The organist librarian

Saturday unpacking finished and washing. Auditions at St John's. Did not recognise Stephen Hope but he recognised me. His playing was eccentric. Gary ran into trouble with the plainchant but Max was impressive.  To Bloomsbury Baptist to hear half of Sarah Kim's recital of transcriptions. Good to be back at Mass at the cathedral. Trains not running well. Very cold.  Played Franck Prelude and Fughetta and we sang Webbe Lamb of God. Saw Henry when I picked up the car - it was parked there because of the football. Caught up on Call the midwife, A Vicar's life, Tablets, Yo Yo Ma and the Silk road ensemble. Monday mosaic and tai chi.  Stunning playing from Daniel Cook at the Festival Hall and a most interesting interview. Met the Gillian Weir organ scholar they are looking for a successor. Vierne 6, Stanford Sonata 2 Eroica, Nice to see Andrew from Acton. Daniel Cook comes up quite often in this blog! Snow prevented us going to Acton and in fact school closed! 

I warmed to the  new Mander organ at St Mary Merton Park after a while. Lunch at Elys. Fine organ at St Mary's Wimbledon village. Rather a lot of walking. The Mass at Anerley for feast of St Simon and St Jude was for Canon Gerald Coates RIP long a member of Society of St Gregory and a wonderful man. His funeral is Nov 9 at noon Arundel cathedral..  Why do some organ teachers tell students not to wear shoes? It is so dangerous and Peter Hurford is adamant that shoes improve your pedalling.  Daniel Cook from Durham cathedral played superbly at Bloomsbury Baptist - Parry, Byrd, Elgar Prelude and Angel's farewell from Gerontius (one of my favourites) and Bairstow. I was sorry to miss the Howells and Willan. Piccolo Lasso from Dublin sang beautifully at the cathedral Bodley Mass and Welsey Love one another. fr Michael was chatting about Hereford and Fr Michael Quaqoe is back from Ghana. Furious that it appeared that the cassocks I had taken off the rack for replacement had be...

Swam 20. To Addiscombe for the funeral which I was dreading but in fact it was a fitting tribute. It did seem a bit odd that the organ was unused beforehand (recordings) and for some of the items e.g. Ann singing the psalm and Sanctus. Nice to see old friends from Catenians and the choir. Kit Bradley's daughters were there Hilary has retired from directing the Woodford Green choir after 25 years! Mary Endacott is in a nursing home. Jo and Paul said nothing but everyone else very friendly esp Fr Dennis. Evensong from St Albans and Come dine with me. Spoke to Sonia about the roof at the front and we will go halves on getting it done. Seems her builder has gone leaving a mess and a disaster! 4 replies so far to the Alleygate idea -  we need all 30 to agree! To the cathedral for Daniel Cook's recital - he plays really well, Willan, Elgar, Bossi and Holler. Not a very large audiece. Had a long chat to Reuben Thomas, Ben Bloor and the guys from Harrisons and Michael O'Leary.

Very much enjoyed the Merchant at the Globe. Jonathan Pryce and his daughter were excellent. How anti-Semitic the play is and the forced baptism at the end underlined this. Second half of Vespers with the Abbey choir at the cathedral.Pity it had to be Vittoria and Phillips. Daniel Cook played Bach but it just became a great wash of sound! I walked Globe to Blackfriars so was tired. Schutz on radio 3. Domingo at the BBC. Family arrived and had fish and chips.

July 4 American Independence Day. Drove to Kew and were late for the chorus coach which fortunately waited for us. Nice lunch at restaurant in the cathedral close next to the military museum - I had steak pie. Rehearsal went well and most impressed by the lovely new font. People playing with the running water! Had tea and enjoyed evensong Purcell - boys and 6 men. Vierne Epitaphe. The concert itself drew a good audience and went very well. Part, Mendelssohn, Kodaly Laudes organi stunningly played by Daniel Cook and Faure Requiem. Home by midnight which was good going and a lovely sunset as we approached Stonehenge. Sunday I had the morning off from Coulsdon and Kevin Shears played. To Provincial President's Sunday at Aylesford - only Norwood brother there despite Bill having postponed President's Sunday. The mass was not inspiring and the homily incomprehensible! Met Gerard Goodhind who knew Martin Hall well. Not as well attended - nice tea and sat in glorious sunshine with J...