BBC SO played really well for Semyon Bychkov Schubert ...

The match between Federer and Juan Martin del Potro is engrossing and a real battle. Watched the people's history and History of art in 3 colours - blue also Michael Portillo so gradually catching up. To prom Siegried Idyll and Bruckner's 8th BBC Scottish with Donald Runnicles on great form. Came home to Carte d'Or ice cream and Montepulciano wine and watched some of the TV of the Bruckner.

Liz to course on Excel at Battersea library. I worked on the essay. To St Paul's cathedral and we sat in the South Transept for a change - it was not full. There was distraction from a noisy boy and a lady in a natty cap in front of us. Why bring a small child to such a service? Good sermon from the Primus of Scotland. Pigeon flying around inside! Magnificent organ Bach and Vierne. Byrd, Bruckner, Holst from Southwell (but girls not singing!) Mealor from Bristol. The big anthem was Elgar Great is the Lord with its thrilling ending. Walton Orb and sceptre at the end. Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Mayor in procession - all very grand! To Acton so did not go to City Hall meeting about interfaith walks or the South Norwood partnership meeting! Watched Great Ormond street and enjoyed pizza. Started the book on Centering prayer.

Watched semifinal of Young musician last night -lovely cellist, recorder excellent and felt sorry for the percussionist. Nice to see Kevin Hathaway on screen. Played Henry G Ley on Down Ampney which I played at Keble college yesterday and Dubois Toccata. Choir sang well - Barry's introit and he was there to hear it, Rutter The Lord bless you and keep you, Locus iste. Tony sang bass. Janet gave me a lovely framed portraits of composers. Molly gave me a musical pen. Met the Bishop of Southwark and said would see him at St John's lunch. To Mass at Purley and asked David Palmer about torch relay bus. They sang a lovely piece by Christopher Walker I had not heard before. Chat to Dennis.

Lovely fish and chips from Addiscombe. Progress on torch relay and at last heard from Penny about the interfaith walk so I need not spend any more time on that! To practice and Tony came to sing bass so we can do the Bruckner when the bishop comes. I will accompany it. Brought more organ music home. Watched Maestro at the opera and QI.