The organist librarian

To Mass and St Stephen Wallbrook for Peter Wright's recital. Janacek, JSB, Daquin, Jongen Sonata Eroica, Alain and interesting pieces from Tombeau de Titelouze by Zsolt Gardonyi. Welcoming at the cathedral non-existent as the school nativity play was on. Nice singing in Nativity carol and O holy night, lots of pop and flashy costumes. Simon did the fish quiz in 20 minutes and pointed out the mistakes - just what I wanted! Libera are performing there tonight. I saw Stephen Haylett and Sr Carmel in St Paul's shop. Choir practice at St John's quite a few mssing. Good work on Britten. Listened to Living with the gods. 

Watched rest of Oklahoma. Liz got leads for HDMI connections to TV. Watched Royal Ballet Woolf Works by Wayne Macgregor and music by Max Richter. I must read these novels!  Listening to John Adams Harmonielehre from prom the same extraordinary effect.  A stimulating prom on Hussite chorale theme Smetana, Martinu, Dvorak, Janacek, Suk. Grand ending on full organ. Marilyn back from Edinburgh. Adrian, Terence and Stanley there. 

Can't believe Mum died 10 years ago today. I played Vierne Berceuse which I played at the crematorium for Mum and Dad. Also Willan on St Peter and Ronald Watson's Elegy in memoriam Herbert Howells which quotes the tune Michael ( we sang All my hope). At the end Janacek Fanfare from Sinfonietta (ironically John the server who heard me practising this was not there!). Richard Broadberry celebrated - amazing for 85! Berceuse by Andrew Moore as we were 5 minutes late starting.  The visiting organist last night played nothing at offertory and did not play many of the responses - I wonder if something was missing from the console or his information?

Swam 20, new hearing aids at Guys hospital, welcoming at the cathedral, Royal Academy summer schools and summer exhibition (some lovely paintings) BP portrait award at National Portrait gallery, met Liz for dinner and enjoyed Jenufa at ENO. As always I preferred Jean to the winners. Schools stuff rather disappointing. 

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. 

Did not sleep well - very hot. Watered garden and swam 20 and took strimmer to Ann Marie. It is their wedding anniversary today and Liz had arranged for roses to be sent. To art and painted a picture of sunflowers based on photos from Lou's kitchen. Breakfast in garden and lovely photos from Lourdes including 2 of Liz!  To the hall and excellent pre-Prom talk on the Glagolitic with 2 composers Julian Anderson. I asked about whether Mary King was right to call Janacek a humanist as he was Catholic. He was influenced by millennium event involving 40.000 people. The Brahms piano concerto No. 1 was well played by Barry Douglas but the LSO ensemble was poor. |Did Gergiev rehearse? Why such slow tempi? The Janacek was great. Watched University challenge.MAt several people including Annalisa and Peter.

Practised Finlandia and Sheep may safely graze on piano. To St John Goose Green for excellent recital by Andrew Baars. 30 there including his 3 children. He presented it so well. He teaches at Sydenham school and included unusual pieces and the Dorian toccata. Richard Pilliner has offered a recital next year at St Michael's. Home for lunch and Dennis and Ann Marie came down so I went alone to Mary King's workshop on the Glagolitic Mass with an excellent Czech coach and 4 BBC singers including the young bass from the cathedral choir. Really enjoyed it. Only 10 tenors. It was very hot and sunny and the pro-Palestine protest meant no buses so walk to and from South Ken. Saw a bit of travel photographer of the year at RGS. Tea at Marks and saw Paolo at vespers. He was delighted that Liz is going to Lourdes for the first time. Fr Alexander at Mass certainly got on with it with David playing and we got an early 52 and our usual seats for China Philharmonic Proms debut with a popular...

Swam 20. To Croydon to buy a new jacket - ended up in Marks and chose a nice blue blazer and light trousers to match -very smart! Home to eat and then to Royal Academy where we met David Walker and had tea. Had a quick look at the huge Richard Rogers show and then to talk on Tchaikovksy - dropped off. Liz did shopping. Bournemouth Symphony Janacek Sinfonietta, Beethoven piano con 2, Tchaik 3. Stayed on for Tallis scholars Taverner and Gesualdo but tired so left before end. Little variety of tone.Home by 12 and Liz to Acton.

Wednesday excellent breakfast. To St Anne's cathedral for 10 a.m. Couldn't find anyone eventually to the house and Mgr MacQueen. Lots of phone calls to Ben Saunders who knew nothing about it. It seems the young music administrator had told nobody! Eventually Emmett the sacristan took us to the console but he turned the key twice - I can't think why! Result no sound so we abandoned the attempt. It was all embarrassing and annoying and apologies all round but it should not have happened! Tea at Leeds art gallery and a look around - interesting displays about British landscape. To Leeds college of music for free concert by Junior Royal conservatoire of Scotland. Excellent trumpeter, oboe and pianist. Schoolkids present were getting restless and the teacher did not help! The Albinoni oboe concerto and the Chopin scherzo were outstanding. To the Minster where there had been a big musical funeral. Once the place cleared I was left to play and it was a treat. Simon Lindley was fri...

Monday woke early and then back to sleep! To mosaic - I was late but good to see everyone again. I got my brolly back and all my materials were safely in a box. All I need to do now is the infilling around the flowers and Paisley pattern and grout and it will be finished! No ta'i chi so to Balham library to return scores and pick up 2 books -Tom Service on conducting and The Tower - both were recommended at Proms literary events. To Southwark cathedral for an excellent recital by Stephen Disley - Buxtehude, Bach, Andrew Carter, Janacek. Home for lunch and then to Barbican theatre. Eventually found the ticket office and then found we had been moved to the middle of the stalls which was excellent. A wonderful Opera North production with great singing especially Biggalow. Loved it - standing ovation! Home at midnight.

Ciarán woke around 6.45. To Hormiman musuem and had not been there for years and it is transformed. Loved the aquarium and a quick tour of the music gallery. Had coffee and then to the Spa Beckenham for swim. Ciarán loves the water and did not have his armbands so held on to me but he did do some swimming and jumping in! He hardly slept today. Water plat in the garden and slide and trampoline. Watched a lot of Thomas the tank engine DVD and he took the cover to bed. Liz went to buy new HDD recorder and I put him to bed - he was quite lively despite the lack of sleep. Watched Prom on BBC4 - Halle conducted by Elder - Sibelius, Bartok and Janacek.

Woke 5 a.m. and went back to sleep. Swam 30. Interesting feature on Janacek on radio 3 - the Proms start today! The feature on the Proms is on at 9 a.m. as I drive back from the pool. Moved rubbish to front garden, cleaned kitchen floor, put away Ocado shopping. To Blackhorse and parked to go to Beckenham for Harra Bramma'a recital. Dorio having more trouble from the priest who is rude. Bach rather muddy, Reger Canzona and very nice Whitlock Fantasie Chorale No 1 in D flat. Home for lunch and Liz off to Heythrop for chat and tour about her 2 year mission course on Saturdays. I took spare lettuce and cabbage to Josie and had tea. They have rented accomodation and go back Thursday. To V and A to see Jain sculptures and queued for gallery. Met nice Maltese girl and her boyfriend. Got seats and could walk to rail for a view. Splendid Judith Weir, Brahms Academic festival overture with chorus, Liszt Piano con 2 with score Ben Grosvenor only 19 stunning. He played Liszt Hungarian rhapsod...

Spoke to Ann. After a damp August this was the sunniest day we had had for some time. To New Addington to see Mr Shannon the optician who has looked after us all for many years. I am to have new glasses costing over £400. I get the eye test free on NHS once every 2 years so no need to claim from the council. Present glasses have lasted since 2000! He was delighted to see the wedding photos. With Liz to Iceland and then to St Edmund's Beckenham to play the brand new Wyvern organ which is splendid and it passed the Howells Saraband for the morning of Easter test with flying colours. Pity there is no 8 foot reed on pedal but 3 manuals and plenty to choose from. Played pieces on "Veni creator" and finished with Suite Gothique of Boellmann. Picnic lunch in garden. Watched HDD from Proms - Boulez conducting Janacek Sinfonietta, Barenboim conducting Brahms 4, interesting programme on bones and muscles (Dr Alice Roberts). To town early to get phone extension checked. Victoria cam...

One more thought on Lear. The removal of Gloucester's eyes is too horrible and the scene was carefully set by Cornwall which made it even worse. The excellent programme says the play is cruel to everyone including those watching it and that is right. Friday swam 30 lengths and Chinese guy I met suggested 2 more lengths of the 25 metre pool would be half a mile! To Hinsley Room to meet Sr Campion my dear spiritual director who have not seen for months. We had a useful chat about what courses I could do. Bereavement counselling is one option but becoming a spiritual director is more me we think! Lovely to see her again. To 5.30 mass and ended up serving. Bishop Longley is so nice - he had been at World youth day in Sydney. Alto lay clerk was cantor and very good too. Good to see Deacon Peter before he moves to Scotland. Watched Glagolitic Mass from proms (could not find our score) and cleared up and hoovered lounge. Mohamad leaving at work so Doris has done a nice card for him - will...

Forgot to say that evensong yesterday was from St John's College, Cambridge and included lovely Otcenas by Janacek with harp! 36 lengths today and tai chi was good as well - Tony was back. I gave out invites to library's silver circle reading group First Fridays 2 - 3.30 p.m. Very good reaction to Saturday's reading group session and the photos. Micky brought in Fr Michael a Comboli father now at the local RC church. He is an Islamic scholar and wants to come to the interfaith group which will be great! My PRP assessment is full of glowing praise - let's hope I get the matching payment! Watched University challenge and How to build a cathedral in the BBC4 mediaeval series. I went through the Proms programme on the BBC website and was impressed as increased organ music - lots of Messiaen who is not my cup of tea. I am considering promming again. Such a shame the chorus is not singing this year. Incidentally Angela Young has a scene at the Proms in "Speaking of love...

Friday evening I got the train to Coulsdon South where Liz picked me up and we drove to Brighton. She had had a busy time when she found some bugs had eaten away the carpet under one of our sofas! The Grace and Compassion sisters have 4 different addresses in Brighton and eventually we found the right one in pouring rain - St Benedict's in Kemp Town. A delightful house with every comfort including en suite and TV in the room. As we missed supper we went into town and ate fish and chips at Harry Ramsden's. This proved an ideal quiet retreat with morning and evening prayer in the lovely chapel and daily Mass,excellent food and a warm welcome and good company. We sat at table with a delightful elderly Sister from Ireland visiting her dying sister-in-law in hospital and today we met Fr Carl from Hove. Saturday we set off to try and find an organ recital in Herne Rd but abandoned it and went on to English Martyrs, Goring-on-Sea with its remarkable copy of the Sistine chapel ceiling....