The organist librarian

After the rain of yesterday, Boxing Day is clear. We remember St Stephen first martyr, deacon and patron saint of servers. Watched 2 episodes of Monarchy on the computer. To Grandma's to put all her china and glasses away now the decorating is done and new carpet is down. Bruce fixed the downstairs phone up. I walked home and saw the end of Carmen from Covent Garden which I recorded. Also listened to the rest of King's Carols and midnight mass from the cathedral and watched Derek Jacobi in "The old curiosity shop". We enjoyed bubble and squeak. Bruce watched "The Terminal" after buying an enormous clock at IKEA.

Liz to hospital to help Mum come home - diverticulitis was the cause. Liz stayed over night with her. I went to Coulsdon to discuss hymns up to the end of September with Vickie. It was one of those days for missing trains and buses so i was late at St Michael's for Ian Harrison's recital. He is director of music at St Stephen's Bournemouth so played Whitlock, Mendelssohn Sonata No 2 and part of the Elgar sonata. Most enjoyable. Lit candles for Mum, Dad, Grandma and Padrerob! To Westminster Cathedral for Martin Baker's recital. Saw Andrew Cessana there and Ian. A splendid evening and a good audience! Beethoven Coriolan overture really worked well with reed stabbing sounds and gentler second theme. I cna do without Jean Guillou - I am not a fan! Liszt Fantasia on "Ad nos" was beautifully played. Then we had 3 tangos by Guy Bovet - the first illustrating a cat most charmingly. The finale was the March and Galop from "The Bartered bride" taken at a furio...

An absolutely splendid day with the choirs of St John's and St Michael's, West Croydon joining the choir of St Stephen's for evensong, a scrumptious tea and a meditation about angels. The link between the 3 churches is that john Loughborough Pearson designed them all. We set off by coach at 9.30 a.m. and reached Bournemouth at 12.30 p.m. The weather was dull until the evening. The church is very fine but not as big as either of the Croydon buildings. Percy Whitlock played here and the organ is tucked away high above the choir. Christopher Moore was on great form at the organ. A beautiful Easter garden complete with the symbols of the Passion, a lovely Lady statue and a tasteful display about St Cecilia! The singing was splendid with the massed choirs enjoying Stanford in A, Bairstow's Blessed City, Howells Magnificat Coll Reg, Stanford in B flat Te Deum, Faire is the heaven of Harris, Let all mortal flesh by Bairstow, And I saw another angel by Stanford. There could per...