The organist librarian

Mass and stations at Virgo Fidelis. Lent group led by Revd Jonathan on sin. Nice to meet Ben Giddens at St Bride Fleet St. I was taken in by the Viscount digital! Great choices Bach, Demissieux, Langlais, Dupre and Tournemire. To Seen and heard Victorian children at Guildhall library. Millais and Tuke are masters. It is very difficult to paint a child's face. It strikes me that my Syrian migrants painting is like Don McCullin, trying to tug at the heart strings in the same way as portraying poor children can do. It is also important to tell the story truthfully. There are many working together to get off the crowded migrants boat in my picture but I have to ask why are they fleeing? Who caused this? Choir practice and no basses. Masterchef final. Nelson happy to join in an exhibition at Farm Street! 

Woke late and got to the library around midday. It had been tidied! Liz's class took a lot of books out many of them not in stock and messed the place up! To Shakespeare Road and watched programmes on art in Baku and Lisbon. Seems we missed some goodies . Peter Stevens played well at the cathedral. I am no fan of Messiaen or Guillou but the Franck and Widor were splendid. Nice to see Madeline Smith Marko Sever Graham and Jonathan Holmes. Paul Moynihan barely greeted me and he went and sat near George - pathetic. Worked out I have been playing for 55 years!

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. 

To Kevin Bowyer's interesting recital at the cathedral. Chat to David Grealy, Peter Stevens, Ben Bloor and Michael O'Leary. The Reger was very loud. Ernest Tomlinson and Alan Gibbs contrasted well with JSB, Mendelssohn and Dupre. Home and Thursday swam 20. Liz took Ciaran to party as school closed for referendum. Voted Remain. Horrendous flooding overnight so 2 hours on train to British museum and saw David Standley. Sunken cities of Egypt interesting and some lovely statues. To Collaboration house to meet Mirella Yandoli Church of Scotland interfaith officer - interesting chat and eats. Julian Bond there. To Courtauld to see Georgiana Houghton's spirit led paintings and Monets and drawings of trees. Also enjoyed Saturday club young people's art work from around the country. To Daniel Moult's recital at St John's and he repeated much of what he played at Bromley. Worked on July 17 Mass booklet. 

To Ciaran's assembly - they all sang and spoke so well and it was sweet! All so happy! To Dr Ojo to have ears syringed and I have arthritis in right thumb. Lots of emails and practised for Sunday. Liz getting ready to go away to Walsingham, To St John;s for excellent recital by Bridget and Adrian - 65 there! Wesleys, Reger, Peeters, Bossi, Franck, Ives. Marilyn Harper, Richard Pilliner, Millingtons there

Posted videos on Face book. To St George's cathedral for Tim's recital which included the Whitlock Plymouth suite and a Bach trio sonata. There was no swell but one would never have guessed as he remained so calm! Not many there and various noises off! Had a nice chat as he is now at Ripon cathedral. To Imperial War museum which is awful. Confusing, muddled, crowded. Went in a circle to find the Sargent in gallery 3, could find nothing about Gallipoli in World War I section although it was busy. Did find 3 books in the book shop - have complained. To Victoria library to pick up Channel Islands guide book -£1 charge. The biographies are in a mess! M & S for tea. Cross with Gerry as waited 10 minutes to get into sacristy and got robed only to find him going on about child protection. Liz and I will have to arrive together so I can go to vespers. Wore new cotta for first time. Cardinal Vaughan choir sang Britten Missa brevis and Dupre Ave Maria well. Watched Indian summers an...

Swam 20. Long chat to Ann. No mosaic so I skipped tai chi for a change and went to Southwark cathedral to hear Peter Wright playing Messiaen, Bach and Dupre - excellent. To Tate Modern. Sigmar Polke seemd to become more and more desperate to be original and I did not get the references to the Nazis. His films were just poor cine films handheld and wobbly! Richard Tuttle's big installation in the Turbine Hall using textiles sort of worked. My right foot and knee were hurting a bit so had Earl Grey in the Friends room then got train from Blackfriars to Farringdon and collected passports with the Indian visas. To Bromley Catenians. Frank Bond judged the bow-ties and awarded the whisky to Vincent. 

To Bromley Parish church for Daniel Moult's recital. Gave out posters for Beckenham recitals and some said they would come! Daniel's programme lacked any real meat - it was all flashy like he is! Mozart, Bach, Liszt, Wammes and Dupre. I suppose the only reflective piece was the Bourgeois variations on a theme by Howells. Went on Chislehurst to get 2 scrolls for the new brothers from John Macmahon. Ironed short sleeve shirts and worked on recital programmes. In the end the printer disconnected again. I got it right eventually juggling A4 and A5 and scissors and paste job. Now I need Daniel and David to send their choices. Saw Dennis before he went back to Salford, He goes to Ireland for Dylan's confirmation this week.  Watched Antiques road show and programme on Georgian kings.

To Festival Hall and listened to Christina Ortiz play on In Tune in the foyer then to talk on the organ with William McVicker and John Scott. He described his first encounter with the organ in 1973 when Ralph Downes changed the first lesson from the oratory and he played the St Anne fugue! The concert was magnificent - Marchand, Buxtehude, Bach, Mozart and Dupre and fiendish Liszt in the second half. I had scores for 3 of the pieces and his technique is immaculate. The Vaughns and Dibbs were there also the Harpers and Harry Bramma.

Took Liz to Shirley Oaks hospital for initial discussion and I fetched the turkey, beef and sausage meat from the butchers. It seems what I got was smaller than ordered! Not my fault. Liz goes back on Jan 7. Nice ham lunch with Bruce and EJ and opened the lovely present they brought including fudge. To Westminster Abbey carol service which was lovely despite the coughing and talking over the organ voluntaries but Messiaen and Dupre do not appeal at all. Rutter, well-known carols and very nice Poulenc, Victoria and new carol by Toby Young. I'm afraid James O'Donnell's arrangements are not a patch on Willcocks! Home to watch John Bishop.

Woke late so no swim. Posted Ann's birthday card. To St George's Beckenham for excellent recital by Charlie Andrews - Bach, Vierne and Dupre. Saw Ken Baker. Did poster for June 2014 and report on Phiroza's meeting for Interfaith network. Cleared comments off Westminster Interfaith and put on some reports. Liz went to babysit - Tom leaves for a week in Sydney tomorrow. Watched programmes on Heathrow and Transport for London.

Bank Holiday Monday and nice weather after all the rain yesterday morning. Up early and worked on Michael's suggestions regarding the dissertation. To Bromley parish church for joint recital by Norman and Marilyn Harper. They played a duet by Wesley and divided the programme between them including Dupre, Leighton and Mango Thrist (Lovely girl commented Norman). I left before the Bach Passacaglia to get home for lunch and then to Royal College of Music for 2.30 workshop with Mary King on singing musicals. Muriel was there. Enjoyed singing Somewhere over the rainbow, opening number from Show Boat and the scarecrow song with actions. Also a Waxman song. The light music organ prom was well played by Richard Hills and included Ireland, Sullivan, Waller and German and a fun encore. Excellent talk on film music with David Benedict and the John Wilson prom was excellent with a wide variety of film music and songs. I am playing for Dermot Molony's funeral on Friday at St Mary's.

To St John's for organists association AGM - I did not stay for the actual meeting! Richard Pilliner and Norman Harper were there and nice that Fr John welcomed us. I gave out the posters for the recitals. Adrian gave an excellent recital showing off the organ's many colours - it included Tommy's Intrada, Howells, Whitlock, Cocker Tuba tune, Bach and Dupre. Nice tea with cupcakes. Vespers and Mass with Fr Paolo. Met Robert Munns and his wife before he practised for his recital. He walks with a stick but talked about Fr Matthias now 85 and Fr Farmer's sister.  Finished the Pierce book. Louise had arrived with Ciaran. Much discussion about where Bruce is to stay!

Did some reading. To St Stephen Wallbrook for Peter's superb recital of Bach, Howells, Leighton, Titeloue and Dupre. Nice walk along north Thames path to Millenium brudge and Tate Modern. Bigger Splash a little disappointing. William Klein's films interesting and Daido Moriyama's photos seemed dull. I rather liked the film of the Jesus type figure in a crowded street and ignored to "The people that walked in darkness" reminded me of the ballet we saw the other evening. Walking against the flow is never fun! Popped into Southwark cathedral and organ being tuned.

To Coulsdon and picked up Caroline and Gwen on the way. We sang Barry Stronge's introit again and Come down O love divine by Hilary Tadman-Robins (Molly's favourite). Hymns included Christ triumphant, Christ's is the world, How great thou art and O Jesus I have promised (to Beaumont tune). I played theme from Elgar's first symphony and Pomp and Circumstance No. 1. Sean doing really well - he sang Anderson Gloria perfectly. I practised and looked at some more transcriptions of orchestral items including Wagner and Saint-Saens. Dropped in grandparent card at Serpillos' cafe and quick lunch. To Battersea Park peace pagoda on a fine late summer's day for Prayers for peace arranged by Jon dal Din for World Peace week. Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim leaders and prayers, 4 of the Bahai choir sang and I had to leave so missed the rabbi. To the cathedral for Paul Carr from Birmingham blistering playing of Bossi, Dupre and Hendrie - he was pleased to see me again. Then to Westmi...

Tuesday swam 24 and back home as arial man supposed to be coming. That was postponed because of the problems from the civil unrest. A picture is emerging of trouble all over the capital and the country. Cleaned shelves in lounge and dining room and completed ironing. Liz's wrist healing well. Decided to go to the Prom any way as loads of police now on our streets. Where were they when Reeves corner burnt down? Protecting the Whitgift centre. Frank Bridge Enter Spring with score, Blow out, you bugles with Ben Johnson tenor. The Simon Holt new work was awful. Thomas Trotter played Dupre Cortege and Litanie and Saint-Saens 3 superbly (score for latter). The pre-Prom talk with Anthony Payne and Kate Kennedy about Bridge was fascinating. I asked a question about the power of publishers pre-war to prevent music being published - they were interested in sales then not now. Christopher Town, Martin Ball and John East there. Saw Francis Herbert the previous night. Eleanor also there. A love...

We sang "O sons and daughters" at baptism and first communion - 2 of the family were baptised and then received. 5 pieces of paper! I played Hallelujah chorus and then headed straight to St John's for rehearsal for THE wedding. Thomas Hewitt Jones was there and his anthem has been published by RSCM. "My beloved spake" and it is excellent. Home for lunch after picking up Liz. To Glyn Close to photograph and measure for Dennis. I just missed the train at Herne Hill to take me to hear Arnfinn play at St Paul's so went to Westminster cathedral instead to hear Martin Baker. He played Resurrection by Dupre, a wierd Saga IV by Guillou and his own stunning improvisation on "O filii et filiae".

Thursday to Peckham for Dulwich circle attended by Vernon De Cruz the Grand President who gave an excellent speech - the food was great too. 4 there from Norwood. Friday another lovely day so did some more clearing up in the garden. Swam 30 lengths and Andrew was there. Took car to Hondas for check on light switch. To Gemma's Dad's cafe for bread pudding and cappucinos. Nice walk wound South Croydon rec with daffodils out. To St George's Beckenham on the tram for Travis Baker's excellent recital of Bach, Dupre,F.X.Schnizer and Bovet. He is form Melbourne and remarked that June Nixon was not that welcoming. Got Easter eggs at M & S and noted that the bookshop is temporarily closed. Found water feature not working any more so went and bought a new one featuring otters. Practice went well - no John or Ann. I watched "Perfume" on Iplayer about a murderer - very well done.

Bruce did in fact go back to Birmingham on Thursday to get more stuff. I went to chorus and we rehearsed Merlin 3 with Debbie. Emails about the low B flat for the tenors! Friday I did December music list and Christmas music draft, Darren and John organised a skip to get rid of the unwanted stuff from upstairs and Glyn Close. Dennis's old room looks much larger and will become my study. We set off to Paddington via London Bridge and Baker Street and arrived early. Train journeys went smoothly and at Newport we met Fr Barry Angus and Eric. Barry used to be parish priest at South Norwood but had to retire because of cancer. He is an oblate of Belmont. At Hereford we stood in fog for an hour as 3 taxis had crashed on the bridge and there was gridlock. Our taxi took an hour to get there and we arrived for dinner having missed session 1. David Briggs gave a splendid recital on the new Nicholson organ. He played Franck 3, Bach Toccata in F (pedal reed too loud for upper work) Dupre, Haydn...

Tuesday finished at 2 p.m. Liz at Good shepherd Mass and hospital and then to Bedford Park for Rossini rehearsal. She made a delicious cake and Alan and Berna Foden arrived from Cambridge around 4.30. We sat in the garden and enjoyed Earl Grey tea and cake. Alan was in my schoolclass and has just retired. Berna is Catholic and we had such an interesting chat. She takes her housekeeper's daughter to the same school that her children went to. But the mothers will not take their children to the school where their servants children go because of sport and nothing to talk about! They went off to for a meal on the way back and I went to the hospital. Grandma making slow progress. Wednesday to Croydon to NHS centre and coffee afterwards. To Interfaith group meeting with Rabbi Mark on "Christ through Jewish eyes". Very interesting - 2 of the newcomers were out of order and had to be told politely not to try and convert the rabbi. Jon Dal Din very supportive and the rabbi was ver...