At last! Lætentur Cœli!

The Erleigh Cantors were visiting Winchester Cathedral last weekend, arriving as the Knights of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre (Equestrian Division) were holding a service of their own in the Cathedral. This time, there was no music I hadn’t sung before, but some of it I hadn’t done for a long time, notably Byrd’s Lætentur Cœli, which I hadn’t sung since my first term at university. I’m not sure why it hasn’t come round since; it is quite long, but perhaps the real reason is the tricky exposed SAT section in the middle. Now I’ll wait for Purcell’s O Lord God of Hosts, which I haven’t sung in an equally long time.

When I first sang Górecki’s Totus Tuus a few years ago, I wasn’t very impressed, feeling that it can be learnt in less time than it takes to perform. While this is true (at least if you take it slowly enough), having heard broadcasts and now singing the piece again, I appreciate how carefully it is structured. But in order for it to work Górecki’s dynamic markings must be strictly observed. Mathias’ Let the people praise thee, O Lord also improved on re-acquaintance. There was one rarity: the Tunnard Responses, which I haven’t come across elsewhere, though I imagine they’re in the repertoire at Birmingham Cathedral as Tunnard was organist there.

A week later I was back in the same area at Romsey Abbey with many of the same people, to sing a Saturday Evensong. Romsey was my first trip with the Erleigh Cantors. It’s almost like a cathedral (it could just do with a bit more nave) and in fact Dec and Can are further apart than in many cathedrals. In some ways it’s a bit like singing in Bath Abbey, though the building is older. Most of the cafés in Romsey are closed by 4.30 on a Saturday, but the Florence restaurant in the Cornmarket was still open and served us tea before evensong.