The organist librarian

I played Dad's Bishopthorpe suite, Adagietto from Mahler Symphony No. 5, Elgar Ave verum, Richard Knight on Duke Street and 2 short interludes to cover to and from the font for the baptism. Service was rather long. The congregation seemed reluctant to leave perhaps because of the rain. At the offertory the hymn was announced so I started then was asked to start again!? Speak O Lord. That has to be a first although once at a wedding the priest cut On eagle's wings after the first verse. At communion I did not hear much singing in Be thou my vision but One more step at the end was obviously known. I look forward to getting hearing aid mould 2 on Tuesday. Relying on one ear is not great and the loop seemed indistinct - perhaps the lapel mike was too low down? Also if the celebrant adds in comments it means you have to listen hard! The Tablet has an interesting article on the art works at Lichfield cathedral where Ian Knowles and his team are creating a beautiful crucifix. Heard ...

Went down on buses and back on train. 4 in choir and another lady will join later! We sang Martin How's Day by day and went through the Anthem books finding out what items are familiar. I played Dad's voluntary on Ar hyd y nos it being Father's day, Parry on Melcombe and Willan on Dominus regit me. The Nardone setting going well. To Penge congregational church for a recital in aid of Alzheimer's. Alvin Moisey played Chopin, Debussy and Gershwin. His wife Hiroko played Massenet on the violin and their sons played Bartok - amazing talent for their age. They are embarking on Land's End to John O'Groats cycle ride. Alvin's mother had Alzheimer's. He thanked their neighbours for their patience!

Liz went to Saturday's Prom of Gurrelieder and I listened on phone and at home. During the day I watched the TV Proms of Eroica and Ravi Shankar and Philip Glass and the sweet makers. We had a Milan seminarian called Manolo serving at Mass. He was in a lay group at the Duomo for 10 years.  A marathon of 3 proms. Drove to Caterham as buses replaced trains and parked at Royal Albert hall. 40 miles. I played Dad's Bishopthorpe suite and Liszt on Arcadelt's Ave Maria. The orgelbuchlein Prom was excellent at 1 p.m. and really loved the Passion selections at 3.30. Lovely St John Passion - Sophie Beavan sublime. Lucy Winkett commented on how we need to own this music as it has been taken over by professionals. Met Rita Day and Jenny Stirling.

Bus from Purley again. Played Dad's suite today (can't believe he died 10 years ago today) and Mahler Adagietto from Symphony No 5 which people appreciated. Gathering Mass and Lourdes Gloria went well. Contract signed.  2 fine proms Ulster orch Tchai 5 with exciting conductor Rafael Payare and Haydn cello conc played by Narek Hakhnazaryan and a lovely encore Lamentoso. BBC Scottish Mendelssohn MND what lovely music this is! Can't say I cared for the Hellawell and Pintscher pieces much!  So far have been to 41 proms and 25 events! Like Love Haha Wow S

A quiet day at home with Sean happily playing. Dorset chamber choir sang at Mass - splendid Langlais Gloria from Messe solenelle. I went to Beckenham circle's supper which was delightful. I left in good time to get to the cathedral from Kent House. Dennis and AnnMarie tuned up late and then said they were going to the cinema. They were supposed to babysit Sean so that meant Liz could not go out and I was annoyed.  Played Chanson de Matin of Elgar and Dubois Toccata. Sang Hurford Litany to the Holy Spirit. Had to rescue Celtic Alleluia copy from under the pedals! A lady called Imogen loved my article in the church magazine. To St Paul's on Thameslink to hear Revd Judy Hirst from Durham on Struggling with holiness. Quite good. Saw the boys in the car before they left. Had lunch in garden very sunny then back to Caterham for discussion with Jerry. Contract and choir and repertoire,  At evensong played Dad's voluntary on Ar hyd y nos and Robert Groves's variation and Elga...

Lie-in. Liz at Acton and going to carols at Ealing. I found details from Dad's book of Hobart City hall organ concerts but the only photo I have of Dad at the organ seems to be the 1953 one from Joburg! Watched Come dine with me and Christmas lecture! To art and Iguassu is finished. To Dulwich Indian restaurant on Bromley Hill - food good but a long wait and noise level bad. Friday Liz took car on recall for airbag at 8 a.m. I went to see Sr Catherine at Mount Street and we had a good chat. I set up a meeting with Fr Leon and Carol for January as a result. To Royal Academy enjoying the decorated Mayfair shops on the way. A lovely exhibition of Leotard and interesting architectural drawings by Chris Wilkinson RA. Surprised that friends were expected to pay for the De Wall White so did not go to it. Did not go to guiding at cathedral as the school play was on and I saw it last year. Ciaran arrived with Louise and we took him with Dennis to Aladdin at St John's hall - it was hila...

Played Dad's Bishopthorpe suite today and Vaughan Williams Rhosymedre. Ciaran has come to stay! Liz went to Boston SO Prom Shostakovich 10. I went to the organ prom by Thierry Escaich - a great variety of sound and some splendid Bach. Watched DVDs of Wizard of oz and Watership Down and made track. AnnMarie came down so I could swop with Liz.

Up at 6.45 a.m. and got a 468 which stopped twice but then got a 466 so at church early. Practised the organ. 2 sopranos and one alto did not make it. We managed "O sing joyfully" but I was very throaty. Linda the curate from Old Coulsdon was presiding and at communion did not come to the choir side immediately - result 2 choir members had to wait. Lamb of God and no time to sing "O Lord increase our faith" - bot sure my voice would have managed it any way. Had coffee and came home on 2 buses with a short wait in Croydon. Snow very deep on hill up to the church but impressed at how much gritting had been done and main roads clear. Evensong with Zadok the priest not a proposition with voice in this state and would have to walk in the snow. My boots came in useful. I played Dad's piece on Bishopthorpe and Flor Peeters on Tallis canon - nice to sing this tune as we now have no evening services.

To church having woken early and made picnics and sandwiches. Vickie asked me to stop practising before the service - this was at about 9.20 so I went down to the piano. This is the opposite of last summer when she said people enjoyed it! I played Boyce, Barber Adagio and Dad's march. We sang "Dear Lord and Father" just as we did at Mass last night. Picked up Liz and arrived at royal College of Music in good time for choral workshop on Klagende Lied with Anna ? who had some wierd warmups involving clapping. An interesting work and a good session. To Da Mario through a shower in Gloucester Road for delicious buffalo cheese, pizza Diana, prosecco and tartuffo. Debbie Miles-Johnston came in - she was singing in the concert. To RCM for talk on the work and the concert was great. Gardner conducting, Christian Tetzlaff played Brahms violin concerto. The 6 Westminster Abbey boys were heroes of the hour - had score for second part only. Watched Sugartown on return home.

When rehearsing Howells delighted to find Dad's music in the holder. Peter Jewkes kindly sent me a copy of the music when I could not find the original,

Good breakfast. Jet ill so packed up both cars and left around 11.30. Stopped for fish and chips at service area which had been burnt down and a temporary structure! Got to the new house outside Guildford around 4.15 having driven through Bracknell forest. Nice room and a share with 5 others. Drove home and back by 6 having listened to Hereford evensong. Ireland Greater love and Franck Choral No. 3. Dad's book is beautifully bound in 7 volumes and called "Finding a balance". The last sentence is "If music be the food of love, play on" - a fitting ending! Still more boxes to bring down.

Wed to Interfaith group. I was late but the group had waited. I thought I had booked the Hinsley room and clergy house was inavailable. Any way we went to the cathedral cafe and had a good discussion there. Olga joined us for the first time. Met Sister Judith who had been in Peru for 30 years and lives in Croydon. To Chiswick and lunch at Carluccio's (gnocchi) and a yummy chocolate cake at Maison Blanc. Bought bells for Ciarán for Christmas at lovely toy shop. He is taking a couple of steps and climbing stairs, also throwing the ball and his bricks. To chorus for carols in great detail. The young Philharmonia voices have joined us. 9pm train to Birmingham (read Tablets) and started Kate Atkinson's "Started ealy, took my dog". Bruce arrived from Reading soon after I did so a taxi to the flat. Slept Ok and up at 8.15 a.m. Dismantled the units which Bruce has sold on Ebay. To the bindery to collect 4 copies of Dad's book "Finding a balance" all beautifully ...

At Coulsdon found pedals were now working again and Vickie was back from sabbatical. I could not find Dad's march so played "Lullaby for Claire" instead and Karg-Elert Nun danket to mark our wedding anniversary. Unpacked. Listened to Poulenc's Figure Humaine with the score from the BBC chorus prom and Mozart Piano concerto 17 with score, Parry's fine Elegy for Brahms and Brahms Symphony No.4 conducted by Andrew Davis. I had planned to go to the proms but too much to do at home. Monday back to work and lots of emails plus a new children's librarian and replacement for maternity leave cover so that's good. I went to St Edmund's Beckenham to play for the 1 p.m. wedding and the 4 friends sang beautifully and all went well. Fr Ashley Beck celebrated. The Prom featured Harold in Italy by Berlioz. Tuesday to Age concern active days in Tooting and some useful info about local history groups. The reading group enjoyed Trollope's "The way we live now...

Music for a summer’s evening Croydon Parish Church marathon Friday 10th July 2009 9.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. played by John Woodhouse ACertCM FGMS Director of music St Andrew Coulsdon and President of Bromley and Croydon Organists Association Prelude on “Aurelia” Father Andrew Moore (b.1954) This prelude on the tune for “The church’s one foundation” was composed to mark John’s 50th birthday in 1996 and published by Mayhews in the book Consecration. The tune is in the right hand with a gentle accompaniment in the left hand. John has had many years of ecumenical involvement and so the hymn is an appropriate choice. Father Andrew is now a parish priest in Portsmouth. Suite from “The Water Music” George Frederick Handel (1685-1759) Introduction, Minuet, Air, Siciliana, Hornpipe, Aria, Bourree, Finale What more suitable choice for a quiet evening than the well-loved music of Handel whose anniversary we mark this year? 2 Songs without words Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) arranged by John E.West ...

Last Sunday without choir. I played Thalben-Ball on "Monk's Gate", John Stanley voluntaries and Adoro Te by Boellmann at Communion. At the end the tears filled my eyes as I started to play Dad's Bishopthorpe March but I kept going and managed the 5 sharps section much better. I practised and then met Vickie to choose hymns up to the end of November. This is necessary as my Wednesdays are taken up with holidays and the group on Paul. Liz was cantor at 12 noon Mass and I picked her up from the swimming pool where she had rescued my swimming stuff from my 40 length swim yesterday. I am feeling fit! A pleasant afternoon listening to evening prayer sung by the RSCM millenium youth choir in Holland featuring Sweelinck. Then Lang Lang's piano prom which was later on TV. Scanned photos for Doris's card and cut out letters for her card.

My back playing up so along with the occasional twinges in sides and left shoulder I am stooping a bit which is not good. To see Grandma and empty the stuff from Dennis into the garage. I got my head bitten off! I was delighted to find Dad's book in a box in the garage and my diary from my journey in 1972. Fascinating ! I am clearly a natural blogger! Dennis will be pleased to read the book eventually and I need to refer to it too. Have been looking for it for a very long time! To Coulsdon in rain for wedding. A simple affair with men in open neck pale blue short sleeved shirts (to show off their tattoos?) The couple 23 and 22 have 2 daughters 5 and 3. All went well except that the people did not sing at all - one would have thought they would know "Shine Jesus shine" "Give me joy" and "Bind us together". At least they were quiet during the signing and Vicky asked me just to play a short section of the Mendelssohn as they took photos in church. Drove t...

My favourite hymns at the service. "When morning gilds the skies", "Father hear the prayer we offer" (sung at our wedding) and "Immortal love for ever full". I love the line "who know with John His smile of love". Stanford in C and F and "Holy is the true light" by Harris. Played Dad's minuet on "Bishopthorpe" from Master Blacket's suite and Karg-Elert "Nun danket" (played at our wedding). Barry Stronge told me Peter Warner had died unexpectedly - cancer of the pancreas - sad news. He was a gifted book illustrator especially of animals and musician. Nice cards from Liz, Ann and Vickie and 2 excellent books of daily meditations from Liz. To 12 noon Mass at John the Baptist Purley. 4 hymn sandwich and the organ well played by Philip but the people do not sing!

On Sunday Ann and Dennis came to the service at St Andrew's. I played Dad's "Lullaby for Claire" and the march from his Bishopthorpe suite which was played at their funeral. We sang Bairstow in E flat and David Ogden's "Christ has no body". The choir reassembled after the holiday and it was good to see them all again. The Peter Jones Gloria still needs some work! The hymns were "Let all the world", "Praise my soul" "All my hope" and "For the beauty of the earth". Delighted to hear that Stephen Bowey had passed ARCO so well.

46 lengths in 46 minutes - my best effort so far! Yesterday evening I produced the draft September music list for St Andrew's Coulsdon. It's an unusual month with a 40th wedding anniversary and 2 ordinations. To mark the first anniversary of Mum and Dad and Ann's visit I am playing some of Dad's music. His "Lullaby for Claire" quotes the wedding march he wrote for Ann and Paul when they were married in St David's cathedral, Hobart. We were there for that wonderful wedding and I acted as MC singing the introductions to Anglican chant!

Yesterday after examining I looked round the stalls in Southwark cathedral for the vocations day. I chatted to a chaplain from the Maudsley about interfaith work and met a sister of the Church based in Bristol. I told her about Sister Rosamund in Glebe who looked out for Mum and Dad so well. There were 160 people at the day! I have finished reading Nick Hornby's "A long way down" which is a remarkable novel about suicide. The Tablet has had excellent articles about the Catholic Elgar and interfaith networks. Alfred Agius has agreed to speak at the launch on June 20th. It was a hot day today and I went by bus to church twice. At evensong we sang Harwood in A flat and The heavens are telling. All went well and I even managed a faster speed! To Royal Festival Hall for Beethoven 9 rehearsal with Dohnanyi who was very demanding. I saw Paul Daniel in the lift - he conducted the massed choir in orange, green, pink and brown in an English version of the work and Liz said it went ...