Author Archives: vhk10

Tenebrae finally make it to Bath

A couple of years ago Tenebrae’s Bath début was thwarted by a storm which made it unsafe to travel. They returned for this year’s Bath Bachfest, to give a concert in St Mary’s Bathwick. I bought the last ticket in … Continue reading

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a farewell service and Benedictus

For her final service at church, our priest in charge requested a setting of the Benedictus (meaning the morning canticle ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel’, not the movement from the Mass). This is my favourite canticle, but unless … Continue reading

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a vocal technique workshop

February began with a day in Gloucester working on vocal technique with Judith Sheridan. Lots of familiar faces from Gloucester Choral Society here, with some others. At last years Three Choirs Festival I’d been standing behind Judith at one point … Continue reading

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a solo in the Lydian mode

Bath Abbey Chamber Choir sang at the wedding of one of its members, with two anthems: Parry’s I was glad and during the signing of the register, Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, in which I did the treble solo. While … Continue reading

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Epiphany 2024

The Epiphany carol service with Bath Abbey Chamber Choir has become a fixture and included a surprising number of pieces I hadn’t sung before, as well as a couple of standard ones for the season. John Bull’s ‘Star Anthem’ was … Continue reading

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roundup of 2023

So we get to the end of 2023, and if it wasn’t one of the most vintage years it had some remarkable and unexpected highlights. And it included the 20th anniversary of this blog, which I’m afraid passed without comment … Continue reading

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Messiah at the Beacon

So, over 5 years after the original reopening date (the hall was at first going to close from 2017-19), with Tudor remains conserved, asbestos removed and resistance on the council overcome, we now have the Bristol Beacon! Bristol Choral Society … Continue reading

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a work from the syllabus

Gloucester Choral Society presented a mixed programme rather than a single work for the Christmas concert this year. Introducing the four-part arrangement of Britten’s Ceremony of Carols our conductor said it should be compulsory on everyone’s syllabus in school. Well … Continue reading

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the Ronald Reagan Gloria

So the Gloria from Duruflé’s Messe Cum Jubilo, was once described to me, by someone who presumably was reminded of the cavalry arriving in a Western when he heard it. Bristol Choral Society presented an all-Duruflé programme at Clifton Cathedral … Continue reading

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Bath Mozartfest 2023

I’m going to deal with this year’s Mozartfest fairly quickly because I have quite a backlog to get through (I’m writing this some time after the event, as with rather too many blog entries this year). This year the Festival … Continue reading

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