Author Archives: vhk10

tentative returns

Posted on August 28, 2020 by vhk10

September approaches and with it the normal start of the choral season. Three choirs I sing in have indicated that they are making moves to resume rehearsing around the middle of the month. In each case, it’s not clear yet … Continue reading →

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a choir returns in Milan

Posted on August 16, 2020 by vhk10

We managed to escape the UK for a short break in Italy and I was able to get to Sunday Mass in the Duomo in Milan (which has featured before here). They are keen to make you pay to see … Continue reading →

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Two remote recordings

Posted on July 31, 2020 by vhk10

As well as my weekly recording session for the church choir, I have recently made a couple of ‘distanced’ recordings for other choirs. This procedure is happier for me than Zoom rehearsals. I have now worked out why I don’t … Continue reading →

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how did my top ten anthems do?

Posted on July 26, 2020 by vhk10

So how did my personal favourites get on in the Evensong Anthems World Cup? We were invited to suggest our favourites, and I sent in all but one. Here’s how they got on. There was a preliminary round to reduce … Continue reading →

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when does a performance become professional?

Posted on July 16, 2020 by vhk10

Gradually the lockdown is thawing, churches are opening and organs being played. The jury is still out on the dangers of singing but outdoor performances by professionals are permitted in certain circumstances. Possibly similar criteria will be applied in due … Continue reading →

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Scottish echoes

Posted on July 6, 2020 by vhk10

Our Director of Music puts a lot of effort into stitching our videos of ourselves into a coherent synchronised whole, and in general the result sounds as it might in the warm but not resonant acoustic of our church. However … Continue reading →

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a letter to my MP

Posted on July 4, 2020 by vhk10

[The following is the text of a letter to my MP, Wera Hobhouse. It is mostly my own words, though I have used some wording that was suggested to me by a choir I sing in. I have lightly edited … Continue reading →

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a place for visiting choirs?

Posted on June 26, 2020 by vhk10

All choral singers must be wondering just what will be left when their choirs are allowed to perform again. One sector I am reasonably sanguine about is that of the Cathedral visiting choir. These choirs are essentially self-funding. Of the … Continue reading →

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Advanced Sight-Singing Melodies

Posted on June 8, 2020 by vhk10

I’ve had this booklet by Ida Carroll (dating from the 1950s) on my shelves for a long time. ‘Intended for the use of those studying for class-teaching diplomas… an invaluable aid to anyone wishing to improve their sense of pitch’ … Continue reading →

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mental health in choirs

Posted on May 22, 2020 by vhk10

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and I have been thinking about how mental health issues can play out in choirs (under normal circumstances). Not so much mental health benefits to choir members in general, but to what extent choirs can … Continue reading →

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Some positives

Posted on May 16, 2020 by vhk10

There have been pessimistic reports about the prospects of relaxing lockdown for choirs. Mostly based on anecdotal evidence, so for this post I will put that aside and think about whether there are any benefits in not meeting others to … Continue reading →

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the final of the Evensong World Cup

Posted on April 27, 2020 by vhk10

So my two favourite canticles settings made it to the semifinals, but then both lost and met one another in the third place playoff. Gibbons Second beat Howells St Paul’s in that match (not by a huge margin). I was … Continue reading →

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