The organist librarian

Lots of lovely goodies from Bruce Woodhouse including operas and scarf and arty socks. Splendid singing from Croydon Minster at Midnight Mass. Well done all especially Ronnie Krippner and Tom Little! So good to see young people singing so well at Bradford and Croydon. The tradition will continue! How appropriate to have Fr Angel and David Pipe playing the organ. Check out St Joseph's Bradford on BBC I player Christmas Day Mass for some great singing. The Mozart and Rutter are terrific and stunning descant. We'll done everyone! If Leeds diocese can run so many youth choirs why not others? Bravo St George's cathedral Southwark! Bethlehem down very good. Did not like descant for Hark the herald! Lovely to hear John Wilson. I have got 3 operas from Glyndebourne from Bruce to watch!! Also art work socks to wear at the art show! I have got new CD of Magnificat and Nunc dimittis from St John's Cambridge and 3 CDs of musicals from Liz to enjoy! Glad I moved the car from nex...

Friday 27th a quiet day at home catching up on emails, etc. and watching Father Brown X 2! University challenge X 3. Saturday to Bloomsbury Baptist for the excellent organ day. Had to drag myself away from Dame Gillian Weir's masterclass on Bach and Franck. She really told us how to play rhythmically. The RCO students with Simon Williams did well.    William Whitehead told us about progress on the Orgelbuchlein project which will feature at the Proms on Reformation Sunday. He played pieces by Ronnie Krippner and Gabriel Jackson. Alexander Binns played Bach and Herbert Brewer and Paul Hale told us all about Binns organs. To vespers and Mass and Peter Stevens played Dorian toccata. Lots of servers. Sunday back to Caterham and trains OK. I played prelude for Candlemas and Moore Light of the nations. Vi and Peter in choir and we managed Nunc dimittis chanted. The communion hymn needs to be on organ. I think Jerry needs to choose well-known hymns to start and at communion. I playe...

Francesca Massey  played really well at Bromley parish church. To St George's cathedral Southwark for 60th anniversary Mass for HCPT and gave out all the Catenian bursary fund leaflets. Saw Maureen Martin and lots of others I know including Michael from Westminster cathedral. Tea and cake afterwards. Took the collection! Drums far too LOUD and constant! David Gummett and Fr Gerald were there.  Liz back from Aylesford after servers mass. To Croydon Minster for unique concert in aid of the organ appeal. Lovely to hear Peter Nardone singing. Andrew Cantrill ,  Simon Lole ,  Nigel McClintock ,  Carl Jackson ,  Ian Keatley  and David Swinson. The choir under Ronnie  Ronny Krippner  sounding really well. Also saw Stephen Disley, Marie and Mollie from Coulsdon,  Colin Boswell  is leaving sadly. Martin How,  Anne Fleming . Quite an evening.  Denise Mead , Gail Winter and Julie Beaumont. Jo is leaving Coulsdon to move to Norwich. ...

Took down all the pictures and removed numerous hooks in the hall! Chose the colour. Watched Young musician piano heat and Martin was a worthy winner. I did like the Chopin from Isata. To St John's for the organ class of the Croydon music festival. I did some sketching of the Risen Christ, Mary and Easter candle. Some good playing Mendelssohn and Bach. Mylene was there and the Vaughns. Frank and Richard Broadberry. The improvisations were excellent and the 3 young players all did well. Hopefully Ronnie Krippner will being them to St Michael's as David Flood recommended mechanical action to them. He was a kind and helpful adjudicator. Fr Paolo at Mass and the 2 young boys were particularly dippy. Home to sort out visit to Notting Hill organs in November and saw a bit of the Eurovision contest.

Liz to Heythrop and I went to  Bromley Parish church to park. Returned a Stravinsky score to Bromley libray and French stalls in full swing. Fast train to Victoria and in good time. Ordination of 8 priests and well went well. Choir sang Palestrina, Gabrieli and Mozart Ave verum. Widor Marche pontificale at the end and very stirring improvisation beforehand. Dished out cards and very nice lunch in the hall provided by the Neocats for Oscar. Liz eventually arrived and he gave us a lovely blessing. I set off to try and get to Bloomsbury Baptist to here Robert Munns but abandoned it as traffic jammed and buses on diversion. Tea at M & S. Vespers and Mass for SS Peter and Paul with Fr Paolo giving a great sermon. Train to Bromley and taxi and arrived for the organists dinner in good time. Unfortunately we were at the end of the table and Michael Bailey proved to be a bore going on about golf in South Africa and talking to Martin How. Ronnie Krippner was there and I took some photos...

Liz to cathedral. I went to St Michael Beckenham and arrived at 10 a.m. Met Steve the thurifer who plays and is doing ordination training in Oxford 2 days a week. Met the Bishop of Rochester who I met at Hayes and Paul introduced me to lots of people. Robed choir of 3. I played Bach, Mawby and Cook for Candlemas and all went well. Shared lunch and I reckon every member of the congregation of 35 spoke to me very enthusiastically.Paid cash by treasurer. We went through the Kontakion for Alan's funeral and I corrected vowels! The Bishop came and had a play too! He is very approachable. I got to St Paul's cathedral late for Stephen Cotterill's talk on Stanley Spencer's paintings of Christ in the wilderness which are in Perth, W.A. It was standing room only. To Suthwark cathedral for evensong - 4 cathedral chaplains were welcomed and Frank and Phillipa Millingotn were there to support the curate from St Mary Addington whose post has been deleted. Noble in B minor, William ...