The organist librarian

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...

Liz and I gave an hour interview to Croydon museum about Fairfield Hall and music locally. Really enjoyed it and remembered schools dance and concerts/ Welcoming at the cathedral. Excellent sung Eucharist at the Abbey enjoyed the Monteverdi Beatus vir and visited the Confessor's shrine followed by wine. I got there at 4 pm so we were well forward in the large queue and we sat at the front of the transept. Lovely meal at Browns with Society of St Gregory friends. Nice to see people we follow on Facebook!  Fr Andrew who was ordained with  Brian O'Mahony  was also at Browns. He is now at St Mary Moorfields. Society of St Gregory AGM and Crichton lecture given by Rev Canon Lucy Winkett excellent. I spoke about MM in Romsey. John Ainslie on psalms. Enjoyed it. Drove up to town as Liz went to dinner dance at school. New children's Victoria choir sang at Mass and 3 Downside monks concelebrated. They will be on BBC 4 very soon in a new series. T...

Friday to St George's Beckenham for Norman Harper's recital. Super Liszt BACH and Wachet auf then hilarious hornpipe by Noel Rawsthorne and Departure of the Queen of Sheba by Paul Ayres - great jokes. Gave Mass music to Dorio who is still having problems with bullying priest and bishops have been! Liz went over to Chiswick and to Enfield for Swavek's induction. To St John's for recording of superb evensong by King's London - Vittoria and Bach. At choir Tony Trent came but no Karen or John. Janet went home sick. Oh dear. Saturday to Heythrop for Advent retreat Prof Richard Price Heythrop prof of theology on Augustine - I commented on the words from the Cross. Met Liz and she came for tea int he convent. Sr Hilda gravely ill. Talk on Marie Eugenie Assumptionist founder - a remarkable woman. To Vespers (late) and Downside Abbey school choir sang well at Mass - Bruckner, Christopher Tambling conducted by Edward, Byrd. Farewell party for Sr Bridget with some Irish singin...