The organist librarian

Swim, Mass, doctor, Jonathan Dods played an interesting programme of Couperin and Vierne at Wallbrook. Welcoming at cathedral and kept meeting people I know including Canon John O'Toole and a priest from Jamaica. Doctor says bruise on back of head, my blood pressure very good, Jenny will remove small scar on my head. Watched Longleat programmes. To choir practice and Adrian directing this weekend. 

A stimulating session at Dulwich with Norman Harper. I have not been getting Couperin registrations correct. Dulwich gallery Sahlberg Norwegian disappointing. To Wallace collection to see impressive Henry Moore helmets and sketched 3. Simon Gledhill entertained us at Bloomsbury Baptist. Peterborough Chamber choir sang Howells and Mathias beautifully at Mass ably accompanied by Michael Butterfield. Like as the hart was gorgeous. Earth hour so dinner by candlelight including strawberries. Race around the world reaches China. 

Hot again. Played Sheep may safely graze (Liz's Mum's favourite) and Sortie Noel Rawsthorne. We sang Marry Haugen's Let us build a house, We have a gospel and David Ogden's Christ has no body now but yours. Next Sunday I will play Finlandia Liz's Dad loved that. Good thing Finland not in the World Cup! I am working on Easter hymn by Mascagni. I need a piano score without vocals so will have to arrange it myself I expect. To the first Death Cafe at Sylvan Road which was fascinating. At evensong we sang Coll Reg and O pray for the peace of Jerusalem - a feast of Howells. To Christ's chapel Dulwich for Andrew Benson-Wilson playing Couperin and Tournemire. How nice to know that Ellie Gauge whose mother I met today is still singing in church. She was in the choir at St Andrew Coulsdon. Poldark was good. 

I woke at 6 and the boys arrived at 7! Sean why are you Bald? You're an old man. Me 71 is not old and you should have respect four dear grandfather! Fire alarm drill at school. A year 1 girl asked my name and then thanked me for making the library so nice. I was very touched. D'Arcy Trinkwon played well at Bedford Park and 60 there. Fine paintings on show too.The must see exhibition is Splendours of the sub-continent at the Queen's gallery. It is superb and wonderful to see so many beautiful things plus Queen Victoria's Hindustani notebooks. To Our Lady of the Annunciation Addiscombe for Faith in Action Croydon Deanery Justice and Peace service with Bishop Paul Hendricks. It was not a Mass and had unusual elements like sharing bread and moving around for the peace. The blessing of the new cross by everybody present took for ever and was accompanied by David Ogden's Christ has no body. Caroline who was at Coloma a year above Louise sang a solo set to a tune from Car...

I went back to tai chi today after a long gap thanks to the Proms, Spain and Belmont. We did a Japanese exercise The Cycle of Life.  Benjy Bloor  played superbly at Brompton Oratory. That organ really speaks like a voice singing! Good to see  Marko Sever  .Nice to meet Benjy's wife and they enjoyed Bali. Marko is playing at the cathedral Jan 28th. Saw Paddy Russill and Charles Cole. 

Played Couperin Benedictus and Dubois Grand Choeur. We sang Thee we adore. A good sermon from  Jerry Garton  you can read it on the website. It was on welcome. He does not like The Apprentice it makes me laugh!  The 181 party at St John Upper Norwood was a great success - the Bold Balladiers were great and Terry took the photos. Evensong was a delight and everybody enjoyed it so much. Walmisley in D minor, Rachmaninov Bogoroditse, Ireland Greater love, Angels voices, Nun Danket Karg-Elert and Father hear the prayer which he had at out wedding. Fr John gave an amusing address. What a happy day! Great to have all the family together and so many friends from the different parts of our lives - Catenians, interfaith, Gallery Prommers, art, church. Richard Peregrine who started school with me in Joburg aged 6 and of course  Michael Goldthorpe  who came out to South Africa when I was 15. Lots of cards and contributions for CAFOD and Musicians fund - thank you all!...

Broadcast from Brentwood cathedral. I  played Bach and Walther on Liebster Jesu, Couperin Duo and Karg-Elert Nun danket today. Fr Richard from St Mary Shortlands stood in for Fr Paul and we started rehearsing psalms for Holy Week. Sean appeared again in the porch. Liz went to the Science museum with Lou and the boys as Tom has a big interview today. I wathced the Carlos Acosta ballet programme. I met her at Kent House and at evensong we  sang Stanford in B flat and The heavens are telling at evensong. The hymn was "The spacious firmament on high". Cathy was dire again - bad vowels, out of tune. Bridget conducted and a stranger played the organ. Watched Call the midwife and deleted lots of emails and put others in folders.

Woke at 4 a.m. which didn't help! A busy wet Sunday.Liz didn't go to the cathedral because of weather and trains.  Did a pulpit presentation for the Catenians at St Mary's West Croydon at 8 a.m. Mass, played the Couperin Mass for the Convents which was very well received, practised carols with 5 in the choir, lunch at St John's vicarage and then to Adrian's, At evensong sang Howells Gloucester service and Vaugham WIlliams O clap your hands. Benediction and Adrian played L'Ange et la trompette by Jacques Charpentier.

Woke at 5 and up at 8.30/ To mosaic and started on new project using broken crockery. Skipped tai chi and to St Michael's Cornhill to hear Andrew Cantrill who played a good programme. Bach, Grieg, Couperin, Brahms, Villette, Saint-Saens, Corrette. To Courtauld to see early Durers and Impresisonists - only £3 on Mondays. The ice rink is being put up. Met Stephen at Charing Cross and had a chat. Fr Paul accepted my ideas which is good! 

The Couperin went really well and I felt very confident having played movements in Cambridge. It really worked as an entity. It was the first time I had played it right through with the chants sung. I played the Kyrie movements before the service which overran by 20 minutes - we had 5 long hymns too! It was good of Stephen to bring communion to the organ - I played Benedictus during communion. There was a good spread for the bring and share lunch and Liz came to Kent House. Adrian conducted and we had a good choir of 10. The Vespers was lovely and the Bishop censed and blessed the organ and Pitoni's Cantate domino a perfect choice! Norman played brilliantly - lovely Faure, Finzi and Strauss. 2 fun items and the Bach Passacaglia. It was great to have the screen and watch him play. Lovely tea and cakes! To St John's for a splendid evensong Wood Coll Reg and Faire is the heaven requested by Fr John. Watched Antiques roadshow and Downton Abbey. 

We set off and parked as near to Norwood Junction as possible. Got train and waited at Liverpool street. Only £3.75 return slower but cheaper and bought in advance! Bus into town. Only 2 scholars appeared today. At Emmanuel (visited before) and then to Queens' where Nick Morris demonstrated the very loud Binns and I played Moore. 17 in the party including the talkative Michael Cooke! Michael Toplis tended to hog it a bit. To Trinity Hall (visited before) and you go up a back staircase in the next court to reach the loft! Lunch was hopeless and Liz brought my pizza to the next venue Christ's where the porter simply handed me a vestry key and gave no clues. Eventually I found the right door behind a curtain. This is a lovely mellow organ.Had I know Sidney Campbell was a fellow here I would have brought some of his music!  On to Peterhouse where I again played some Couperin. Barry Ferguson based organ pieces on the lovely stained glass here. Another fine instrument and then to St...

Swam 20. Set off at 10 a.m. and arrived at Potters Bar at 11.20. 8 went in taxis and others came by car so 15 in all. 3 people spoke to use about Jainism including the priest. Lovely buildings and interesting. Taxi back to station and home by 3 p.m. To church and played whole recital through - just under an hour, also some Couperin. Liz to servers council meeting. I went to meeting about membership of the circle at Shirley Park golf club. We are making good progress! Did clergy supper invites and sorted emails. Watched University challenge and proms modern music. 

Lie-in. We both went to our first meeting at West London synagogue with Rabbi Herman. Canon Peter was there too and we discussed some meetings. There is to be a Kristallnacht 75th commemoration in the Abbey on Nov 10th. Liz went to Harrods and I went to Southwark cathedral to hear Peter wright play the newly restored organ after the water damage. Mendelssohn, Franck, Bach and Messiaen well played. I took scores back to Bromley and to Lakeland. Listened to some Proms and University challenges. Played through the Couperin and some Bach which David gave me. 

Practised and timed recital pieces. First rehearsal of the Couperin chants. I played Willan on Aberyswyth and Ley on Down Ampney, Last hymn was "God be with you" to Randolph by Vaughan Williams - not played that before! After lunch to the hall with our blue folding back supports. Lots of teddies about for the Michael Rosen Bear Hunt prom - lovely to see so many Liverpool kids involved. Ciaran and Jonah really enjoyed it! The conga in the Prom was great and the illustrator Tony Ross was excellent - he signed Rosario's programme and she gave it to me! To talk on Britten. Second prom  Orchestre de Paris with Paavo Jarvi- Part, Britten violin concerto beautifully played by Janine Jansen, Berlioz Corsaire and Saint-Saens 3. Thierry Escaich was just too loud drowning the brass!.

Up at 6.15 and on train at 7.30. Got Oxford tube with Ian and had time for a coffee in Oxford. St John's Aubertin - the scholar Francis Goodburn is from Leeds RC cathedral and is studying maths and computer science. He says in future all organ scholars must do BMus - a stupid idea! Organ seemed to have mellowed and bought a CD. To Hertford where the chaplain was very friendly and chatted about RSCM and liturgy. He took us onto the Bridge of Sighs and there was lots of white fur about as it was MA graduation day.. Managed to get lunch at St Mary's then to Keble where there is a magnificent new Tickell. I played Henry G Ley piece - he was organ scholar. The chapel is very decorated and there is the original of Holman Hunt "Light of the world" in a side chapel. The organ is above this chapel. Simon Whalley is director of music and very friendly and Richard Dawson ARCO played Durufle and Buxtehude very well. He has a skin condition on face and hands. The long echo means c...

Nearly completed essay based on the seminar. To Bromley parish church for Michael Toplis's demonstration recital, AGM and played 2 pieces (Michael Fleming and Healey Willan). Mass at St Swithun Bromley Common which is tiny and woodlined and will close when the parish priest Bob Mercer retires. To Beckenham circle 50th anniversary dinner at Oakwood House. Grand Vice President was there. The Grummitts and Topes were there - nice meal and gave Harry Mellor a lift home.

Thursday to London boroughs interfaith forum - not so many there. It was held at London Fire brigade HQ and we had a free tour of the musuem with some fine engines from the past. Liz to Douai abbey until Saturday for course retreat. She took the car so used buses. Served 5.30 mass with Bishop John Arnold for Catholic union - I was book. Watched Rev and Symphony. Friday to Ealing Abbey on X68 and tube. 25 mass settings and salmon lunch. Visited the abbey garden with Fr Alban. Sr Jean did a good job and sisters wanted to know Liz was. On tube with monk from Worth and home briefly before buses to choir practice. Saturday more reading and to Coulsdon to practise and 6 p.m. Songs of Praise which went well. Acting archdeacon Barry Davies dedicated the new furniture - the last time I saw him at interfaith forum he was going to lose his post! We sang the Greek chant Beatitudes and Barry's introit although he was not there. Fish and chips and a difficult quiz - I got 7 of the paintings r...

Up early and watched the end of "Fallout" and the excellent programme on the history of Sunday schools and their unfortunate decline well presented by Huw Edwards. 20,000Catholic children used to process in Manchester. Roy Hattersley attended by socialist Sunday school and the Anglican one. Spoke to Ann who is safely home. Clare had cleaned the whole house! To St Michael's for Andrew Cantrill's excellent and musical recital - Boellmann Second suite, Couperin, Bruhns Praeludium in E minor. I dropped if in the Messiaen! Met Jeanne Brett on the bus to East Croydon. To British Library for interfaith visit to Ramayana exhibition. 13 came and Aviva was an excellent guide. she does interfaith work for the Jewish Board of Deputies! She talked about the library and the wider collection then took us round the very colourful display. I loved the animals! The visit actually overran by 15 minutes it was so good. I spent some more time there and looked at lovely East Asian new prin...

Watched Sacred Music 1 on computer and Songs of Praise form Harrogate featuring Simon Lole at the organ, also Antiques roadshow about sport from Lord's. Started framing pictures and sorting out ironing. To Windmill pub for lunch with David and Jim and then walked to St Michael's for recital by Laurence Caldecote of Coventry. He played William Lloyd Webber, Boccherini, Suite gothique, Alec Rowley Benedictus, Willan on "Vulpius", Norman Cocker's Angelus and Salome's Grand-Choeur in A. A tuneful lunchtime programme. Coffee in the cafe with the recitalist and Graham who is starting to compile next year's list. I suggested I could do a recital! To Hinsley Room for interfaith group. 12 came and we started looking at the Muslim scholars comments to the churches on Love of God. A lively discussion for an hour on what does it mean to say "I love God". We felt that we had lost awe and mystery. To mass but too late to serve - there were 7 servers any way. P...