The organist librarian

To match first reading played Mendelssohn Elijah "It is enough" and "Lift thine eyes". Quite tricky as solo voice on choir clarinet and cello solo on Great. Stanford on St Columba and Finale from Saint-Saens No. 3. I thought I played it rather well but John remarked it needed more practice and a rallentando and drums! Cheek! Rehearsing Mahler Adagietto, Pachelbel Canon for the wedding and Dad's suite also Brewer Marche heroique. Anne-Marie Garton sang well and a good sermon. What a frightening experience! Mass at St Mary's 25 minute sermon on Elijah. Fr Celestine again! Tony Moynihan has died aged 93. Lunch then to two great Proms with a fine discussion on Dona nobis pacem with A. C. Grayling. Joshua Bell Mendelssohn, Saint-Saens, Bridge and Beethoven. Boulanger, Elgar, RVW. Beautiful singing from Sophie Bevan and Edward Gardner conducted BBC. Saw Chris Tew.

Mass and art and good progress -had not been for 2 weeks and the party invites were well-received. I went to the RGS to see the Shackleton platinum print photos by Frank Finley.  An interesting discussion on Saint-Saens and a satisfying Prom with the RPO conducted by Charles Du Toit who presented with the gold medal of the Royal Philharmonic society. Falla, Joshua Bell playing Lalo and S-S 3 - what's not to like? Friday to Mass and watched The Man in the orange shirt a very fine 2 parter by Patrick Gale with Vanessa Redgrave. Listened to Judith Weir prom.

At service today played Rhosymedre (played at our wedding) and Intrada of John Ireland also voluntaries on St James, Ratisbon and Malcolm Archer on Evelyns. At the end I substituted Karg-Elert with Mendelssohn Elijah section about the wind, fire and earthquake and still small voice to fit the first reading about Elijah. We sang Dear lord and Father of mankind after communion. Fr Paul had been at St James Elmers End 50 there with choir and servers. He said 120 turned up last Sunday for the baptism. I chatted to the family whose baby will be baptised next Sunday (not at the Eucharist). We had Devonshire honey cake made by Sue using the honey from the hive in the vicarage garden - delicious! I woke at 5 a.m. but reserved scores. Prom at 4 was Academy of St Martin in the Fields conducted by Joshua Bell - Beethoven 1 and he played the Bruch. Sir Neville Marriner who is 90 conducted Walton Henry V which used the organ and choirs effectively. At 7.45 the NYO conducted by Edward Gardner were ...

A fairly quiet day at the library and Oliver Brett played at Mass. We enjoyed the Last Night on TV - we have been to it several times when Liz's Dad was a steward at the Royal Albert Hall. It was an interesting programme with Joshua Bell playing the violin and Anna Netrebko singing splendidly. Alan Titchmarsh gets on one's nerves - he says very little about the music! Jiri Belohlavek is such a nice man and he coped well with conducting and giving the speech. It's annoying that the choirs in Glasgow, Carrickfergus and Wales were again not named.