I was glad

The Chandos Singers’ latest concert consisted of settings of Psalm 122, plus a parody Mass, by various composers (but not Parry). It was the first time I’d performed in the Magdalen Chapel on Holloway, a small venue but acoustically pleasant. Future audiences might care to know that if it is still light and the weather is good, they can enjoy one of the best of all views over Bath while they sip their interval drink.

The first half began with plainchant and then consisted of Victoria’s three-choir mass Laetatus sum and the motet on which it is based. I once sang another three-choir Mass setting by Victoria, his Missa pro Victoria, but this one was melodically more interesting.

After the interval came settings by other composers, beginning with my favourite Howells anthem, O pray for the peace of Jerusalem. The other highlight for me was Purcell’s I was glad, a piece that really requires you to listen hard to the rest of the choir. Much of the rest was new to me: along with Blow, Tallis and Boyce there were settings by Alessandro Scarlatti and those Chandos favourites Michna and Gorzynski.

Is there a ‘curse of Chandos’? Our previous home at Holy Trinity Church has recently closed, and the company which runs our next performance venue, the Royal Crescent Hotel, has just gone into administration. (Sadly, I think it’s just that so many things are closing in the downturn that your chances of being involved with one or more are high.)

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