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I accompanied the St Albans Abbey Girls Choir for Evensong today.  Alan Ridout’s (pictured) St Albans Service was written for Barry Rose and the St Albans’ Choristers when he was Master of the Music.

The slow movement from Hindemith’s Second Sonata struck a contemporary note for the voluntary (although actually composed 80 years ago in 1937!)

Off, on Sunday afternoon to St Peter’s, London Docks to play for the Rector’s retirement service.  Fr Jones has been the parish priest for many years, supported by his wife, Annie.  It’s bound to be a glorious occasion with birettas in abundance.

The Final from Guilmant’s 1st Sonata will see the collecting clerics out of the chancel at the end of the service.  A special request from Tim, Fr Jones’ son.

[The day finished with an SOS to play Evensong in St Stephen’s, Rochester Row, Westminster.  All achieved!]

A must for Pentecost, and my voluntary at St Etheldreda’s, Hatfield this morning. The wind of the Holy Spirit…..

Many years of trawling the Public Record Offices, and lately the Internet, has enabled me to track down many of my “Muhley” ancestors, who hail, before they came to England, from Allendorf on the River Lumda near Gießen (Frankfurt) in Germany.

On Tuesday, providing British Airways is operating according to schedule, we will try to take the genealogical investigation further.  It is great we will be meeting my recently connected second cousin there.

But, fear not, I’ll be back for the wedding in Hatfield on Saturday and for
Sunday services.  The show goes on!

[Update: Back in England having made personal connections with people who can help.  Some good food and wine consumed during the short time away!]

God is gone up with a triumphant shout! is an awesome anthem by Gerald Finzi.  Blessed with sumptuous harmony and with great vocal writing, this  is “the anthem” for Ascension Day.  And St Mary-at-Finchley Choir will include it in their Ascension Day Evening Eucharist.  I’m at the organ and have spent today day sorting out the page turns so the notes arrive at the right time.  Thank goodness for a large spiral-bound art folio book and a home photocopier.

The last hymn in Thursday’s service is set to the tune Lasst uns erfreuen, so Gordon Slater’s Postlude, An Easter Alleluya, will follow on very nicely!

3 Funerals and a Wedding are coming up this week.  Plus accompanying St Albans Cathedral’s Girls’ Choir for Evensong on Wednesday; some A-level coaching and a talk to St Saviour’s Tea Club about the Mysteries of being an Organist.

I’m giving a lunchtime Organ Recital in St Peter’s Church, St Albans on Wednesday 3rd May beginning at 1pm.

I’ve deliberately chosen some lesser-known shorter pieces so that I can fully explore the tonal palette of this comprehensive 3-manual Mander organ.

Rather than list some of the composers in the recital, have a go at identifying them from the photos below.  They are in alphabetical surname order if that helps?  Answers in the Comments box!   Hope to see you on Wednesday.

Or the afternoon: Either way, if it’s in church you may need an organist to set the scene and lead the singing.  This week I will meet a lovely couple who are planning their special day which includes a Service in a Hertfordshire village church.

In our planning meeting there will be ample  opportunity for the bride to “walk the walk” to the altar with her chosen music – it all helps to settle the nerves for the big day.  And a chance to discuss other musical ideas, too.

Only 250 guests.  No pressure!

I play most weekends in various churches close to my home in St Albans.  But in Holy Week, by established tradition,  I nip off to Wapping in the East End of London for the Maundy Thursday and Easter Vigil liturgies. These occasions are interspersed with Stations of the Cross in St. Mary’s, Apsley on Good Friday and rounded off with Easter Day Choral Eucharist in Hatfield Parish Church. Hallelujah!, with toe-tapping music by a chap named Handel, is one of the two anthems on Easter morning.

The East End is always very hospitable and I will enjoy, on Holy Saturday with my mum who follows this blog, freshly fried fish and chips, followed by a J2O in the Turner’s Old Star public house.  All of which leads us on to a (small) Easter vigil bonfire, a (large) dose of incense, (plentiful) candles, loud organ(s his glory) and (noisy) fireworks!