The organist librarian

Liz to Heythrop so continued with reading. To St George's Beckenham for Nick Wibberley's recital at short notice - Buxtehude, Bach, Mendelssohn, Demessieux, Daquin, Boellmann - well played. Watched the rest of Tosca from Covent Garden - Bryn Terfel, Jonas Kaufmann, Angela Georgiou conducted by Pappano - fantastic singing and playing. Saw Terence briefly at Beckenham. To Balham library to collect Roy book - all pleased to see me. Confirmation candidates at Mass Royal Holloway college sang unaccompanied Canterbury Mass by Cecilia McDowell. To catechists meeting with red wine. Picked up Dennis from station - been on course.

Wednesday to St Paul's cathedral for the festival of St Cecilia. Nasty fanfare trumpets from the back of the nave. Alistair from the cathedral was there as part of the worshipful company of musicians and we also saw Sr Stella. Sitting halfway down the nave, the combined choirs of Westminster Abbey, Cathedral and St Paul's were too far to the left and the new console too prominent. The boys were on the floor and couldn't be seen at all. Excellent new anthem by Cecilia McDowell and Stanford For lo I raise up. Sermon on music in difficult times by the Revd Dr Carolyn Hammond Dean of Gonville and Caius Cambridge. 3 good hymns "Thy hand O God" (Basil Harwood's anniversary) God is love and There's a wideness to Coverdale Maurice Bevan's tune. Chris Hollis told me later that Martin Baker could not hear the organ from the console! Canon Christopher and Fr Swavek spotted us! To Southwark Bridge to find 344 bus stop not working and works on the bridge. Eventua...