The organist librarian

To Proms composer David Horne's chamber works and interview and his new pieces were interesting. He seems to do fast music rather well. BBC Phil including John Bradley played superbly for Juanjo Mena who for a Spaniard showed a great love for English music. Walton's Variations on a theme of Paul Hindemith are beautifully written. So is Moeran's violin concerto (new to me) beautifully played by Tasmin Little in a sparkling gown. Enigma variations never fail to hit the spot and we had lovely lines. Saw John East.

This morning we sang 3 kings and Tim and Tony joined us. I didn't feel the choir were watching me enough. The Buxtehude variations on How brightly shines went really well. Nice lunch. Put Christmas stuff in the shed and tidied up - a nice bright day. At evensong we sang Moeran in D and Wood's Expectans expectavi. Watched Antiques roadshow and Lark rise to Candleford. Did programme for organ recital at St Edmund's.

Saturday Vespers and Mass - Thomas was cantor so I mentioned my email about the gospel acclamation accompanying the procession so we need a short organ impro before the Alleluia starts not the other way round. Edward was giving unclear intonations at vespers again and several strange chords! The men of the Challoner choir ruined Faure Cantique and Mozart Missa brevis. Fr Michael Archer presided. All systems go for St Therese - 1000s have visited her elsewhere including York Minster. Today we celebrated St Francis and sang Boyce Alleluia and Nicholson in C. Cipher beforehand on swell and played Bach Fantasia in C minor. An added bonus was a rare visit from Tim West who is in the Navy. The girls enjoyed their practice and I sorted out 10 pin bowling team and music for Saturday's flower festival. Decided no to go to interfaith meeting - late lunch and trains not stopping at Battersea Park on the way to Victoria. Instead put everything back in dining room and Liz painted loo walls. Th...

To Town Hall for Unison meeting about discrimination at shortlisting stage. To the Albert Hall to queue for prom. Given a numbered place so able to go to Royal College of Music for chat between Stephen Johnson, Piers Burton-Page (he used to come to Southfields library) and Rob Cowan about British music. Bax Tintagel for the Proms and Malcolm Arnold! The importance of hearing music live rather than just on CD was stressed and promming proved this. I was lucky to get a chair in the arena - pays to come early! I chatted to a nice man who had heard the Moeran Symphony performed. I did not know it but loved it! The Finzi Grand Fantasia and toccata for piano and orchestra was another unknown and ideal for the Proms. Best of all was Elgar 2 which was very moving - I felt goosebumps. Vasily Sinaisky conducted the BBC Philharmonic. On return home (452 and train straight away at Battersea Park) found only Moeran recorded on HDD!