The organist librarian

 Monday 28th  to Batemans a lovely garden and beautiful day. We had tea and sandwiches. Then on to Bodiam castle lovely and sunny so had an ice cream. From there a short run to Northiam and The Annexe for comfortable with its own garden sofa and chairs. Wine and lollies in fridge! Natalie very nice. Liz went shopping so we had microwave meal. Slept well but still some back ache in the morning. Goose quilt quite hot! University challenge. Living liturgy talk hard to hear on kindle. Out like a light!  Tuesday to nearby Great Dixter which is a superb country garden. Wills bakery for sausage rolls and St Mary's Northiam -unimpressive interior and organ looked unused and unloved! On to Scotney castle for tea and walked around the ruin. Some traffic on way back. Natalie produced a box of chocs on hearing about my birthday and we had more wine. Very pleasant watching sun go down, Bake off and the Write offs. Slept well again. Lovely art mug and card and chocs from Bruce. Elephan...

 Martyn Noble playing at Gillingham Methodist church. eclectic programme. Kol Nidrei by Bruch from LJS was beautiful. Nelson on you tube. Us and Singapore grip excellent.

I was watching and listening to Durham cathedral organ recitals by Joseph Beech and Imogen Morgan then tried evensong but all I got was organ?  Malcolm Archer played a lovely English programme at St Michael Cornhill including FJ, Whitlock and Darke and some of his own works. Curiously he also played Howells Rhapsody no 3. Lovely programme on Bernard Haitink at 90. We loved it and the contributions from Sarah Connolly and Thomas Allen were excellent. It was great that he was able to speak and explain. The "magic" is something that the really great have - Haitink, Giulini, Solti, Abbado, Furtwangler, Klemperer, Toscanini ( a golden era) Some of those were really loved by all musicians and public. Others do approach it Salonen, Rattle, Harding, Jarvi. It's all about conveying the score and knowing the score intimately and not caring how you look! Humility with authority! I'd put Boult up there too - not so sure about Beecham and Sargent. Andrew Davis and Colin Davis Yes ...

 Finished reading Michael Bourdeaux's One word of truth which is fascinating. I have written to him. It was Muti not Svetlanov who was conducting Nevsky and it was interrupted by demonstrators. The concert was live on radio 3. Hurtado centre prayer and reflection was helpful. Played wedding music on piano. It is years since I played for a wedding! Nice parcel from LMP welcoming us to the friends. Tsar's bride on you tube.  I   I was watching and listening to Durham cathedral organ recitals by Joseph Beech and Imogen Morgan then tried evensong but all I g watching and listening to Durham c recitals by Joseph Beech and Imogen Morgan then tried evensong  and listening to Durham cathedral organ recitals by Joseph Beech and Imogen Morgan then tried evensong but all I got was organ?

I have copied this email because it refers to events not mentioned in my blog. His book says "In 1980 the Free Scharansky protestors" invaded the Festival Hall to protest and disrupt the live broadcast of Nevsky which featured a remarkable Russian mezzo. In fact it was Arkhipova and the correct date was 23/3/1977! Muti had been warned and remained calm but clearly angry and he reassured the soloist who had to start her solo three times and we finished. It was actually frightening hoe easy it was for the protestors. What if they had had a bomb. I am very ambivalent about this while supporting the cause is it right to disrupt a concert? The same thing happened at the Israel philharmonic Prom. I also don't agree with the Last Night being turned into a political football. Let's all wave EU flags, Union Jacks, the lot!   Dear Michael, Liz bought your excellent book for me and I found it most interesting. We remember Gillian with affection and I always think of her when I h...

 Apollo 5 concert in Voces 8 series. 

 Blackfriars, Walsingham morning prayer, Br Bernard's funeral from Belmont (he was irreplaceable). Proud songsters James Robinson and Paul Plummer - I was able to sing along for Dichterliebe instead of struggling with piano part and German text while singing! Put up some more pictures. Builder cam to discuss redecorating ideas. Programme on London Zoo during COVID. The first LMP classical club a delight Prokofiev Classical symphony and Schumann cello concerto eloquently played by Maciej Kulakowski. Bake off an extra slice.