The organist librarian

We sang Howells My eyes for beauty pine. I played Ley on Down Ampney and Last movement and fugue from Mendelssohn Sonata no. 6. Transfiguration Sunday. No evensong today so caught up on emails. Finished the London jigsaw last night. 

Christ the King and the 3 men sang Tony Hemson's Alpha and Omega really well. We missed Linda Baker. I played a lovely Prelude on Diademata by Barry Ferguson and Crown Imperial which was much appreciated. Julie came and the flute in the Rutter and Berlioz is magic! I played Howells Psalm prelude Set 1 no 3 as a tribute to Stephen when I was practising. So sad to learn that Colin Mawby had died. Enjoyed Michael Portillo great Australian rail journeys and David Attenborough on Europe's natural highlights. The programme on Fair Isle was excellent. Signed Christmas cards.

Mosaic and Linda helped with the little houses. The flower ladies were very noisy! Asher Oliver played really well at Cornhill. Bruhns, Franck, Ives replaced Leighton, Alain, best of all Howells Ps Prelude set 1 no 3 and JSB 546. To Bush House The Arcade. Sara Shamma: modern slavery. The film is challenging. She says you need to engage with people to paint them. Somerset House rink up and running. The South African artist Shinabore somehow did not engage me. Met Michael on bus. The art of persuasion posters by Abram Games at National Army museum very interesting. I wonder why his work is not in a public collection? To cathedral for meditation remembering Eileen McDade. Frank Bond who always wore bow ties remembered at joint Bromley and Blackheath and Chislehurst Catenian meeting

Up at 7 having woken several times as the bathroom light was on. Henry slept right through. He wanted Daddy and Paw patrol again! Got him dressed and we took him to nursery. Breakfast when we got back via Gloucester Rd. To Mass at Anerley. To Vaughan House but first Marks for lemon drizzle cake, Smiths for 90th birthday card for Ivor and they did not have candles so to Paperchase to get birthday cake candles. Meeting at 11 - Catharine from ACN did not come and Louise had to go to work. Alison Smith was a real asset and it was a good session. To Il Posto for Liz's birthday lunch with Roger - it was most enjoyable. Had raviolini. Liz went to Acton for school bingo and I came home. Did some work on the auction emails, cleared up the back bedroom. Listened to MacMillan while reading. Heard some of Stephen Cleobury's final concert from King's RVW Serenade to music, Howells Coll reg Magnificat and Elgar Give unto the Lord with orchestra. Howells cello concerto. 

Drove to Caterham. Saw several vintage cars this morning presumably trying to get to Brighton. All Saints Howells Sine nomine and Francis Jackson. We sang I sing a song of the saints of God. Carols practice and practice with trumpeter. Lunch at the Kerala lamb biryani, Ferrero Rocher icecream, mango juice. £17.  All Souls 4 p.m. Vierne Epitaphe and Berceuse. Purcell When I am laid in earth. Now playing for Mass at Sacred Heart. The electronic is temperamental about starting very odd. All went well and Fr Sean and everyone very friendly. Watched programme on Morris dancing. Simon Reeve in Mexico and Texas. 

A fun morning painting with boys! No mosaic, Saw Ros and she seemed more relaxed. Beautiful evensong at St Michael Cornhill. Howells responses and St Paul's service and Faire is the heaven. Parry chant for the psalm. Well done Jonathan Rennert and all involved. Only one caveat the pulpit Mike is not connecting to the loop! Benjy Bloor played superbly at the Oratory but I did get lost between Alain and Hindemith! I also told a young lady she had no right to record the whole thing on her phone without permission! 

Mothering Sunday and a church full of cubs and brownies. Played Bach, Lascaux Fugue and Vierne Berceuse for the prayers as everyone wrote names on their rose picture. I played this at the crem for Mum and Dad. We sang For the beauty of the earth by Andrew Carter and a piece Oscar brought using Tallis Canon and I played Peeters on the tune. Fr Jerry's reflection on celebrity mothers and what they call their children amuses me. Crazy to call your child Sir! Quite a lot to play but it went well. Actually 16 pieces of music! Salisbury cathedral evensong not very inspiring. Worked on jigsaw. Excellent lunch of lamb shank and poor man's Viennetta! At evensong we sang Walmisley in D minor and O pray for the peace of Jerusalem by Howells. I read the first lesson Manasseh's plea. Liz got lovely chocs from Bruce.  Nice to see June who had come for Mary Johnson's 90th birthday. The rose altar frontal dedicated in memory of Marshall. I showed them the Leslie Craske leaflet from Gu...

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. 

Baptism of the Lord and I got wet! We sang Like the murmur of the dove's song by Alan Smith. I thought We have a gospel at the end was an inspired choice. I played Bach The old year now away is gone and Christ the Lord to Jordan came. The latter was Dad's party piece and a steady speed paid off with an accurate pedal part on 4 foot clarion. The Great has a 16 foot diapason so that works well against the choir flutes in the right hand. Watching BBC Icons. How to choose? Thatcher No but Churchill, Roosevelt and Mandela are icons.  Here is the little door at evensong.  Christ's chapel Dulwich for Marilyn Harper's excellent recital. She played a cradle song by Howells. Enjoyed Call the midwife. Grouting at mosaic not my favourite task. I was expecting an organ recital at St Martin's in the Fields. St Martin's voices were excellent especially bass and tenor. Soprano too Emma Kirkby for my taste! Nils Greenhow excellent as the blind Samson, Nathan Harrison exciting...

Swim, Mass and coffee. Apparently the abuse I received yesterday could be considered assault. Alas I had no phone with me or even a pen. The dent in the car door will be repaired but there was no need for the shouting from the other driver. To Charterhouse Chapel which is being repaired for Peace of mind music and words on the theme of apples. I did not like the soprano much. What a joy to be in Croydon minster for their first broadcast evensong. Martin How's anthem splendid and thrilling end of Howells Westminster service. The organ sounds terrific. The Ireland and chanting were great. Next time can we sing a hymn please? Lots of singers in the congregation. Liz was at school. To Dulwich catenians - nice food. On return watched the Apprentice. Thursday Liz is 71 - she liked the books and musical mug. Scarf and flowers. Both to Mass. Art and good work on Lourdes oil. Both to dentist - one filling needed covering. Chaos over Brexit. Delicous birthday meal at Mantanah Thai restauran...

Not a good start to a day at Caterham. Train at new time 8.11 from Norwood Junction only 5 coaches to Caterham. On reaching Purley it was changed to Tattenham corner and no Caterham service so now on a bus. Station staff no help at all. I have complained to Southern. Frankly fed up with the poor service. All Saints and baptism. Played Peeters Sine nomine and O quanta qualia also Howells Sine nomine. We sang I sing a song of the saints of God. Trumpeter came to rehearse for next Sunday. Now having lunch at The Kerala opposite the church. It was delicious. I stayed in Caterham sorted music and practised. The church got rather cold! All Souls at 4 and some people came because of the earlier time. I played Vierne Epitaphe and Berceuse, Thalben-Ball Elegy and Elgar Angel's farewell. A first - the cake prepared during this morning's sermon served after the service - very nice! Watched Antiques roadshow WWI and Bake off final. 

Listened to evensong from Durham cathedral and Choir and Organ. To evensong. Terence has had his op and is on a crutch. Coll reg and Tallis O nata lux. Bob sang the solo in the absence of Dave. One alto part was missing. Fr John played the organ rather loudly! Maz conducting everything very flamboyantly rather annoys! Programme on George Benjamin. BBC4 showed his new opera Lessons in love and violence from the Royal Opera House - quite extraordinary. 

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. 

Up at 4.40 a.m. to get to Caterham for the vigil at 6.15 a.m. 4 psalms and had fun looking up some of the saints in the litany! Breakfast then 10 a.m. which drew a much larger congregation. The choir did well "Sing choirs of heaven" by Richard Shephard. Great to have Ben with us. I played Hallelujah chorus and Saraband for the morning of Easter. I have wriiten about the Easter organ music in the April magazine. To The Chalet Caterham to see the gardens for the NGS and owls and vintage cars and a helicopter! Fancy having that on your lawn plus a Rolls! Now beef and red wine for lunch when Dennis Woodhouse and co arrive. The Lenten alcoholic fast is ended (it didn't work too well on the cruise!) Slept after lunch. Missed Bruce's call. At evensong Stanford in A and Te Deum in B flat. Liz sang the solo in Blessed be the God and Father beautifully. Had wine and chocolate. Watched Generation game, Urbi et Orbi. Durrells, Sheffield cathedral,

Up at 6.30 a.m. 2 buses to Caterham as train replaced by bus at that time but now running. Played Gordon Slater on "St Botolph" as we sang my favourite Marian hymn "For Mary mother of our Lord". Beautiful tune. I am afraid " Shall we not love thee mother dear" feels very Victorian. We sang "People look East" which seems very appropriate as people were very busy after service preparing for Christingle and Midnight. I think I have 4 sopranos tonight so descants are on. Lloyd Webber on Helmsley a great piece and also played Noel pour L'Amour de Marie. Compliments about carol service but more importantly ecumenical first.  Washing put away, presents wrapped, dishwasher loaded. Delicious ham lunch with squeak and Aldi Chrstmas pudding. Can now settle down to listen to King's - let Christmas begin!  Served at 6 p.m. mass at the cathedral which was packed. Blessing of the crib. Ex-choristers sang lovely Reger and Stille nacht. Missa de angelis...

Swam, Mass, mosaic (changed colour of lips to lighter otherwise he would have looked like the Joker) tai chi exercises (did not like Morrissey track at all). Lots of emails. Liz to doctor.  Patrick Russill played really well at Brompton Oratory and the priest said some lovely things about him. Titelouze, Dupre, Howells and Langlais. Great to see Benjy Bloor, John East, Peter Wright and  Marko Sever . I found a booklet from Jeremy Filsell's Complete works of Dupre concerts with notes by David Gammie. It was in Alan Burtonshaw's music. Patrick said the adrenalin really kicked in - only his second concert this year! Watched programme on Du Pre. 

I have uploaded 9 entries for the Wimbledon Catenian photo night.  Peter Holder who is moving from St Paul's to Westminster Abbey played very well at St John Upper Norwood. Handel, Howells, Hollins, Debussy, Vierne and Carmen followed by Lemare. You would think from Lemaire's Carmen that she does not die and it is all rather jolly. Moonlight and roses with tremulant reminded me of Dad starting at St Mark's. Older lady "O Mr Woodhouse you never use that nice trembly stop that Mr Lloyd loved to use". To Acton. Brendan has finally replied no hint of an apology.

Swim and Mass and had a lovely chat to Sean at coffee. St Luke's day doctor and patron of artists.  Excellent playing from Lukas Arvidsson from Sweden at St Michael's including Parry and an improvisation.  Qaisra Khan gave us 5 daily tips for mental wellbeing and asked how our faith helped us. To Holy Trinity Sloane St to hear Norman Harper play Bach, Howells and Mathias most enjoyable. Watched Bake off. 

After swim and Mass I finally got to Halfords to get a new interior light bulb. They do not take out interior lenses as they easily break but they lent me a plastic prong and I got it out. I then realised I was in the back and the childlocks were on so had to climb over into the front seat. It must have looked very funny. They did not have the bulb but the scrapyard across the road did! Let there be light!  David Hill played brilliantly and musically at St Michael Cornhill. The Bach was the last piece my Dad played before he had the second stroke fantasia on Komm heiliger Geist, Willan, Karg-Elert and Francis Jackson.The Jackson was his doctorate piece and it is very fine. To Guildhall gallery to see Nature morte and Barbican music library to see Sir Simon Rattle exhibition.  Thanks to  Jonathan Rennert  for telling us about Monday choral evensong at 6 at St Michael Cornhill I enjoyed the Howells and Bainton. Well done tenors! The sermon was rather good. Do we reall...

Clocks went back an hour. Woke too early and dozed off. Up in good time left home 7.35 a.m. but on way to station in the car had to reverse up Dixon Road for a white van. Result missed train to Purley from where there was a bus replacement service. To Selhurst from Norwood Junction and to East Croydon. No trains to Purley so got bus 407. On organ at 9 a.m. Lourdes Gloria and Gathering not on sheet so did Murray. For all the saints cut to 5 verses and no procession. We sang "Holy is the true light" fairly well. I then started the communion hymn in D instead of F and realised on the second line so changed to F. I have never done that before. I think the travel disturbed my concentration. I played Howells Sine nomine and Flor Peeters well. Rehearsed for next 2 weeks. Never spoke to Jerry who had postponed meeting about Christmas because Anne Marie had a fall and broke her shoulder bone. Strangely Gisela had a fall off her bicycle and hurt her arm. Julie took posters and had don...