The organist librarian

Listened to Delius In a summer garden from the Prom with the score.  Played piano for Provincial President's Mass at West Malling. The attendance was down no doubt due to the rain but we enjoyed an indoor picnic! Glad Louise and the boys came! the drive down was no fun in the rain and then had to detour round the village as High Street was closed. All went well despite the short rehearsal wth Gerrard and John but i really think the Haas does not work well.  Brilliant playing by Leif Ove Andsnes and the Mahler Chamber orchestra Beethoven and Stravinsky. Excellent interview with him beforehand! Sat next to a charmng couple from Paris. Got 452 and then 137 and tube to Balham but ended upon same train which I would have got at Battersea Park!

Ciaran went to Kew and we took Sean to Chiswick where he enjoyed the sandpit. He got his leg caught between stool and bridge wall but was OK. Liz went to get her ring sorted as she has lost another facet.  Another excellent Prom Beethoven piano concertos 1 and 4 and Stravinsky Apollon musagete. Interesting talk on Beethoven's piano music with Misha Donat and David Owen Norris on great form. Una corda really means one string which never hear! 

Tuesday did not swim and had a lie-in - miserable weather. Completed 2 paintings while watching CBeebies Prom - saw Mia and listened to Prom of Kiss me Kate which was excellent. To talk on Brahms. Budapest Festival orchestra under Ivan Fischer played Brahms 3 and 4 superbly. Saw Peter Stevens. The late Prom was Gardiner conducting Missa Solemnis with Monteverdi choir and period instruments. Some of it was far too fast, one generally got the feeling the pros had no idea what they were singing about. What soft passages we got were not expressivo at all. The soprano solosit was squally and the bass (Matthew Rose) sounded angry and a bit like Pizzarro. Tenor and alto soloists were fine. Met Revd Michael Bourdeaux on the bus briefly and got a taxi from East Acton. Wednesday took the boys o the Osterley Park trail and they enjoyed the logs and den and swings. To the garden centre for lunch and soft play. Tom came home early so we got bus and tube to Liverpool street in good time for the 7 ...

Woke at 3 so rose and caught up on emails. Went back to bed and up at 8 a.m. I was practising before service (Walton Orb and sceptre) and Sue (?) came up to the loft and asked if I could keep the sound down as people were wanting quiet to pray. Interesting that Fr Paul and Sean were not there at that stage. Later I noted some loud chatter downstairs. Fr Aidan thanked me afterwards. I played Pilgrims chorus from Tannhauser and Water music. I said nothing but put it on Face Book and informed Paul. I think the solution is to arrive earlier and stop at 10 a.m.and insist Bill does psalm alone from the front. Both ladies missed practice of it before service. The loop still not working. To Claire's to see Grainne and Dino - kids 7 and 3 Sophia looks older. Had a good chat. Home for lunch and ironed while listening to Chichester Southern cathedrals festival evensong. Searched for my new passport but cannot find it. It cost £80! Sorted out scores and nice chicken dinner with wine and bake...

To Greenwich Picturehouse to see a lovely film which was moving and touching. The dignity of the cellist as he came to terms with Parkinson's was lovely to watch and very sad. The audience stayed put throughout the credits to hear the end of the Beethoven quartet. Free tea and biscuits beforehand and an easy journey from Elmers End although Lewisham station is still badly signposted! Watched Come dine with me, A very British wedding and Dutch art.

To the National Gallery to see Metamorphosis around 3 beautiful Titians. The Mark Wallinger did not appeal but liked the films about the ballet and the poetry. To National Portrait gallery to see the BP awards - I seldom agree with the judges. Also looked at the Olympic stars gallery. Old No. 9 to the hall - next week will seem very strange. The meeting with Roger Wright and Chris Cotton was pretty bland - none of my points were raised. Lighting in gallery needs improving, prommers hate the rope in the arena and the enforcing of no food. Coughing and late comers were other issues. Alwyn, George Lloyd, Hildegard, Bax, Arnold and Haydn were composers mentioned and an Archers prom? The concert by the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Haitink was splendid. Murray Perahia played Beethoven 4. Bruckner 9 - at start of slow movement lady fainted in front of us and hit her head on the floor. A doctor was quickly on the scene and the medical team. Watched paralympics coverage.

To pre Prom interview with 3 musicians from St Louis symphony orchestra who were making their Proms debut - 2 violinists and cor anglais who described their much loved concert hall and how they play with heart and do community outreach. They are well endowed. The concert was good Brahms, Beethoven played by Christian Tetzlaff, Schoenberg and Gershwin. To Acton. Wednesday all 3 of us went swimming at Fountains leisure centre, Brentford. Because it is run by Fusion we got in free. Ciarán loves the water and I did 12 lengths. To Carluccios for a nice lunch and shopping. Lovely deli in Turnham Green. To prom of "Nixon in China" conducted by John Adams himself - having some short bits of score from the workshop helped - some mistakes in the libretto in the programme. Fascinating rhythms and harmonies and stupendous singing from Gerald Finlay and Korean colouratura. Home at 11.30 and watched Married to the Moonies.

Up in good time for 8.12 a.m. and rang our bells. Gloriana looked great with the flame on TV. Later on the BBC asked if they could use the film! Watched Beethoven 5 from prom and listened to last night's prom Beethoven piano quintet but gave up on the Boulez despite having the score. Watched King Richard II beautifully done on Iplayer.

Monday evening to Clapham Park for interview with Fr Christopher and 3 choir members David and 2 Kates.Knows Fr Peter.  All very nice. Organ is dire one manual and small pedal board with pedals going inwards. Seemed to go well and contract and charges not a problem. A digital in the gallery is planned and 3 schools offer chance of a junior group. Quite a workload with 2 masses on Sunday and other services too! Liz went to the prom and I listened in Beethoven 5 and 6. Watched University challenge. Tuesday swam 20 - very busy. To St Chad's about All the bells and the funeral of Mary Crinnegan. Long chat to Ann.

I got one of the last seats at the Royal College of Music for the interview with Daniel Barenboim. It was interesting to hear his views on Klemperer and Furtwangler.   He certainly went for fluidity between tempi. The East/West Divan orchestra got a great reception which was well deserved and we enjoyed Beethoven 1 and 2. The Boulez I could take or leave! The biggest Prom so far. Great to see Rudolfo again and Jean Taylor who can hardly speak having been in hospital. Also saw Harry Bramma. Home to find Salvation Army youth band not available after all on Monday after great efforts to find them a venuw because of work commitments - still have 2 bands playing! Liz home safely from Devon.

Only swam 24 as water was cold. More clearing up and hoovering. To St Pancras Church for piano recital by Ian - Beethoven, Chopin and his own Carmina. He plays really well and from memory. Chatted to Michael. To Heythrop and saw Fr Rocco, Philip and Luciana. 2nd tutorial with Damian who says essays could get a higher mark with some changes. To St John's for sung mass of Corpus Christi and procession over carpet of flowers, Bishop Jonathan of Croydon in new Roman style outfit and zucchetto! Mozart Sparrow Mass and Ave verum with orchestra,

To Coulsdon where we sang Barry Stronge's attractive introit written for us "Levavi oculos" I had to do bass which doesn't suit so I accompanied it. Hughie was baptised - what a name- Hughie Green? We sang Beethoven's The heavens declare and I played the Mozart Jupiter symphony theme and the Holst Jupiter theme. No practice and after coffee to OLd Coulsdon congretional church where I met the minister and had a look at the interesting Bibles exhibition. To Victoria and open day at Westminster City Hall - great views and lovely silver and maces. Lovely gifts to the city as well form Jordan, Israel and Oslo among others. Got on 11 bus to go to Quaker meeting house only to find it was diverted. I got off at St Thomas hospital and walked over Westminster bridge which was closed because of the cycle race and got underground back to Victoria. The mass was at 3 p.m. empty seats. The new bishop very friendly, saw Martin Foster and Canon Jack Madden, Bishop Richard Moth, St...

Writing this at 3.25 a.m. having come home late and now woken up again! The joys of insomnia! Proms plus literary Ian McMillan and former Children's laurate Michael Rosen and the poems they chose read by the lovely Imogen Stubbs. The poem had to be inspired by music played at the Proms. The 8 year old winner wrote of the bright cat inspired by Liszt's first piano concerto. The older child's poem seemed pretty remote from the Firebird to me but the adult winner was clearly inspired by the Lone ranger and William Tell overture. All the poems we heard had an element of surprise and worked well. The Pittsburgh symphony orchestra conducted by Manfred Honeck played Braunfels Fantastic appearances on a theme of Berlioz, Beethoven piano concerto no. 4 (score) Helene Grimaud and Tchaikovsky 5 (my score). Stunning playing and brilliant encores too - Carmen and an American dance. What an orchestra! Notable that they play before and during interval too on stage.

To St Mary's for 8 a.m. mass - no sign of the new translation despite the newsletter trumpeting it! Fr David very hard to follow any way! At Coulsdon Ellie and Molly turned up but choir starts next week. I played Mozart and Ode to joy and all went well. Coffee and then straight to Selhurst and to St. Paul's cathedral crypt. I was early so got a salad. An interesting forum with Giles Fraser and Dave Tomlinson on re-enchantment and sacred doubt. I asked about music at St Luke's Holloway and he said they use Wild Goose community material and standard hymns. To Museum of London in the rain to see Street photography but as it was the last day it was very crowded and I gave up and had a look at the book in the shop. To RAH for organ prom played by Thierry Eschaich from Paris. Unfortunately lots of very loud playing and uninspiring improvisation. Bach and Franck were OK. Liszt Adagio not impressive. To pre-Prom talk on Missa with 3 players from LSO - interesting to concentrate on...

Listened to choral prom Britten Sacred and profane with score, Hildegard and Stevie Wishart Out of this world - very attractive. To pre-prom event Matthe Barley cellist choosing favourite books - Hesse, Joyce, Pasternak. I asked a question about whether he used literary ideas when teaching. He said to educate was to draw out not fill up! Most interesting and a great love for Russia. Tonhalle orchestra packed Prom - Freda and Ann chatty. Anders Hillborg not impressed. Mozart Piano concerto 27 with score and Eroica (my own score). David Zinman and Maria Joáo Pires pianist. Bus straight away and home by 10.30! Spaghetti western orchestra prom fun!

Woke late so no swim. To library to pick up scores and took dress back to M & S - unfortunately seems I bought it on Liz's card so got a voucher for it. Liz liked the other size better. To tai chi and 4 turned up but no stand-in tutor so went home. She rang to apologise. More painting and nearly done - one bit above porch needs doing when scaffolding comes down but that will have to wait for new roofs on bay and extension - succulents growing up there! Drama - new young driver reversed into the Jazz smashing driver's wing. {arked outside house in a one way street! Got all his details and rang insurance. WIthin 2 hours I had a hired Renault Clio with satnav from Enterprise cars. Parked at Crystal Palace. To prom on my own. Beethoven 4, Saint-Saens piano concerto 5. Stephen Hough wore a fez for curtain call! Lovely quiet encore. Asian family near me talking! No idea how to behave. Lovely Liszt Dante symphony with score - hevenly ladies choir at the end from the gallery singi...

The windows are completed and look great! Liz started painting porch. Very nice interfaith lunch with lemon tart and Ivor gave us plum jam. 15 there. To Balham library and Sabina filled me in on the news. Daniel is there now and Chris went to Putney. I found the Bridge score in the basement and picked up other reserved scores. Good to see them all again and they all said I looked so relaxed! To prom - I was watching British painters so missed train and only arrived at 6.45 so went in general entrance for gallery out of lift and to a seat. Lady next to me sings with Tony Potter at Southwark cathedral. Beethoven symphonies 1 and 7 conducted by Thierry Fischer. New flute concertos by Marc-Andre Dalbavie and Elliott Carter who is 101! First like Debussy but second one too many percussion crashes! Home by 10.20. Found a February Tablet in Bruce's room where I slept as no curtains up.

Swam 32. To tip and John Lewis to look at HDD/DVD recorders - what to buy? To tai chi and only Lesley came - had a good chat. John and Darren helped move furniture at Glyn Close as Dennis and AnnMArie coming down tonight late. Too late to get to preProm talk on French literature. Proved to be an enjoyable evening with Myung Wun Chung conducting Orchestre Philharmonique du Radio France. Messiaen which I usually hate was pleasant, Dupasin new work effective last movement, Beethoven tiple concerto a pure joy. Chatted to several people.

Tuesday was a quiet day recovering and clearing up and hoovering. Dennis and AnnMarie set off back to Burnley. Wednesday to spirituality day and Eileen spoke about Celtic spirituality. Finished reading J.M.Coetzee's "Summertime" - excellent. To Tate Britain to see the fascinating Watercolour exhibition. To chorus - Stefan preparing Missa solemnis - it's like climbing Everest after such a long gap from so much singing.

Monday to Catenians after work - 10 of us, 12 visitors including Peter Stevens the Provincial President fresh from a trip to South Africa. Very fine Emperor concerto with Paul Lewis from the Proms. Tuesday to JCC with director - I mentioned all the publicity about volunteers running libraries which we agree would never work. Who is going to volunteer to work until 8? Reading group discussed Straw dogs and found it controversial and negative.