The Erleigh Cantors did a long weekend this summer, including a Friday evensong. There were four services and a lot of music (we did introits) so I’ll just refer to some highlights.
The only totally new piece to me was the Langlais Messe Solennelle referred to in the last posting here. The organ was well suited to this piece, though the Benedictus must be one of the loudest pieces I’ve ever sung during communion! A few of us (myself included) put in the top C’s in the Hosannas.
New in part was Palestrina’s Tu es Petrus which I’ve only previously sung from a cut-down version, without the central section which is included in European Sacred Music.
We did again some music from previous visits, such as the Robert Fayrfax faux-bordon canticles (in fact only the Mag is by Fayrfax – the composer of the Nunc is unknown and the descant is by the editor!), Wood’s expansive canticles in F and Rubbra in A flat. This last was described by our conductor on a previous occasion as ‘a piece for organ and a piece for choir, to be performed simultaneously’! Also Lassus’ Justorum Animae, which we have been trying and failing to slip into the order of service as an introit for a couple of years!
Some things about Gloucester haven’t changed since I visited with Priory Voices in 2003. The five-and-a-half octave piano in the choir rehearsal room hasn’t been replaced yet, and it can still take a long time to get served with food and drink (I’m not especially thinking of the Cathedral refectory here).
My dear sir: what is the tardiness of the restaurant trade compared to the delights of Gloucester. I have some pictures if you’d like to be reminded of your visit. And they do seem to get such good visiting choirs (unlike here!).