The organist librarian

Liein. Fisher house, Timothy Radcliffe and Bishop Paul Mason on Thu kingdom come. Don Giovanni 1978 very static. Varady out sings Sutherland. James Morris looks perfect - he sang at the Met for 50 years. More boxes cleared and study floor now clear. Cendrillon from ROH di Dinato and Alice Coote very funny. Morecambe and Wise.

To see doctor Ojo who prescribed antibiotics and cream - it may be a bite! Long wait but he fitted me in. To Penge for AA speed awareness course which was well done. Quite a lot there and good to be reminded of things. Home for dinner and then 2 trains to Swanley. Dave picked me up and provincial council went well although 11 were missing. Bishop Paul spoke well on catechesis and evangelisation also education and interfaith. Mike gave me a lift home. Cold and feeling tired. 

A lovely day for Provincial President's Sunday at West Malling with Bishop Paul Mason. Everything went so well and the music was much appreciated. About 60 came. Lovely to have the whole family there.  Watching the lovely Prom of Mozart, Haydn and Faure King's college Cambridge choir correctly dressed but why are the male soloists and orchestral male players in open neck shirts? Probably hot! Much as I love the sound of King's choir I do think that their general facial expression is so bland. You cannot sing about fear and trembling in the face of final judgement looking like that and I wonder if English choirs often try to copy this sort of face and hence do not convey the music well? Superb treble soloist and when he gets a bow he smiles. Only the large Oscar Wilde lookalike bass and one of the tenors seemed to have any facial expression at all! I think one must know what you are singing about and not rely on the voice alone to convey the expression. Look at the wonderf...

To Warlingham for coffee then Aylesford for KCSP Mass with Bishop Paul Mason for 600 children who were having a great time! Catenians mentioned at Mass and I ga ve out Bursary Fund posters to the secondary school students. To Rainham to collect 3 Catenian cups and then to Peter and Marcela Stevens for tea. Provincial executive group meeting. 110 miles in all and the weather went from sunny to rain! The cups are lovely. The music was provided by the Southwark Catholic youth service - very happy clappy but the kids loved it. 

Got drenched going on the bus to the cathedral - we had to be there at 9.45 a.m. Enjoyed the ordination of Bishop Paul Mason at St George's cathedral Southwark. Being in the choir had a great view and lovely to see so many priests I know. Pity everybody was not together in the marquee afterwards especially the ecumenical guests as I know 3 of them! There was a great deal to sing but the people were able to join in as it was well-known.  I endured the choir rehearsal on Saturday for the consecration of our new bishop which happens today. I did find it irritating that the music booklet called it "the ordination" and some of the composers were not given. The hymn tunes not printed either - why? Some of the Diocesan choir cannot read music but lots can. For the first time some of the youngsters from the Cathedral choir are singing with us. It remains to be seen if the organ will be used.    As a tenor I find the attitude towards harmony puzzling. Why some items in harmony a...