The organist librarian

I got a thank you and Happy birthday at the service and the Polish cakes went down very well in the hall! I played Sidney Campbell on Grafton, Tambling on Slane and Brewer Marche heroique. It is good at 72 to be playing new music like the Brewer (well a first for me) and it is a great piece. By chance the hymns included favourites Father hear the prayer and Brother sister let me serve you plus that great tune Grafton and Jerusalem at the end! The choir of 4 sang Rutter A Clare benediction well. A delightful family lunch at the Rosendale. Claire came. Had beef. Nice cake at the end. It was noisy. Had a chat to Louise and Tom in the playground. Watched Antiques roadshow, Vanity Fair and programmes on the history of York and Belfast.

I had a quiet day instead of going sketching at HMS Belfast because my right knee was hurting in the night. It was very hot and muggy despite a thunderstorm, Liz went to help at St Vincent school fete. I watched Antonio Pappano's Classical voices about sopranos featuring Callas, Tebaldi, Nilsson,  Sutherland, Price and modern singers including one singing in an MRI scan showing 30 muscles are used! Westminster cathedral choir featured as well singing the Allegri. The policing London programme was rather disturbing. To vespers and Mass with Fr Alexander. The boys and girls were away so I did acolyte. The schola from St Peter's Catholic cathedral Belfast sang Haydn, Mozart and Elgar well and it was good to see Nigel and meet Ian Keatley! Fr Michael Quaqoe suggested we should be having a romantic dinner which I commented could be expensive. However we ate on the patio with good white wine and had a discussion about the importance or otherwise of the work I am doing! 

Friday Liz went to school for Terry's farewell. I went to Tredici concert at St George's Hanover Square directed by Richard Thomas - lots of Philharmonia there in choir and in audience including Fiona Weir. They are good - Schutz, Brahms and Britten Rejoice in the Lamb minus the cat as she had lost her voice. Adrian Salter not that impressive as a soloist! I was early so sat in Hanover Square gardens in the sunshine. Practice went well and finished early with some Bruckner. Saturday train at 9 a.m. Dennis arrived Sat a.m. and had to be taken to Mayday for course. Ordination of 4 priests - splendid Mozart and Mawby and MacMillan. Gigout at the end very good to walk to. Went really well and moving too. Tea and sandwiches downstairs. Confirmation at 2 p.m. with Bishop Alan Hopes and Oratory junior choir sang well. Tea and no sign of Revd Emmanuel from Madras. Vespers and Mass with choir of St Peter's cathedral Belfast directed by Nigel McClintock - Haydn and Vierne. Very good...