As two years ago, the Erleigh Cantors’ autumn half-term venue anticipates that of the Cathedral Chamber Choir for the following summer. I had the usual transport problems as at Winchester and Lichfield, to say nothing of Sheffield, in past years: this time being forced to start and end my train journey at Westbury.
This event had a very different feel from the usual outings. We were entrusted with the service for the licensing of readers, so it was a lengthy Eucharist in the nave rather than evensong, before a huge congregation. (For this reason I was unable to verify whether Exeter Cathedral still has horribly misleading amplification in the quire).
We sang Kodály’s Missa Brevis which I’ve written about elsewhere. This time I didn’t have to worry about the embarrassing mistake as I was singing 2nd soprano. We also sang Palestrina’s Exultate Deo and Villette’s Hymne à la Vierge, along with other bits and pieces such as a responsorial psalm by the conductor of the Exultate Singers, David Ogden.