I made a swift return to Ely Cathedral, this time for a weekend of services with the Erleigh Cantors. We weren’t able to do introits and we weren’t at full strength, because it wasn’t half-term for some people, so our programme was a cautious one. Sumsion featured strongly, with his Canticles in A and Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace.
The scrunchy notes were in Lux Aurumque by Eric Whitacre, which we slipped in as a Communion motet. Also in a chant by Richard Marlow adapted from Purcell’s Jehova, although more in the spirit of the anthem with some quotations of snatches of melody and similar harmonies, rather than a strict transcription.
Our mass setting was the Missa di San Marco by Ronald Corp, which was in places rather more aggressively rhythmical than other music I’ve sung by him. Other music included Purcell’s canticles in G minor and O clap your hands by Rutter.
I particularly enjoyed something I tend to take for granted on many Cathedral weekends: the organ voluntaries. David Pether played a piece by Merkel (a composer unknown to me) and Franck’s Chorale in A minor, a great war-horse and a particular favourite of mine which seems not to come round so much these days.
With the exception of a New Year weekend once in this same Cathedral, this was the coldest such weekend I’ve sung in. I’m told this is because the heat in the building would escape when the West doors are thrown open for the Remembrance Sunday parade, so it is not turned on till mid-November. Visiting choirs take note!