I had not returned to hear a service in Merton College Chapel, or indeed set foot in the College, since 2016. I came back for a memorial requiem Eucharist for a former Chaplain. I was at Merton mid-way through his very long tenure of the post, and a few years ago had run into him when I was singing in Chichester Cathedral.
He was not keen on having elaborate music in Chapel services (we were only allowed to do a choral setting of the canticles once a year) so I’m not sure what he would have made of the quantity of it at his memorial service, although in content and spirit the service was a fitting tribute to him. The choir sang most (the movements without soloists) of Duruflé’s Requiem, and the Russian Kontakion (in a lower key than I’m used to). There was just one hymn, sung to the Old 124th.
The Duruflé (which was not revived from All Souls but must have been specially learnt) was a fine performance, although possible in places to tell that it was early in the year and this particular group of singers hadn’t been together long.