This was the theme rather loosely applied to the Erleigh Cantors’ concert (with interspersed readings) in St Peter’s Caversham, where we’ve returned after some years decamping to Earley.
We included some pieces from recent Cathedral visits such as Jonathan Dove’s Missa Brevis (with the Kyrie this time – eventually I’ll be able to sing the Gloria without being tempted to sing in a rest) and one of the royal pieces, Walton’s Coronation Te Deum, familiar from last year. I hadn’t ever sung Blow’s four coronation anthems before, apart from the rather austere Let my prayer come up. From the same period came Purcell’s I was Glad, and we ended with Parry’s setting of the same text. (A more thorough exploration of settings of this text was in this concert). Our encore was O taste and see by Vaughan Williams, another Coronation piece which gives the lie to the idea that they are all loud and jingoistic.
The first half of the concert opened with Rutter’s Choral Fanfare and the second with Tippett’s spirituals from A Child of our Time. Because of illness I took the solo part in the second and third of these, the first time I’ve done a solo with this choir.
We had a sizeable and appreciative audience and raised over £1000 for a couple of local charities.