The organist librarian

A good day in the school library clearing up the mess and listening to the Last Night of the Proms (TV version). A great concert! Now catching up on the TV versions of the Marin Alsop and Edward Gardner concerts. RVW Dona nobis pacem a great work unjustly neglected. Sophie Bevan like an angel. Watchedprogramme on Princess Margaret and Great British bakeoff. Thursday to Mass and Noel came to the car to ask about the trip. To Dr Ojo for ear clearing and checked wrist and said nothing broken. I fell over in Glyn Close. 

Swam and Mass with Fr Stuart. Wrote a letter to the Tablet about the review of the Proms Brahms requiem and checked the TV broadcast. Soprano and chorus were just not right at all. Organ too loud - result chorus sang too loudly and had nothing left by the final movements. Golda Schultz just not the right voice - needs a light pure tone above the stave. Ciaran enjoyed the first day of the diving course. Watched the repair shop. Enjoyed the Mozart clarinet concerto prom and it was a joy to see the 3 cousins playing so happily. Henry was full of smiles. Bergen Philharmonic under Edward Gardner Flying Dutchman overture and a thrilling Sibelius 2. The discussion with Rolf Wallin told us little and the violin concerto did not impress. It felt like he ran out of paper or ink.

To match first reading played Mendelssohn Elijah "It is enough" and "Lift thine eyes". Quite tricky as solo voice on choir clarinet and cello solo on Great. Stanford on St Columba and Finale from Saint-Saens No. 3. I thought I played it rather well but John remarked it needed more practice and a rallentando and drums! Cheek! Rehearsing Mahler Adagietto, Pachelbel Canon for the wedding and Dad's suite also Brewer Marche heroique. Anne-Marie Garton sang well and a good sermon. What a frightening experience! Mass at St Mary's 25 minute sermon on Elijah. Fr Celestine again! Tony Moynihan has died aged 93. Lunch then to two great Proms with a fine discussion on Dona nobis pacem with A. C. Grayling. Joshua Bell Mendelssohn, Saint-Saens, Bridge and Beethoven. Boulanger, Elgar, RVW. Beautiful singing from Sophie Bevan and Edward Gardner conducted BBC. Saw Chris Tew.

Mass. Dr Ojo removed mole on left arm. Stitches out in 10 days and cream  for my leg. Sorted scores. Draft keep the date for October 8th.  First night of the Proms turned out to be enjoyable. Lovely Beethoven sensitively played and lovely singing in John Adams' Harmonium and it so hard - it makes Beethoven 9 look easy! Good to see everyone again and we were in our usual seats watching TV performers. Liz spoke to Chi Chi about Shaku. 

Super Rossini Messe solennelle Prom at Greenwich conducted by David Hill. Had a good chat to the wife of the bass David Platt who is off to La Scala. Fr Brian and Fr Chris at Mass.   Watching live on BBC Iplayer the National youth orchestra playing The Planets -fab! Edward Gardner conducting. Liz at the concert. Heard Also sprach in the car. 

Liz home at 3 a.m. from Lourdes. Prayers for Brien and Violet George today and I played their favourites Finlandia and Sheep may safely graze also Dad's interlude on "York". Jerry paid me and has found Lourdes Gloria.  Two excellent Proms Aurora playing Mozart 39 from memory and Strauss oboe concerto. BBCSO under Edward Gardner Ravel, Debussy and an attractive choral work which apparently was in English!

An enjoyable Father's day. Early start as the train was replaced by a bus from Purley to Caterham so attended 8am BCP communion. Have not experienced that for years! Took refuge in the National Portrait gallery and National gallery as the West End shows inTrafalgar Square were very noisy. Enjoyed Tristan at ENO - Edward Gardner conducted and the orchestra were stunning. Stuart Skelton and Matthew Rose shone out. The set by Amish Kapoor was odd. Nice lady next to me a very keen opera fan. To St James Piccadilly for the first ever iftar there organised by City Circle. Sadiq Khan spoke well about Jo Cox and housing in London.  Played Bertalot on Repton,  George Thalben-Ball  on Gwalchmai and Thiman's Postlude on Harwood's Thornbury

Met Grainne and co at the lake and enjoyed the chat and walk. Liz took Ciaran swimming. I  enjoyed the prom conducted by Edward Gardner - Britten, Nielsen flute concerto and Janacek even the commission by Raymond Yiu was listenable! The discussion of Nielsen was most interesting and the flautist Emily Beynon looked and sounded stunning at the talk and on stage.

Another lie-in after a disturbed night. Thank God Scotland said No! To Balham library to return all scores and get guidebooks. Spent the afternoon finishing the picture framing and 3 are now up on the wall! To ENO for Otello which must be the greatest of all operas. Stuart Skelton was stunning and so was Leah Crocetto. Jonathan Summers as Iago chilling and powerful. Chorus fabulous and brilliant conducting by Edward Gardner.

To Brixton for the session and 7 came including a Muslim lady - went well and nice eats. To Acton. Took Sean to Tamar's and he enjoyed it and lots of words. We went to the park and back to Watermans for lunch. He threw a wobbly at being put in the high chair so I could eat my lunch. The waiter gave him some chocolates! Picked up Liz from school (building work going on) and I went to Hinsley room. Found out this morning Raheed did not have it in his dairy and could not come so we did conversations -  5 there. Then to ENO for event about Otello with Edward Gardner, Stuart Skelton and the soprano. Sat next to a nice lady from Sanderstead. Saw a bit of Rigoletto on the big screen in Trafalgar Square. Watched an awful programme on Irish church complicity in adopting children in the USA.

At service today played Rhosymedre (played at our wedding) and Intrada of John Ireland also voluntaries on St James, Ratisbon and Malcolm Archer on Evelyns. At the end I substituted Karg-Elert with Mendelssohn Elijah section about the wind, fire and earthquake and still small voice to fit the first reading about Elijah. We sang Dear lord and Father of mankind after communion. Fr Paul had been at St James Elmers End 50 there with choir and servers. He said 120 turned up last Sunday for the baptism. I chatted to the family whose baby will be baptised next Sunday (not at the Eucharist). We had Devonshire honey cake made by Sue using the honey from the hive in the vicarage garden - delicious! I woke at 5 a.m. but reserved scores. Prom at 4 was Academy of St Martin in the Fields conducted by Joshua Bell - Beethoven 1 and he played the Bruch. Sir Neville Marriner who is 90 conducted Walton Henry V which used the organ and choirs effectively. At 7.45 the NYO conducted by Edward Gardner were ...

To doctor - very nice lady with veil who checked my skin and said not to worry about large freckle on arm. Some twit in the waiting room was on his mobile and when asked to move outside said I had spoilt his day. The point which he did not get was that I had forgotten my hearing aids and might not have heard my name called. Acolyte at chapter Mass with the boys singing Britten Missa Brevis Duo seraphim and Panis - Guardian angels. Fr Pascal asked after Liz which was nice and Paul actually greeted me! To ENO for Martinu's Julietta. Good production, excellent orchestra under Gardner and fine tenor but the opera itself .... mmmmm....not that great, hard to keep awake! Success in booking Coloma plainchant choir for Catenian conference Mass - still cannot reach Fr Tom until next Tuesday. Designed poster for Sharing Eden.

Packed up and got away at 10 a.m. It really has been a success! Arrived at Bluebell railway in good time for the 12 noon train. Ciarán was alarmed by the steam noise from the engine but eventually got on the train and covered his ears. He was very happy chatting to 2 boys in our compartment. The Punch and Judy was full so we went to look at the carriage works and got the next train back and visited the shop which he finds confusing. He ended up with a Cranky crane book and we got him a tunnel for his track and some Peter railway books. Lemon curd for us and chutney for Lou and Tom. Liz bought a London 2012 bus. Drove to Acton and arrived around 4 ish. 180 miles all round. He was delighted to see Mummy and Daddy and loved his new bed. Lou has got lovely toy storage in the dining room and his room looks great. Liz stayed and I went to the Prom - plenty of seats in gallery. Peter Grimes conducted by Edward Gardner and semi staged. I got sandwiches which were nice but overpriced! Charles g...

Cannot believe we are nearly halfway through the season! Last night the pre Prom talk about religion and music with James MacMillan and Andrew Carwood was fascinating. I asked a question about "from the heart to the heart" and both gave good answers. Andrew said St Paul's does everything from the heart and if the boys don't like a setting it is not repeated! Tristan prelude and Bruckner 6 well played by BBC Phil conducted by Juanjo Mena who is proving to be excellent after his dull debut last year. The premiere of MacMillan's Credo which has not set before - an effective work delivering the text clearly. Liz came home as she had a spot removed from her back today. I got to Acton at 10.30. Woke with a sore right shoulder. Ciarán wanted track made! Went with Louise to Westfield library which is lovely and lunch at M & S. Watched more Olympics. Pre Prom talk with Edward Gardner about his reading. Prom tonight BBC SO played really well for Semyon Bychkov Schubert ...

Woke around 6 a.m. and went back to bed and had breakfast with Ciarán. Tom still asleep! No trains so various buses to arrive at the hall by 10 a.m. for roll call. Chatting with Peter and then to Marks Kensington High street for coffee and shopping - apparently this is their best day for wine! Sat in very nice garden behind St Mary Abbots in memory of Alec Clifton-Taylor. Got sticky tape for hat decorations. Back for 3 p.m. roll call and then stayed in queue. Amazing outfits especially Germans and lots to eat. Had cava. Went in at 6 p.m. and rehearsed Maxwell Davies new work with words written by Prommers. Stephen Jackson hopeless! Got a very good position on the rail at centre and young family near us. Several people who came on the day. It seems only 30 full seasons were issued for the gallery so we were very lucky! Many people had to buy 2 half seasons not including the Last Night. Maxwell Davies piece in tribute to prommers collecting for musical charities. Bartok Miraculous manda...