Author Archives: vhk10

seasonal music

Posted on October 18, 2022 by vhk10

Forced by a rail strike to stay a night in London in order to catch my Eurostar, I made use of the opportunity to go to the Barbican and hear a choral work I’ve never sung, Haydn’s The Seasons, performed … Continue reading →

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come and sing Vivaldi

Posted on October 12, 2022 by vhk10

I’m a bit wary of Come and Sing events these days. They are popular with people who’ve largely retired from performing in choirs, and at the last two I’ve been to, my high notes have caused problems with nearby hearing … Continue reading →

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the cherubim with ꙮ

Posted on October 1, 2022 by vhk10

The Bishop of Taunton came along to church to dedicate our new chapel to St Michael at the appropriate season. We laid on a service with three anthems, including Bairstow’s Let all mortal flesh, which I recorded many years ago … Continue reading →

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E.M.

Posted on September 30, 2022 by vhk10

WNO tends not to bring its (frequent) Janáček stagings to Bristol so we braved the ‘Newport bottleneck’ on the M4 to catch their production of The Makropulos Affair at the Wales Millennium Centre. Another inter-war femme fatale who goes by … Continue reading →

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singing at the Oval

Posted on September 19, 2022 by vhk10

One context where I get the chance to sing (but usually don’t) is when attending sporting events. I made an exception at the (officially) third day of the Test Match between England and South Africa at the Oval. We were … Continue reading →

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the last night but not the Last Night

Posted on September 16, 2022 by vhk10

I hadn’t been to a Prom since 2019 and was determined to fit one in from this season, choosing Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis performed by the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique conducted by John Eliot Gardiner, on the Wednesday of the final … Continue reading →

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A busy morning at the Abbey

Posted on September 15, 2022 by vhk10

Although I have sung a number of morning services at Bath Abbey with its Chamber Choir, I don’t think I’ve sung two back to back. It makes for a long morning! We met at 8.30 to rehearse, and sang an … Continue reading →

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Requiem preparation and a funeral

Posted on September 8, 2022 by vhk10

My second overseas choir tour of the year approaches and in preparation for it the director of the German choir we’ll be joining forces with came over to take a day-long rehearsal. We’ll be singing Brahms’ German Requiem (twice!), which … Continue reading →

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a brief burst of Philips

Posted on September 4, 2022 by vhk10

I only gave one performance in August – a Eucharist (including a baptism) at Bath Abbey with the Abbey Chamber Choir.  Our anthem was a piece new to me Peter Philips’ Ave verum.   We were sparse because of people being … Continue reading →

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you’ve transcribed the music lists, now sing in the Cathedral

Posted on August 19, 2022 by vhk10

I have a soft spot for Lichfield Cathedral – it is your proper large mediæval cathedral, but doesn’t double as a major tourist attraction, and is situated in a pleasant place of walkable size.  The rail strike obliged me to … Continue reading →

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a launch and an ordination

Posted on July 24, 2022 by vhk10

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 … Continue reading →

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scholarly fiddling

Posted on July 11, 2022 by vhk10

My musical activities for a mid-June weekend began with a solo recital of folk fiddle given by Sam Sweeney (sometime of Bellowhead) in church.  This is repertoire that I don’t know at all and Sam’s introductions revealed that it can … Continue reading →

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