The organist librarian

Liz to Turnham Green for Rossini Messe solenelle and to Goldsmiths Arms. England out of World Cup. Very hot. We sang Nicholson in C and David Ogden's "Christ has no body". Mass at Purley and it was first communion with tiaras and all. David Palmer show - eventually got a seat- a horrid Lord's prayer! Picnic at South Croydon Rec ground. To Newtons to look at Honda Jazz - very nice salesman - not pushy at all. The low mileage one was owned by a heavy smoker. £7950 for one a year older. To St Peter's South Croydon for patronal evensong with choir of 45. Chris conducted and Richard Pillner played the new Makin which does not have a convincing organ sound. Vicar very nice. Parry I was glad, Stanford Te Deum, Dyson in D. I think Rose repsonses was a tad ambitious! Angel voices, Guve us the wings and O praise ye the Lord. Noble chant for short psalm. It was a big sing as one hour rehearsal and straight into 3.30 evensong followed by cream tea! SSWesley on the choir incl...

Sarah gave us a splendid meditation on Finding Christ in the Gospel. Taking the 99 names of Allah she produced a much longer list of names for Jesus! We chose a picture and were able to draw our own picture. I chose Leonardo and icon of the Last supper and worked on St Teresa of Avila's "Christ has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet but yours. Yours are the feet with which he walks, yours are the eyes with which he sees, Yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world" and linked this to "I am the Bread of Life". My picture featured hands, bread, chalice, feet and eyes. A most useful exercise. Served at Mass and then to Jean Guillou's much heralded recital in the cathedral. I applaud his virtuosity and imagination and John East enjoyed it but I preferred last Sunday's music. Hyperion is a work about fire by Guillou. Many fiery effects but too loud and too long. The Vierne Symphony No.2 was again lots of reeds and my tinnitus didn't help...