Salisbury’s new(ish) font spills water continually (when it’s switched on) from its four corners, the water level being almost level with the top of the font. It featured quite strongly in the liturgy the weekend Priory Voices were there, as we processed past it and water from it was used to sprinkle the congregation on the Sunday morning. Meanwhile the nave altar which was in place on my last visit a couple of years ago (and which necessitated a very awkward location for the choir) has now been abandoned.
This weekend was rearranged rather hastily a few weeks ago when Salisbury changed the dates the choir had been given. So the choice of music had to play safe. I’ll single out some items: our evensong on Saturday used the canticles by Jack Hawes which we’ve done a couple of times before (they have appeared on an evensong broadcast too). Those who were new to these canticles were kept on their toes by the underlay! I was surprised how few in this experienced choir knew Wood’s Expectans expectavi; perhaps it has dated a bit now. On Sunday afternoon our anthem was Taverner’s Dum Transisset. This came out in a rather full, almost romantic style, rather than the more prissy early-music approach which is probably more authentic, but I think the piece can take this interpretation. (We were rather badly short-changed on Sunday’s psalm though – only seven verses!)
The cathedral refectory appears to be under different management and is now relatively expensive, so if you need regular shots of caffeine to keep you going through the day I recommend bringing a thermos (though the coffee after the Eucharist in the Chapter House is good).