The organist librarian

Monday Dennis went with Grandma to hospital to see the geriatrician and he flew back to Dublin. I missed swimming and said goodbye. It was great to have him here! Tuesday to Barnes for rehearsal of Bach motet "Jesu meine freude" with David Cairns. This was held in a fabulous music room complete with bookshelves and sculptures. The Torrington singers are good - 5 on each part. Martin Neary was playing the piano!Francis Herbert walked back to the station with me. Liz got home after me - she had enjoyed St Patrick's party at the cathedral featuring dancers and the Cardinal! Again overslept so no swim but I did go to tai chi on Monday. Wednesday watched last bit of other faiths programme and Turkey. To Royal Academy to see the Palladio exhibition with excellent audio guide. I have been to Vicenza so it was most interesting. Passed Sir Roy Strong in the street! 6 at interfaith group and we did not need the prepared materials as Indra talked about India! 4 served at Mass and I ...

Magnolias now in bloom in Wurzburg from Ann. Another busy day but did have chance to catch up a bit! To Grandma's with fish and chips from the Thornton Heath restaurant and they were good. Plumber still not finished. Much concern about Tom who had stitches after unprovoked attack on him and his boss at Liverpool Street last night. One of the alleged attackers has been arrested. He was due to go to Singapore Monday. To practice and the Bob Chilcott Psalm 23 is going really well. Byrd 4 part Sanctus less so but we will not do it in public until we are confident. John surprised at no sung service on Ascension day. I am going to the lecture and Vickie said not enough people turn out for it any way. Watched Sacred Music part 4 about Luther and Bach - very well done.

Liz was due to be cantor at 5.30 mass but had train problems and when she tried to drive up she got stuck in traffic. I listened to evensong from Windsor which included My song is love unknown and Bach's Passacaglia played by Roger Judd. I also did the April music list. Earlier I was watching "The hidden face of Jesus" which claimed links with other religions. To St John's Upper Norwood for service of meditation on the Passion. John Linley was there with Bob Atkinson. We sang Blow Salvator mundi, Greene Lord let me know mine end, Crux Fidelis by King John of Portugal and 3 negro spirituals including 2 arranged by Tippett. Cathy sang sharp as usual. It was hard to hear Beverley at times. The service began with Vexilla regis. Kit plays the hymns far too loudly. 11 in the congregation. Adrian's Mum is sinking fast - Joy said it would not be long now. Watched part 1 of The Passion on TV - bit hard to follow at times but I was a bit tired.

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...

The choir rehearsed a lot of Bach's St Luke Passion for Good Friday this evening. There is some doubt that the work is by the great man himself. Mendelssohn apparently thought not. We are doing an edited version in English. It will be at 8 p.m. at St Andrew's Coulsdon.