Author Archives: vhk10

Dress code casual (and warm)

Posted on July 20, 2021 by vhk10

We ignored the second part of this directive for my first concert performance in 16 months, in the place where the previous one had been, Gloucester Cathedral. This time we were out of doors in the Cloister Garth (the lawn … Continue reading →

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between the altarpiece and the flower arrangement

Posted on June 26, 2021 by vhk10

My church took the plunge that other churches have been trying for a while now: live singing by a sextet at a service. We have created a rota using those members of the choir who wish to take part and … Continue reading →

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singing in the Palace Garden

Posted on June 7, 2021 by vhk10

No, this is not the party at Buck House which I had hoped to attend a year ago. Members of Gloucester Choral Society dodged the current restrictions (as many groups have done) by rehearsing outside, in this grandly named space … Continue reading →

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Beethoven in the Assembly Rooms

Posted on June 4, 2021 by vhk10

The Bath Festival programme this year included something postponed from 2020: a complete cycle of Beethoven string quartets. (Beethoven didn’t do very well out of his anniversary year really, but then no one’s going to forget that he exists.) We … Continue reading →

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Sign the petition!

Posted on May 21, 2021 by vhk10

Following the DCMS announcement that no more than 6 amateurs may sing indoors together, a petition has been launched here. I was about the 850th to sign (polishes halo); it’s now at almost exactly 20,000 signatures and I’d expect it … Continue reading →

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slipping through my fingers

Posted on May 18, 2021 by vhk10

This week I was all primed to go to two choir practices: over to Gloucester on Thursday for Gloucester Choral Society, and then the return of my church choir on Friday. Next week I was expecting to go to a … Continue reading →

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what has survived?

Posted on May 7, 2021 by vhk10

As choirs begin to poke their head above the parapet again and prepare for live performance, I find myself reviewing the differences between what is returning and what there was in spring last year. As far as I know only … Continue reading →

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tape to CD

Posted on April 28, 2021 by vhk10

As part of the church ‘Time and Talents’ fund-raising drive, I got a request to transfer four cassette tapes to CD for a member of the congregation. This inevitably doesn’t produce as good results as transferring LPs: you don’t have … Continue reading →

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I have a tin ear for organ stops

Posted on April 13, 2021 by vhk10

This year’s Lichfield Cathedral Lent Quiz invited competitors to identify stops on the Cathedral organ. I did have a go at a dozen or so of these. Some of the less standard ones I was able to identify but most … Continue reading →

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The Bath Festival Orchestra revives

Posted on March 26, 2021 by vhk10

Against all probability the scaled-down Bath Festival 2021 will feature for the first time in many years (I’d guess 40 years at least) an ensemble called the Bath Festival Orchestra. This has been refounded with a new remit for the … Continue reading →

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evensong wishlist

Posted on March 15, 2021 by vhk10

From time to time I’ve made a wishlist of pieces I’d like to sing on a Cathedral visit. Time to revisit this and make a new list. Either I’ve never sung these, or not for a very long time, and … Continue reading →

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pick up anthem

Posted on March 9, 2021 by vhk10

On Monday nights recently I’ve been taking part in a trawl through some of the European Sacred Music collection. I have sung many but by no means all of these, and some of the ones I have sung I have … Continue reading →

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