The organist librarian

Played Michael Fleming's variations on Noel nouvelet and Slater Easter Alleluia. We sang "Sing God's Easter people sing" arranged John Barnard. Also Christopher Jones' splendid hymn "Faith overcomes" to Highworth by Terry - I think his widow lives locally. Also "O food of pilgrims" to the sublime Innsbruck. After 2 years I again found time to go through the organ music left by a predecessor and found some goodies. It does seem strange that he left all this music which is valuable. I seem to inherit organ music Dad, Alan now Paul and interesting the similar repertoire lots of Bach, English and French, Buxtehude. Enjoyed Rejoice in the Lamb from Norwich cathedral choral evensong. Well done Guildford for choral evensong for St Mark. I remember that hymn from my childhood at St Mark's Yeoville. Simon Schama brought Civilisations to a fine end. The Durrells excellent. I had not seen Wilkie Collins as a feminist - Woman in White episode 2.

9 of the school choir sang well and I met parents. I played Dubois toccata and Michael Fleming on Noel novelet. I was pleased that the kids came, Billy seemed interested in the organ. I noted he was the only one to receive communion. The all age service will be a better choice for the group who are year 3s. There was a discussion about school and evensongs. Jill was there. I was glad  did not have to go back in the evening as the train between Purley and Caterham was replaced by buses and the 12 o clock did not run. I went to St Mary's for 3 p.m. Mass - it was first communion and awful. Lealfet wrong, music group singing and parsih priest launching into items. The worst was the children going up individually to be photographed. The deacon had the chalice and then swopped that for hosts! At evensong we sang Dyson in F and My beloved spake. 6 years since the Wests married! Louise brought the boys to see Henry. Sean loves a game. Watched the Durrells and Antiques roadshow. 

Advent 1 we sang John Scott's arrangement of Creator of the stars of night and I played Flor Peeters and Alec Rowley preludes on Conditor Alme also Lloyd Webber rhapsody on Helmsley. Organ has been tuned. Carol practice with 4. Edited church website and put appeal on Streetlife. Watched end of Midsummer night's dream on TV.  St John's Cambridge Advent procession very good. Lovely Advent service at St John's including Michael Fleming's Kindle a flame (we sang in the first performance) Charles Wood and Stanford. Es ist ein Ros in German . Bridget's version of Wachet auf quite different to Ben Bloor's - well he is young! Interesting to see Plimouth plantation in programme on Mayflower pilgrims.

Clocks went back an hour. Woke too early and dozed off. Up in good time left home 7.35 a.m. but on way to station in the car had to reverse up Dixon Road for a white van. Result missed train to Purley from where there was a bus replacement service. To Selhurst from Norwood Junction and to East Croydon. No trains to Purley so got bus 407. On organ at 9 a.m. Lourdes Gloria and Gathering not on sheet so did Murray. For all the saints cut to 5 verses and no procession. We sang "Holy is the true light" fairly well. I then started the communion hymn in D instead of F and realised on the second line so changed to F. I have never done that before. I think the travel disturbed my concentration. I played Howells Sine nomine and Flor Peeters well. Rehearsed for next 2 weeks. Never spoke to Jerry who had postponed meeting about Christmas because Anne Marie had a fall and broke her shoulder bone. Strangely Gisela had a fall off her bicycle and hurt her arm. Julie took posters and had don...

I played at St John Caterham. We sang Fairest Lord Jesus by Martin How. Played I know that my redeemer liveth and Worthy is the Lamb, Michael Fleming's Noel nouvelet and George Guest on St Fulbert. Excellent address by  Anne-Marie Garton  locking the church doors and talking about being a persecuted Christian. How feeble is the excuse "Can't come to church we have visitors coming"! Bring them along! Not very keen on the worship songs! I skipped the practice which Jill took to get to St Paul's early for e xcellent talk at St Paul's by John Pritchard retired Bishop of Oxford on keeping Easter through the year. Wonder why we don't make more of Easter at home e.g. an Easter garden, yellow and white streamers, simple gifts. Junior choirs on Songs of Praise. More emails about Malta and Dover! Paul O'Grady and Salvation Army. Michael Portillo on the Easter rising very interesting.Picked up Louise and Ciarán. Liz baked peanut butter bread and delicious rolls....

To St Mary's for 8 a.m. Mass and met Rick Baxter. The pp Fr Scanlon very engaging. I  played Douglas Guest on St Fulbert, Robert Fielding on Personent hodie, I know that my redeemer liveth, Whitlock Salix and Michael Fleming on Noel nouvelet before the service which seems to start late every week. At the end Walton First of the few and end of Crown imperial as we had a VE day lunch with flags and bunting. Apparently the church was used as a polling station. Fr Leon very enthusiastic. 

Saw a little of the canonisation of John XXIII and John Paul II from Rome on the computer. Ann and Paul came to St Michael's and I played Christopher Tambling on O filli, Gordon Slater's Easter Alleluya and Michael Fleming on Noel nouvelet. We sang Jesus lives! Love's redeeming work is done and Now the green blade. Unfortunately none of the psalm settings fitted the version on the sheet. We had Celtic alleluia. Paul was on good form. Finished with the Hallelujah chorus which got a clap. Lovely pork for lunch. Seán was absolutely fine waking up with us. Louise took the boys to the lake and Kelsey Park and I took Paul Down house which he enjoyed. I saw things about Darwin I had missed the first time. We watched Rev and Antiques road show, Rev, also the rest of the Young musician percussion final (Simone Rebello was one of the judges) and the programme on Messiah and Coram.

Nearly completed essay based on the seminar. To Bromley parish church for Michael Toplis's demonstration recital, AGM and played 2 pieces (Michael Fleming and Healey Willan). Mass at St Swithun Bromley Common which is tiny and woodlined and will close when the parish priest Bob Mercer retires. To Beckenham circle 50th anniversary dinner at Oakwood House. Grand Vice President was there. The Grummitts and Topes were there - nice meal and gave Harry Mellor a lift home.

Very nice lunch with cream and apple. At St John's we sang Byrd second service and Bob Chilcott's charming "God so loved the world". We sang Vexilla regis and Morning glory to a tune by Michael Fleming Bowen Woods in tribute to David Evans and like his tune for "For the beauty of the earth". Terence and Bob are coming on Friday whcih is great. Watching Paxman on Empire and Antiques roadshow.

Spoke to Ann on skype and Claire has left Hong Kong. Liz to dentist. To Grandma's to cut bushes back and clear up garden. To St Michael's for recital by Jerome Faucheur from Lille. A different programme - Lemmens, Capocci, Dubois, Dienel and Percy Fletcher Festival Toccata. He then improvised on 3 themes Michael Fleming's "Palace Green" (which is named after a green at Durham university from Michael's student days) Kyrie of Oldroyd Mass of the quiet hour and Henry VIII's O lord the maker of all thing - this last theme was rather disguised but it was very clever. Back to Grandma's and finished the job. Choral evensong from Winchester - Parry "Hear my words" and Durufle Toccata blisteringly played by Simon Bell. This was one of Ben Nicholas's specialities too!

To St John's for Harvest evensong - canticles by Coleridge-Taylor, Kindle a flame by Michael Fleming and "A new commandment" by Peter Nardone, all composers who lived locally. The same programme will be sung by the choir at Southwark cathedral on Saturday. Liz will go but I will be working. Watched Antiques roadshow and Michael Palin in Eastern Europe.

Practised Widor Toccata for Sunday - as Michael Fleming would have said "Too many notes!" At choir practice covered most of the music for July including Walmisley in D minor. Library quiet on Saturday so doing the boring stocktake shelf check. Liz's Mum taken into hospital for checks - had a fall and face is bruised. Liz wasn't able to go and help with registering for Canterbury bike ride today. On bus I went to Vespers and Mass as usual. Amici Choro singing Palestrina - seemed a bit lacklustre? Dedication of the Cathedral. Paul Moynihan got me to do thurifer - only the 3rd time and I managed better. Philip was 10 today - he went off to the choir stalls instead of bringing the incense boat at one point! Miserable wet day - Wimbledon is on. Watched a bit of "50 years of Dame Edna Everage" - K.D.Laing got the giggles! Heard the end of "Death in Venice" with Ian Bostridge. Louise here overnight.