The organist librarian

Swam (swimming lesson in fast lane which is not good) Mass (fire engine in road when I arrived) 2 cars parked on double yellow line at bottom of our road! Hot again. Played Elijah and Brahms Requiem plus RVW and Howells songs on piano. Such wonderful music. Middle E flat not working but no sign of a dead animal inside the piano thank God! Fabulous exhibition at the Wallace collection and had a lovely chat to a curator.  Talk Revd Lucy Winkett and Sarah Hamilton discussed Brahms's requiem. Best pre Prom talk so far this season. The problem with having sung in a great chorus like the Philharmonia for so long is that the memory of that great choral sound stays. As a result the BBC efforts at Brahms's Requiem under Richard Farnes were disappointing. Yes the sopranos coped well and there was some soft singing but too much loud organ and orchestra exhausted ATB so some lines were inaudible. Faster tempi did not help. The text was unclear. The soprano soloist just did not have ...

To St John's school Caterham by car for first choir rehearsal. No point in being early as Stacey Hawkins does not reach the choir room until 3.35 and some time was wasted finding texts on the laptop. However we went through nearly all the music for the 21st. I was surprised that they did not know Here I am Lord or Be still and know. 2 more rehearsals to go and I enjoyed it. To Acton and quite sleepy. Wednesday watched Acts 1 and 2 of Opera North Gotterdammerung and Service of hope from Westminster Abbey including an anthem by Matthew Martin. Evensong was Gonville and Caius with Tommy.

A week behind on this blog! Saturday at home with Bruce and went to Richard Hills recital at Bloomsbury a popular programme and enjoyable. Sunday clocks went forward and got to church on buses. Excellent Mothers day lunch of lamb with all the family and Clare. Henry made his first visit to our home and Sean was enchanted by him and presented him with a Henry engine. Had prosecco to celebrate. Monday to SPIDIR day at Sisters of St Andrew with Bob Reiss and bought his book Sceptical Christianity. To Beckenham circle which was pleasant. Tuesday to Gate for Met Idomeneo from 12 to 4.45 dropped off but Act 3 was great and the chorus were terrific. Levine conducted. Like the feature on Jessye Norman rehearsing Ariadne. Got to PEG in time - Brendan there and a rather unsatisfactory meeting - too disparate. I get fed up with people who dismiss good ideas - it won't work! Went to Acton early Wednesday hence tired. Sean amused himself and I watched rest of Valkyrie and Siegfried from Opera...

Tuesday to mass at Anerley then drove to St John's school Caterham. CRB done and saw Stacey who produced a list of hymns they know. I went round trying to get the poster up - library, museum, shops £3, Morrisons board full. The community boards are for charity only it seems. Came home for lunch and went back on train to GROW meeting at the vicarage - all very straightforward. To Acton. wednesday Sean happy to play at home - hide and seek, snakes and ladders, jigsaws.  14 came to the excellent talk on Laudato Si' and Amoris Laetitia by Dr Susy Brouard theological advisor to CAFOD. We had a good discussion on being more welcoming at church. Why do people look right past you when greeting you? Would not the Asian hands together gesture be a better alternative to the handshake at the Peace? Some new comers as well. To 5.30 mass - rather a nice setting by Isaac sung by the men. Liz got home after me. Baby not coming home just yet. My CAFOD box emptied and taken to school £28.  Th...