The organist librarian

To Death cafe and evensong where we sang Byrd and Whitlock. Richard played Bossi Scherzo. Crib down. Call the midwife good. Programme on nude in art followed by study of being naked with strangers. . Grouted half of Van Gogh mosaic.I hate grouting. Peter Wright at St Michael Cornhill such musical Bach! What a joy! Vierne Feux follets with score - amazing piece! SPIDIR commitee pretty dull. 

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. 

Swim, Mass, doctor, Jonathan Dods played an interesting programme of Couperin and Vierne at Wallbrook. Welcoming at cathedral and kept meeting people I know including Canon John O'Toole and a priest from Jamaica. Doctor says bruise on back of head, my blood pressure very good, Jenny will remove small scar on my head. Watched Longleat programmes. To choir practice and Adrian directing this weekend. 

Served at Morning prayer at the cathedral. Superb choir and strepitus. Not sure it was a good idea to kneel for the Anerio. I was extinguisher 1.  Having a lovely family day at Acton delicious lunch and a sleep! The 3 boys are having fun! Back at midnight from serving at a fabulous Easter Vigil at the cathedral. The Vierne and anthems from the choir were absolutely stunning and the organ was just magnificent. The Cardinal again gave a fine homily and there were 4 baptisms and 12 confirmations. The neo-catechumenate attended in large numbers. Now to bed and up at 4 a.m. !Arrived at church 4.57 amazing full moon. The porch decorated with Easter eggs and flowers.Both Easter services went really well with good singing from the choir and cooked breakfast in between. Played Hallelujah chorus and Saraband for the morning of Easter and we sang 4 vigil psalms, Sing choirs of heaven and This joyful Eastertide. Fell asleep watching Pope Francis! Now enjoying St Mary Warwick broadcast. I was the

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

Liz to school, swam. Dashed to St Andrew's only to find Mass is now at 10 a.m.and not 9.30 so waited in the car for my healthcheck at Brigstock Road practice. Very nice lady says I am fit. Cholestorol is a little bit up, blood pressure good. To quiet day with Roger - 11 there on the Magnificat - great music. Being and doing, bringing Jesus to birth Saw Sean and Louise arriving for nativity play with donkey and sheep in the cathedral and saw last bit. The Dignity Carol service went well with choir of 6. Played Christmas pieces and Vierne Berceuse. Watched The Apprentice. 

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. 

Woke early. To All Saints for "What is an icon?" art. Loved Judy Pascoe's Raphael and Sydney Opera House. Did not like large photos of religious statues with pricetags on them. Surely the prices would be underneath? And some people make a living from them e.g. Bethlehem Palestinans. Commercialising religion is inevitable. Watched the Trooping and great to see the flypast and the whole Royal family apart from Prince Philip who is 95 tomorrow! Catenian emails and loading lists onto mailchimp. Victoria choir sang better at Mass Parry and Vierne and we had the blessing of engaged couples. To big iftar at Hyderi Streatham. Excellent talks on worship by Rabbi Mark Solomon (worship in the home, sang Psalm 23) Fr David Howell (Abraham and Thomas Aquinas) and the imam (3 types of worshipper slave, business man and free). Nice food and banana drink and trifle. Good to see Habib and William Rhind.

To Mass in rain, Liz saw nurse about her hand - she fell outside school. 2 mosaics finished and we now have a break until June while some go to Corfu. Finished 2 small mosaics and chose Van Gogh for next project in June. Bravo Peter King at St Michael Cornhill cheering up a wet day with a varied programme. An enjoyable evening at Duke's Hall Royal Academy of Music. 6 excellent organists competing for the Dorothy Cooper prize won by James Orford. Thomas Trotter adjudicating. Well done Marko Sever and Michael Butterfield and great to see Paddy Russill and meet the South African Hannes Ebersohn. Andrzej Malitowski and Jamie Rogers also impressed. It is so important to play expressively and not just fast and loud.

Saturday unpacking finished and washing. Auditions at St John's. Did not recognise Stephen Hope but he recognised me. His playing was eccentric. Gary ran into trouble with the plainchant but Max was impressive.  To Bloomsbury Baptist to hear half of Sarah Kim's recital of transcriptions. Good to be back at Mass at the cathedral. Trains not running well. Very cold.  Played Franck Prelude and Fughetta and we sang Webbe Lamb of God. Saw Henry when I picked up the car - it was parked there because of the football. Caught up on Call the midwife, A Vicar's life, Tablets, Yo Yo Ma and the Silk road ensemble. Monday mosaic and tai chi.  Stunning playing from Daniel Cook at the Festival Hall and a most interesting interview. Met the Gillian Weir organ scholar they are looking for a successor. Vierne 6, Stanford Sonata 2 Eroica, Nice to see Andrew from Acton. Daniel Cook comes up quite often in this blog! Snow prevented us going to Acton and in fact school closed! 

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.

A pleasant day working on transferring my holiday diary to blog and Facebook. At last the photos loaded onto the laptop. Adrian Gunning's recital (preferred Langlais to Vierne, Carl jackson was turning over and adding stops) and Fr Michael at Mass. Must be the loudest homily I have ever heard from the visiting Dominican appealling for funds for Zimbabwe! Train delayed coming home in rain. Red wine now open for birthday dinner! Sticky toffee pudding.  Ann, Dennis and Bruce rang. Lots of facebook messages. Nice brown jumper from Liz. Watched Songs of Praise. and London Fire Brigade.

Excellent morning at RFH as part of St Alban's organ festival. Saw Matthew Martin. Attractive work by him for trumpet and organ. Lovely Angelus by Vierne. Rheinberger violin and organ. Cochereau Bolero organ and side drum played by Marko Sever. Well done all especially Joseph Beech and James Orford. People power at Imperial War museum excellent.   S ent letter to The Tablet as Rick Jones did not know what Levit's encore was so told him to check BBC proms website. Critics!  An excellent appeal for Aid to the Church in need at the cathedral Mass. Presented Joseph with his 18th birthday card and present. Listening to prom on way home. Reckoned I would be late at the hall and not get in for the Strauss Actually the Beethoven 3 chat was first. Skype to Liz in Lourdes. Listened to prom from Hull.

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.  Bravo  Benjy Bloor  for brilliant playing at St George Hanover Square and great to hear some Howells. A programme full of sunshine incl Hollins and Vierne!  The Found exhibition at the Foundling museum is worth a visit and Ironbaby by Anthony Gormley is very moving in its simplicity. A baby on the floor - a powerful comment.  Interesting works by Colin Matthews and enjoyed the Dresden bells. Das Lied von der Erde with Alice Coote followed by the 16 (actually 34) Bach and beautiful Part. Took an hour to get to Acton.  BFG with the boys. Excellent film and followed by Pizza Hut.  East West Divan with Daniel Barenboim Liszt and Wagner - great sound. The preProm talk on Wagner was a little dull.

Daniel Moult played brilliantly at Bromley Parish church - about 50 there and nice cakes! Jean Francaix's Suite Carmelite interested me. It is 6 portraits of Carmelite nuns. I know a nun just like No. 4 - rushing about and constantly chatting with little apparent conclusion! I drove there behind an old lady going at 20 mph. On the way back no less than 8 drivers waved their thanks as i waited for them. Courtesy is not dead! Sme work in the garden. Played Elgar on the piano - Salut d'amour, Chanson de matin, Enigma variations. Fr Jerry wants to discuss Shona taking practice on first Sundays. Emailed and have deputy organised. A couple of singers withdrew - everybody is making excuses. Barry Williams thinks St Michael's behaved very badly and Coulsdon not much better. Watched Sewing Bee, Venice and Versailles programmes. Upstart Crow about Shakespeare is funny. 

Swam 20.  Bravo to Peter Chester for excellent playing at St George Beckenham and Howells Rhapsody no 3. Watched Mastermind final and lots of emails about Catenians. The Grand President will come to the dinner on June 3rd. To art with Nelson and layer 3. I saw the mouse n the lounge again - yuk!

Played Vierne Epitaphe, Thalben-Ball Elegy,  George Thalben-Ball  on Gopsal and Crown Imperial it being Christ the King and St Cecilia. Camino Kyries start next week and rehearsed for Christmas. Turns out the Advent service uses Penitential rite 3 so we will sing the complete Kyries after the lighting of the Advent wreath candle.  Both went to interesting scriptural reasoning at British Museum on pilgrimage and to Strada Great Queen Street on free dessert offer! Excellent food and service - veal, sea bass. Watched Antiques roadshow and The Hunt.

Have now done all the recital programmes and copied them. Played Rosalie Bonighton on Hanover and Postlude for ordinary time, also Francis Jackson East Acklam prelude. Only 11 at service taken by Fr Herbert. 23 came to Adrian's excellent recital and I turned for him.Lovely cream tea. At evensong we sang Murrill in E and Walton's Litany. Watched Antiques roadshow and Domingo at the BBC, also Magna Carta today.

Phllip Scriven gave us a real Bank holiday recital which was fun at Bromley Parish church. The Croydon music festival organ class at St John's featured 2 accomplished players and 2 promising beginners all ably helped by Anne Marsden Thomas.