The organist librarian

An interesting day.Coffee concert at St John's with the Dunn family - Kodaly Duo Op. 7 and gorgeous Ravel with the harp. I did not sketch as the playing was riveting! To Bethlem for Dr Peter Tyler on Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross on melancholia - fascinating. Tea at the Toby. Fr Andrew at Mass and Victoria choir sang well- Archer and Langlais. There was a small accident before Mass and Fr Daniel recorded it. More work on jigsaw sky -slow going! 

Went to see Henry who has grown and chats away nearly sitting up on his own. He loved the mirror book. Packing. The last night went off well. Liked the Kodaly Te Deum and Finlandia. Pity the soprano who sang Isolde beautifully chose to sing depressing Weill which was too low for her. Did not stay afterwards. Jennifer complained about the flags in the way! She is nuts! 

UP early and then back to bed for rest. To Cadogan Hall and Liz got cough mixture and strepsils for me. Louis Schwizgebel played Mozart superbly and then we had the Mahler piano quartet and Strauss Metamorphosen. Liz dropped off onto the man next to her! Pouring all day so carnival must have been a wash-out. 3 pm Ulster orchestra with Jan van Steen free Prom (surprised to see empty seats) Dvorak, Bax and Riverdance. Zhang Zuo played the Grieg concerto wearing a split skirt! To talk on Hungarian music and alarming to hear of right wing anti-semitic government. The Budapest festival orchestra under Ivan Fischer Brahms, Mozart, Schubert, Strauss, Dvorak and Kodaly. Basses at the back of the stage again makes a very rich sound. Home to see film on the zoo and Richard Attenborough RIP. 

To Senate House library to examine Britten score for tonight and also Prodigal Son and Curlew River. To St Mary Moorfields and 3 Carmelites made their first profession. Kate was there. After lunch the Vicar-General Pascal Ryan spoke on priestly formation since Vatican II. He highlighted ecumenism and Interfaith as 2 areas which needed more time and also post-ordination training. He was unconvincing on married clergy. If Anglicans can afford them why can't we? What about the former Anglican married clergy - who is supporting them? To St John Clerkenwell for Stephen Raw's moving texts from the War requiem - he signed my catalogue for me. A lady from Seattle was talking about Britten. Vespers and Mass and the Cardinal Vaughan schola sang Mawby and Bruckner and Kodaly Missa brevis.To Southwark cathedral by car as trains up creek from London Bridge. Fish and chips and ice cream at restaurant. Excellent opera and this time we were moved to back of nave although diction was not good ...

To Coulsdon to play 3 hymns at a wedding. String trio largely talked over by congregation. CD to come in - Beatles instrumental but the real insult was a CD of Mendelssohn Wedding march played on an organ to exit. Keep music live! Violinist from Norwich university music dept not impressed. Practised a bit on piano. Liz was singing at a wedding at St John's as part of a quartet. On radio prom conducted by David of Tippett and Taverner. To pre-Prom literary event. Tasmin Little choosing Shakespeare, Hesse (just like Matthew Barley) Hilaire Belloc and something called Hungarian Dances. She looks and sounds fantastic - her father was an actor. Liz arrived just in time for Prom. Cockaigne overture, London premiere of Michael Berkeley's organ concerto, Rachmaninov Variations on a theme of Paganini (with score) and Kodaly Hary Janos suite (with score). A delightful concert and we went to Late event in Elgar room - wish we had known this was so good as we would have gone to more. Dran...

Swam 19 having collected car from Selhurst. Hoovered a bit and rang up about our car which is ready. To funeral of Fr Alan Fudge in a packed cathedral. Liz was boat and I was communion torch and water. The Neocats sang their hearts out - I spoke to the guitarist - the music is partly by Kiko who founded the Way. Ended up outside with the hearse. We had roast dinner at cathedral cafe and underground to Moorgate and Post Office. David Stone not there so rearranged meeting. Much enjoyed the refurbished Museum of London. To preProm talk but fell asleep for part of it. Liz went to farewell drinks for Nick. Liszt Totentanz (score) and Mephisto waltz (piano score)Mahler Blumine and Symphony No.1 (full score). This was spoilt by a drunk coughing and talking - stewards spoke to him at the end but too late really. Markus and his wife.Stayed for 10 p.m. Prom and Liz came. Audience choice we all had a numbered ticket and numbers were drawn from the tuba. The orchestra in casual clothes. We then sh...

Tuesday's prom was splendid. Took the car to Acton and babysat Ciarán while Liz and Lou shopped. Had a great time running in his bedroom On your marks get set Go! But sometimes he just went No! London Phil cond Jurowski with scores. Kodaly Dances of Galanta, Bartok Piano concerto No. 1 which makes much use of percussion, Liszt Dante symphony with chorus and an excellent tenor. Loved it! Wednesday to Polka theatre Wimbledon - Ciarán loved all the playground and a rocking dolphin. The show was about archaeology and worms and they ended up playing with sand and having a great time. Had lunch there. Drove around the common and tennis club but no sign of a playground so back to Acton as he had dropped off. He had great fun in their pool and Liz cut back the hedges and ivy. Took car to Albert Hall and paid for parking. No scores! Berlioz Corsaire, Faure Pavane, Pascal Dupasin piece for quartet and orchestra interesting and Firebird with exciting ending. Offstage trumpet had a monitor so...

While doing this I have been enjoying evensong from Winchester and The choir about Zoltan Kodaly! Mussels at Plockton, the view from the b and b at Durnuish across to Skye and the long drive to Thurso - wonderful scenery and the beautiful beach at Dulness.

July 4 American Independence Day. Drove to Kew and were late for the chorus coach which fortunately waited for us. Nice lunch at restaurant in the cathedral close next to the military museum - I had steak pie. Rehearsal went well and most impressed by the lovely new font. People playing with the running water! Had tea and enjoyed evensong Purcell - boys and 6 men. Vierne Epitaphe. The concert itself drew a good audience and went very well. Part, Mendelssohn, Kodaly Laudes organi stunningly played by Daniel Cook and Faure Requiem. Home by midnight which was good going and a lovely sunset as we approached Stonehenge. Sunday I had the morning off from Coulsdon and Kevin Shears played. To Provincial President's Sunday at Aylesford - only Norwood brother there despite Bill having postponed President's Sunday. The mass was not inspiring and the homily incomprehensible! Met Gerard Goodhind who knew Martin Hall well. Not as well attended - nice tea and sat in glorious sunshine with J...

To rehearsal and worked on Faure requiem and Kodaly Laudes organi. It seems a pity we are not to do the Rachmaninov in Salisbury on July 4th. Edward sang a hilarious Hungarian round at the end and one about Czech composers too! Friday the young auditor from Deloittes came and seemed happy with everything. I enjoyed the park at lunch time. To choir practice and at one point said "Ladies and gentlemen we do not need a 5 minute chat about this!" Sorted out future programme and decided no evensong in June and said service on Ascension day. Deanery evensong looking positive and social events too. Ella and Molly doing well. Worked on Murrill in E for evensong and the Mendelssohn for May 10th. At the end I said the altos would practise Murrill but Janet walked out!!! Carried on without her with Audra and Monica! It is Murrill's birth centenary on May 11th.