The organist librarian

Friday swam 30. Liz busy on essays so I went to sing at funeral of Eva Parker at St John's. Small choir so recording of Faure and Handel used and Adrian played Elgar. Back to choir practice and picked up Marie recovered from her hip op. Had a look at Somervell Passion for Good Friday. Saturday Liz to Heythrop and I went to St George's Beckenham for launch of book about School of English Church music and Sir Sydney Nicholson. John Henderson and Trevor Jarvis spoke and played early recordings. Martin How and Harry Bramma also spoke. Nigel Groome played Harris and Willan. At evensong choir sang Nicholson in D flat, Knight Christ whose glory and Martin How conducted his lovely Ave verum. Stanford Postlude and Caesar chant for psalm. Hymn tune Chislehurst by Nicholson. Helen Murphy, Bob Prizeman and Alan organist from Dartford there. Bought the book and Henderson's dictionary of organ composers reduced which I always wanted to own! Train to Victoria and Fr Paolo at vespers and M...

To Coulsdon where we sang Nicholson in C, chanted psalm "Thy word is a lantern" and "Fairest Lord Jesus". I played the Widor Toccata reasonably well and practised. To Cumnor House sports ground for Kevin's President's Sunday. It stayed dry and there were around 30 there including kids. No new recruits alas! Lovely BBQ and food and enjoyed chatting. To evensong for 4 pm rehearsal and David Steer came. Murrill in E went well, Psalm 96 to Gerald Knight's fine chant, With a voice of singing Martin Shaw. I played Martin How's Elegy in memory of Gerald Knight who was born 100 years ago this year. I knew him when I was 12 - rather an austere figure. Mum said he could stay in Hobart if he behaved himself and he was good as gold. There had been clashes with Dad in the past and Dad never got the recognition from RSCM which he should have had. I played Finlandia - it was Liz's Dad's favourite and it is his anniversary (10 years). Watched a hilarious pro...

David Frost used all the prayers I sent him on Sunday morning to mark the RSCM 80th and 60 years since Sir Sydney Nicholson died. We sang the RSCM prayer by John Harper, Nicholson in G and "When in our music God is glorified" to Stanford's "Engelburg". I played Martin How's Elegy in memory of Gerald Knight. We took photos for the recruitment leaflet.