The organist librarian

Swim, Alan Tree surgeon came, more work on computer. To St Michael Bedford Park. Stephen Farr is one of our best players. So why not use the microphone 🎤 system as most of the 30 present are elderly? I heard very little of what he said. I have heard the MacMillan Gaudeamus in loci pace before. I don't think it works as music. It just sounds gimmicky to me. Byrd, Bruhns, Walther, Guilain and JSB all ideal for this organ but it was all rather esoteric? And the clock was ticking loudly not noticed that before! So I am a bit disappointed. Quiet afternoon welcoming at the Drome. My children's guides are being amalgamated into a larger children's guide. To Tate Britain to see Baroque Britain lots of lovely ladies and wigs. Gorgeous picture of exotic birds. Miniatures which glamorise William III and Anne! Ate at Breadline café. Mary Poppins is brilliant singing, sets, production. Wow! Petula Clark was the bird woman in Mary Poppins! What a show! Prince Edward theatre. We had ...

Swam 20. Bruce here. Dulwich picture gallery has a lovely exhibition of Adrian Van der Welde and an intriguing Is this Rembrandt? To BBC singers conducted by David Hill at St Paul Knightsbridge and free. Bramma, Sanders, Bielby and Colin Mawby good to see him there. Best of all premiere of Requiem by Philip Moore. Stephen Farr played superbly. Lots of emails.

To Balham and Central music library to get the alst of the Proms scores. To Streatham to see audiologist - it seems left hearing aid was missing the little ventilation piece and right ear has wax hence the whistling. Pre-Prom introduction was quite good involving the kids (not many there) but she did not really tell us much about the Leifs apart from it being very loud and the Ahlborg. Sibelius Tapiola at the Prom followed by awful Leifs organ concerto played by Stephen Farr - devoid of any musical ideas and far too loud unrelentingly so! A quiet modern encore did not impress either! There are so many good unplayed organ concertos - why did we have to suffer this?  Delightful light night Bach Prom conducted by David Hill - Mass in G minor, Brandenburg 2 and Magnificat in D. Home at 12.45. Iestyn Davies, Nicky Spence, Sophie Beavan and Roderick Williams. I listened to Brandenburg 5 and part of the violin suites on TV. 

To Balham and Central music library to get the alst of the Proms scores. To Streatham to see audiologist - it seems left hearing aid was missing the little ventilation piece and right ear has wax hence the whistling. Pre-Prom introduction was quite good involving the kids (not many there) but she did not really tell us much about the Leifs apart from it being very loud and the Ahlborg. Sibelius Tapiola at the Prom followed by awful Leifs organ concerto played by Stephen Farr - devoid of any musical ideas and far too loud unrelentingly so! A quiet modern encore did not impress either! There are so many good unplayed organ concertos - why did we have to suffer this?  Delightful light night Bach Prom conducted by David Hill - Mass in G minor, Brandenburg 2 and Magnificat in D. Home at 12.45. Iestyn Davies, Nicky Spence, Sophie Beavan and Roderick Williams. I listened to Brandenburg 5 and part of the violin suites on TV. 

Yesterday we went to Jim and Hyacinth's to collect some plants - they have an amazing garden! Woke early and went to the pool only to find it closed until 8.30 a.m. To mosaic and main pattern finished - just the boring white background bits to do. I think I shall take a break from it in the summer. To St Michael Cornhill and gave out Beckenham and St John's fliers in the course of which I met Prof Michael Musgrave who studied with Downes and Darke and is an expert on Brahms. Stephen Farr played beautifully - Preston, Mendelssohn 2, Bartok (!) Judith Bingham, Alain, Thurlow and best of all the Dorian! Always makes me think of Dad doing his FTCL. Home and working on Croydon meetings idea.  Also  a new blog on Jerusalem. http://cmjerusalem.blogspot.co.uk/

Liz still at Acton as it was Tom's leaving do last night. Swam 20. To British Museum for the pricey but superb Defining beauty: the body in ancient Greek art especially the loans from Rome and Croatia and the Queen. Interesting vases and small statuettes as well. To Turnham Green to hear Hannah Parry-Ridout play Muffat, Bach and Mendelssohn 6. She is a good player. To Richmond Riverside gallery to see Razia's beatle picture in Metamorphoses. Lunch at M and S and got a watch strap at David's jewellers. The Museum of Richmond is interesting with models of demolished royal palaces. Returned books to Clapham Junction library. Tate Modern for Marlene Dumas (only really liked The wall) and Sonia Delaunay very colourful. Friends room for tea and met a delightful Mum and 8 year old and her cousin. To St John Notting Hill for Stephen Farr's recital. Good to see Sam Barber again - such a nice young man! John Gardner, Grainger, Langlais, Bach, Schumann and Mendelssohn 2 - a most ...

Samll choir sang Panis Angelicus very nicely. They were thanked by Vickie as this is last Choir Sunday until September. To choral workshop 1 to 3 at RCM with Paul Spicer and professional singers - good line up of tenors. The Gothic symphony is very difficult and demanding but it gave us a feel for the work. To Stephen Farr's concert and Chris had given us seats in the circle. Alain, Bach, Liszt and premiere of Judith Bingham - all most effective and interesting. To gallery and listened to In tune and choral evensong from Ripon on my little radio. The Brian proved to be a mammoth work with great contrasts - effective quiet singing from a vast choir. Big audience too. Pretty tired after an exciting weekend. Turns out organists did not get into 3rd church on Saturday! The pedals ciphered completely this morning so abandoned Andriessen and played Stanley!