The organist librarian

First Sunday of Lent so I played Bach O mensch bewein and Lasceux Fugue in G minor. We sang Lent prose and a new soprano joined us so that is good news!  To St Paul's cathedral to hear Fr Mark Barratt monk from Worth speak about the psalms. It was so dull I had trouble keeping awake!  We went to the first half of the LMP Cellofest - some excellent young players. Evensong Dyson and Turn thy face from my sins started very late and we had Benediction. 

We sang "There's a wideness in God's mercy" Maurice Bevan's tune fits the words perfectly. I played Thiman Postlude on Harwood's Thornbury and my own tribute to Newman part of the Prelude and Angel's farewell from Gerontius. I have lost two friends recently Eileen McDade and Philip Chandler RIP. Each has their own angel to bring them safely home. Folake did not come - we had gifts for her as she had said she was leaving! Reader starts reading then tries again with another bit of letter to Timothy. Jerry points to correct reading so she says "third time lucky!" love it! A really lovely evensong at St John's. Liz was the only soprano and sang Dyson beautifully.  Richard is excellent and encourages relaxed singing. We also sang Pitoni Cantate domino and O thou who camest from above. Psalm 148 to Anglican chant, It was all so enjoyable! Louise and the boys have arrived.

We sang Brother James's Air so played Darke Meditation and RVW Hyfrodol. Archdeacon Moira. To death awareness event which was well supported. Then open garden in Burbage Road, Herne Hill. Traffic bad because of football match. Cindy Kennett was serving tea and met her sister and the wife of Aziz who was a bass in the chorys. Evensong lots of unison Dyson and hymns too loud. Orb and Sceptre at end not very good. The last Durrells was superb! Victoria also finished. Sidney reported John East was responsive and liked the radio. 

Advent 3. Bairstow and Statham on Veni emmanuel and we sang Veiled in darkness by Rudolph. Dyson in C minor and Ord Adam lay ybounden at evensong. Sports personality and The apprentice won by Sean. 

9 of the school choir sang well and I met parents. I played Dubois toccata and Michael Fleming on Noel novelet. I was pleased that the kids came, Billy seemed interested in the organ. I noted he was the only one to receive communion. The all age service will be a better choice for the group who are year 3s. There was a discussion about school and evensongs. Jill was there. I was glad  did not have to go back in the evening as the train between Purley and Caterham was replaced by buses and the 12 o clock did not run. I went to St Mary's for 3 p.m. Mass - it was first communion and awful. Lealfet wrong, music group singing and parsih priest launching into items. The worst was the children going up individually to be photographed. The deacon had the chalice and then swopped that for hosts! At evensong we sang Dyson in F and My beloved spake. 6 years since the Wests married! Louise brought the boys to see Henry. Sean loves a game. Watched the Durrells and Antiques roadshow. 

We sang Panis angelicus in 2 parts and I was playing well after the trip to Ware. Andrew Moore and Purcell Trumpet tune. Practised Bach.  At Evensong at St John Upper Norwood we sang Dyson in F and Edgar Bainton's And I saw a new heaven always a treat for tenors.  Richard Pilliner played really well at Christ's chapel Dulwich 2 of the pieces from memory! Nice eats and wine. Adrian, Terence and the Wests there.

Fr Paul Francis from St George's  and Stephen was there too it being St Bartholomew. I played Dyson and Willan on Song 34, Watson tribute to Howells and Dad's postlude. Mum and Dad were included in the prayers. Good hymns All my hope, For all the saints, O thou who camest, Forth in thy name. 28 there. To Clare's for lunch with Grainne and the kids and Dennis - very nice. To talk on Czech music which was rather dull. The Czech Philharmonic strings are superb - Janacek, Dvorak cello concerto (Alisa Weilerstein and a Bach encore) and Beethoven 7. Listened to 3 encores on the bus. 

Woke early. Liz went to Anerley for Mass and to return the white cassock. I played Elgar Chanson de matin and Pomp and Circumstance No. 4, Tambling on Slane, George Dyson on London New (his anniversary this year) and Thalben-Ball on Old 100th. Practised Dorian and Prelude in C minor. Only 18 there. Had to wait to be collected and dismantled our wooden bedframe for Emmaus to collect tomorrow. I will be away 3 nights baby sitting. Liz will come tomorrow once John Lewis deliver the new bed. Watched Proms plus with Mark Elder. Have had Friday's lovely Enigma on the brain.

Took Liz to the station and on return played through "Worthy is the Lamb" and sang tenor arias from Messiah. Played Vernon Griffiths on "Dominus regit me" and got a clap for "Worthy". Happily signed the contract and practised. Started work on the Knitter/Thompson essay. Liz worked on her essay. I went to evensong where we sang Dyson in F and Tommy's "My beloved spake". Weeded front garden ready for the new stones coming tomorrow morning. Watched Antiques roadshow and The Village which continues to be bleak.

To National pilgrimage to the shrine of St Edward. Talk by Canon White about the saint and he mentioned the Abbey's ecumencial and interfaith connections. No tourists so able to follow the prayer walk. In the choir for Sung Eucharist with procession and incense. Mozart and Monteverdi sung  by the special choir. Met Revd David Johnson from Crewe at lunch who knows Tim Bevan retired Bishop of Portsmouth formerly Johannesburg. He told me a ffrench-Beytagh story I did not know. Renewal of baptismal promises in the Lady chapel and prayers at the shrine. Saw Pat and Jean Castledine also Beryl and Anne's husband! Visited the gardens and in choir for evensong Dyson in D and Philip Moore setting of Andrew Motion's poem. Procession to Lady chapel. To tea at M & S and saw Inez. Fr Archer at Mass and met Fr John previously in Stevenage for 10 years. Arranged Monday with Fr Tony. Not impressed that my poster for Sharing Eden not up at the back so put out leaflets - it is in the new...

To St Augustine's Hammersmith for first communion. Choir were friendly as they recognised me from last week. John McCarthy appeared at 12 noon and seemed a bumptious young man. I insisted on playing the keyboard throughout - using the organ with him conducting would have been a disaster as he slowed everything down! I was home by 2.20 having received a cheque. Completed the 2 essays and sent them off at last! To evensong and we sang Dyson in F and Tommy's My beloved spake.

Vespers, Mass and procession - we were acolytes. Emmanuel as cross was a pain! Good to have the men of the choir there. Home late. Liz was at college and I worked on the essays when I cam back from Croydon. Sunday to St Augustine's Hammersmith for 12.15 first communion. The choir were more friendly no doubt recognising me from last week. and the priest said Good morning. John Maccarthy paid me and conducted. His tempo slowed as soon as the singing started! Thank goodness I said I would play the keyboard and not the organ in the back gallery. It would have been disastrous! Home by 2.20. The 2 essays have gone in after much polishing. At evensong we sang Dyson in F and Hewitt-Jones My beloved spake. Can't believe it is a year since Dave and Bridget's wedding!

To All Saints Upper Norwood for 10am sung Eucharist and Dennis came as well. Church is lovely and vastly improved. Organ sounds good if a little loud. Choir of ladies, girls and Martin. St Anne's Mass for Sanctus. Fr Leonard very friendly and Christine is church warden (lives opposite Clare). To Festival hall to meet the family for lunch - wet and crowded. They had been to an OAE concert for tots which wasn't entirely successful. To Tate Modern to see Tacita Dean's Film in the turbine hall which I enjoyed, Alighiero Boetti: Game plan which left me rather cold and Yayoi Kusama which was crowded. I liked the room with the polka dots in the dark and the amazing lights in the mirrored room. Met Annalisa who used to be in the chorus! To the cathedral for Gary Sieling's excellent recital of Dyson, Murrill and Stanley Vann - very well played. Saw Jane and Gloria Toplis there too.

Finished reading Mustafa Akyol's book "Islam without extremes: a Muslim case for liberty". Played the paino after a pizza lunch - Mendelssohn and Bohm Lyric suite. It needs tuning. Evensong at St John's Dyson in F and The heavens are telling. Cathy off key again! We sang The spacious firmament a good Enlightenment hymn by Addison. A very pleasant dinner at Alan and Ivor's and met lots of interesting people. Ella from Pakistan said a lot about Muslims which was interesting. Sarah spoke about the interfaith walks and we had a short service including The old rugged cross.

Friday car to Selhurst train and tube to King's Cross. Lucky not to be held up on journey to York despite a broken rail at Newark Northgate. Straight to rehearsal. Epiphany Eucharist - lovely Saint-Saens Mass and Eysler Omnes de saba sung at the crib and gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh presented. Procession led by a lit star! Good hymns. To b and b in Bootham Crescent and got picnic. Saturday good breakfast and rehearsal at 10.30 a.m. Borrowed some cufflinks. Rehearsed in medieval hall at St William's College. My neighbour a fat tenor just loud and smelly! Not pleasant! No idea about church either. Dyson in D. To mass at St Wilfred's organ and carols. Lovely crib. To Bella Italia - very long wait for food 28 in party. Good company but noise makes hearing aid difficult. At lunch time to art gallery to see William Etty exhibition.

Had a wierd dream about driving in Oz to a holiday house and Liz said we would have to share the house. The man was nice but his wife was not. First thing happened he went in the one bathroom and I was going to be late for church and burst into tears in the kitchen saying the holiday was ruined! To 8am Mass at St Mary's - not a great experience - priest uses voice box and is sometimes intelligible and a man moans at the back all the time and loudly! Harvest at Coulsdon was not a Eucharist as Vickie in Israel and Teresa in hospital. We saw a presentation about Tanzania and sang Harvest samba to the CD. Choir sang Thou visitest the earth by Greene. Practised and bought guide cakes. Harvest lunch quiche and damson crumble - very nice. Evensong from Lincoln Dyson in F and we sang it later at St John's along with King of Glory by Grayston Ives. David Bednall on The Choir on Radio 3.

Liz to Turnham Green for Rossini Messe solenelle and to Goldsmiths Arms. England out of World Cup. Very hot. We sang Nicholson in C and David Ogden's "Christ has no body". Mass at Purley and it was first communion with tiaras and all. David Palmer show - eventually got a seat- a horrid Lord's prayer! Picnic at South Croydon Rec ground. To Newtons to look at Honda Jazz - very nice salesman - not pushy at all. The low mileage one was owned by a heavy smoker. £7950 for one a year older. To St Peter's South Croydon for patronal evensong with choir of 45. Chris conducted and Richard Pillner played the new Makin which does not have a convincing organ sound. Vicar very nice. Parry I was glad, Stanford Te Deum, Dyson in D. I think Rose repsonses was a tad ambitious! Angel voices, Guve us the wings and O praise ye the Lord. Noble chant for short psalm. It was a big sing as one hour rehearsal and straight into 3.30 evensong followed by cream tea! SSWesley on the choir incl...

At Coulsdon there was a baptism and we sang Darke in E and "The Lord hath been mindful of us" by Wesley. The hymns included "Oft in danger, oft in woe" and "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds". My playing of Elgar's "Chanson de Matin" and Pomp and Circumstance March No.4. Liz acted as cantor at vespers at short notice last night - she had served at the big Polish Mass. She cooked a nice lunch of mackerel with orange and onion, mushrooms and courgettes. At evensong there were 6 in the choir and I sang bass and acted as cantor. We sang John Harper's RSCM Choristers' Prayer, Rutter's "I will sing with the spirit" and Dyson in C minor which is in unison. The choir sat on one side of the chancel and the small congregation on the console side.Teresa included one of the prayers for musicians I had provided. I played Francis Jackson's voluntary on "East Acklam" as we sang "For the fruits of His creation" ...