Visiting Sardinia in mid-October, I went to Mass in the Duomo in Cagliari. We’d visited the building earlier and explored the network of subterranean chapels. I attended the ‘Capitular Mass’ which I think means the Bishop is supposed to be there although I don’t think he was. I might have done slightly better to go to the previous Mass which (to judge by the pewsheets left behind) used quite a lot of plainchant. But this Mass had a musical component too, provided by an organist.
St Cecilia – 19th century mosaic, west front of Duomo, Cagliari
Not for the first time, I sensed a player who was feeling frustrated at the restricted amount they had to do. What he actually played was part of Bach’s (and Vivaldi’s) BWV 596 and one of Bach’s chorale preludes based on the Passion Chorale. You sensed he was itching to do more.