The organist librarian

For Christ the King played Crown Imperial, Stanley Trumpet voluntary (the organ is being tuned tomorrow) and we sang Tony Hemson's Alpha and Omega which really ought to be published. 2 at carol practice.  Delicious rack of lamb, rice pudding and white wine for lunch. At evensong we sang Wood in E flat and RVW Let all the world. Also a fine hymn Earth's fragile beauties to Kingsfold. Blue planet, Howards End. John Sentanu put dog collar on now Mugabe has gone. Pathetic reply from Iberia. Fr John decided not to appoint either of the candidates yesterday. Hope he has not missed out on a good man. Choir directors do not grow on trees. Johnny is local, 

Played Willan and Peeters on Carlisle and Bach chorale preludes. Simon did not give time to start Alleluia! King of glory by Harris well sung and a good practice.  To Amazing Grace interfaith dinner and concert at Union chapel Islington to greet the Jain guru. Particularly liked the Sufi and Jewish singers. Evensong from Christ Church cathedral Oxford and they managed the Walton Coronation Te Deum well. 

Swam 20. To Bromley library and Marks for mints and WHSmith for torch batteries. Liz went to Sr Audrey's funeral in Salford. John enjoyed Measure for measure at the Globe and the first night of the Proms was a joy especially the Mozart and Sibelius. Belshazzar well done! Sat with Marilyn and Adrian - nice to see everyone again. 

Have now done all the recital programmes and copied them. Played Rosalie Bonighton on Hanover and Postlude for ordinary time, also Francis Jackson East Acklam prelude. Only 11 at service taken by Fr Herbert. 23 came to Adrian's excellent recital and I turned for him.Lovely cream tea. At evensong we sang Murrill in E and Walton's Litany. Watched Antiques roadshow and Domingo at the BBC, also Magna Carta today.

Thursday woke early but slept late as we got home late last night. Ann Marie got a job at Shirley hospital. To art and progress is slow. Lunch at cathedral cafe and welcoming. There were 3 of us on and one of them kept hogging people! To Tate Britain to see the Victorian sculptures which are beautifully made and the silver and salt photography. Tea and banana loaf in members room and then to Alexandra Palace. Organ and RCM forces.Crown Imperial with thrilling brass and percusssion. Toccata and fugue in D minor very well played. Nielsen flute concerto with Claire Wickes. Planets - loved the tambourine and bells player. Home at 11.15.

Lie-in and finished reading"The Rabbi's daughter" by Reva Mann - rather a touching tale. To St Michael's West Croydon where Fr John was celebrating for a server and 2 people in wheelchairs. Gianfranco Nicoletti from Sicily played well - Bonnet, Bossi, Vierne, Hollins, Gray, Petrali and Quirici. Watched James Rhodes "Don't stop the music" and the lack of instrumental teaching in schools. Evensong from Hereford. Did not go to preProm Birtwistle session as he was included in Litton's BBCSO programme of Vaughan Williams and the Walton viola concerto. 

At service today played Rhosymedre (played at our wedding) and Intrada of John Ireland also voluntaries on St James, Ratisbon and Malcolm Archer on Evelyns. At the end I substituted Karg-Elert with Mendelssohn Elijah section about the wind, fire and earthquake and still small voice to fit the first reading about Elijah. We sang Dear lord and Father of mankind after communion. Fr Paul had been at St James Elmers End 50 there with choir and servers. He said 120 turned up last Sunday for the baptism. I chatted to the family whose baby will be baptised next Sunday (not at the Eucharist). We had Devonshire honey cake made by Sue using the honey from the hive in the vicarage garden - delicious! I woke at 5 a.m. but reserved scores. Prom at 4 was Academy of St Martin in the Fields conducted by Joshua Bell - Beethoven 1 and he played the Bruch. Sir Neville Marriner who is 90 conducted Walton Henry V which used the organ and choirs effectively. At 7.45 the NYO conducted by Edward Gardner were ...

To Proms composer David Horne's chamber works and interview and his new pieces were interesting. He seems to do fast music rather well. BBC Phil including John Bradley played superbly for Juanjo Mena who for a Spaniard showed a great love for English music. Walton's Variations on a theme of Paul Hindemith are beautifully written. So is Moeran's violin concerto (new to me) beautifully played by Tasmin Little in a sparkling gown. Enigma variations never fail to hit the spot and we had lovely lines. Saw John East.

Took car to Selhurst and bus to Norwood Junction. Train and bus delayed so arrived at St Paul's cathedral at 10 to 11. Result no booklet for the service - about 40 people had the same problem. 3 less well known hymns Christ triumphant, Jesus shall reign, How shall I sing that majesty. Wesley Thou wilt keep him, Byrd introit, Walton Coronation Te Deum. Will Todd spoke. Michael Parkinson and Willard White did not show but Dame Kiri did! Duchess of Gloucester was there. Spotted Alistair in the procession. Frankly the echo doesn't help and I had no idea what the new anthem was about -it was a Jubilate by Alec Roth! Saw Chris Hollis and got a booklet. Grabbed an EAT sandwich and very slow bus ride as there had been a big student demo - 10,000 in the rain. The Lost Prince at National Portrait Gallery worth seeing - he died in 1712. Much of his legacy has gone. COleridge-Taylor, Alma-Tadema and Booth centenaries exhibitions. Bought cathedral guide in case I do have to do the Heythrop...

To Bow to play for 11.30 a.m. Mass. Ross has been helping there for 6 weeks and is going to seminary in a year's time! Organ small but nice so played from Elijah to match the first reading. The small choir were pretty bad - not singing right notes, not in time, adding harmonies to plainchant! Guitarist seemed competent. Was given wrong number for Alleluia! They launched into an extra hymn after communion which was not needed. Oh well offer it up! Nice to see Fr Michael again. The reader was useless. Had a bacon roll in the hall watching Olympics. Visited Bow church and had excellent homemade food at new Nunnery cafe. To prom of National Youth wind orchestra and National Youth brass band. Super Crown Imperial with organ. Virtuosic playing. To pre Prom talk on Schoenberg with BBC singer (why a soprano?) trumpet and cello. Liz came home to watch closing ceremony with Dennis - I saw Eric Idle to the end. Gurrelieder - excellent soloists and choirs did well although I would have loved ...

To Bow to play for 11.30 a.m. Mass. Ross has been helping there for 6 weeks and is going to seminary in a year's time! Organ small but nice so played from Elijah to match the first reading. The small choir were pretty bad - not singing right notes, not in time, adding harmonies to plainchant! Guitarist seemed competent. Was given wrong number for Alleluia! They launched into an extra hymn after communion which was not needed. Oh well offer it up! Nice to see Fr Michael again. The reader was useless. Had a bacon roll in the hall watching Olympics. Visited Bow church and had excellent homemade food at new Nunnery cafe. To prom of National Youth wind orchestra and National Youth brass band. Super Crown Imperial with organ. Virtuosic playing. To pre Prom talk on Schoenberg with BBC singer (why a soprano?) trumpet and cello. Liz came home to watch closing ceremony with Dennis - I saw Eric Idle to the end. Gurrelieder - excellent soloists and choirs did well although I would have loved ...

To Bow to play for 11.30 a.m. Mass. Ross has been helping there for 6 weeks and is going to seminary in a year's time! Organ small but nice so played from Elijah to match the first reading. The small choir were pretty bad - not singing right notes, not in time, adding harmonies to plainchant! Guitarist seemed competent. Was given wrong number for Alleluia! They launched into an extra hymn after communion which was not needed. Oh well offer it up! Nice to see Fr Michael again. The reader was useless. Had a bacon roll in the hall watching Olympics. Visited Bow church and had excellent homemade food at new Nunnery cafe. To prom of National Youth wind orchestra and National Youth brass band. Super Crown Imperial with organ. Virtuosic playing. To pre Prom talk on Schoenberg with BBC singer (why a soprano?) trumpet and cello. Liz came home to watch closing ceremony with Dennis - I saw Eric Idle to the end. Gurrelieder - excellent soloists and choirs did well although I would have loved ...

More reading of articles on Islam. Watched Michael Portillo in Cumbria and Isle of Man trains. Also Michael Berkeley's BBC4 programme on Belshazzar's Feast with Sir Andrew Davis, Lady Walton and Willard White in Leeds. Not impressed at Stephen Jackson's remarks.

Two Bookes of Ayres: The First Booke XI. by Thomas Campion. Neuer weather-beaten Saile more willing bent to shore, Neuer tyred Pilgrims limbs affected slumber more, Than my wearied spright now longs to flye out of my troubled brest : O come quickly, sweetest Lord, and take my soule to rest. Euer-blooming are the ioys of Heau'ns high paradice, Cold age deafes not there our eares, nor vapour dims our eyes : Glory there the Sun outshines, whose beames the blessed onely see ; O come quickly, glorious Lord, and raise my spright to thee. We sang this at Coulsdon and I played Howells Psalm Prelude Set 1 No. 2 and Walton's Crown Imperial. Frankie (odd name) was baptised complete with dummy! Vintage car run this morning. Catenians were at Cathedral Mass.