The last weekend of June began with the launch of Gloucester Choral Society’s 2022-23 season at a reception in the Chapter House. A chance to reminisce about the Veneto tour, enjoy the bring & share food and sing a few short pieces from our repertoire to our supporters.
The following morning I did something I think I’ve never done before: sang in the choir at an ordination service. (In fact it may have been only about the third ordination I’ve ever attended.) This was Bath Abbey’s first ordination in some years and the candidates included the curate at my church, which contributed several singers to the forces of the Abbey Chamber Choir for the occasion. We sang Elgar’s The Spirit of the Lord plus hymns, from some tiered staging which had been placed ready for a concert later on.
There was talk later of future collaboration between the church choir and the Abbey Chamber Choir. On Sunday we performed an anthem which had been waiting to be reintroduced to our repertoire: Sing Joyfully by Byrd.