Author Archives: vhk10

Come and Sing (1): the Missa Solemnis

Posted on February 13, 2018 by vhk10

I don’t do very many ‘come and sing’ workshop type events, but this spring there are two, six days apart. The first was looking at Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with Gavin Carr (and Gerry Hoddinott on piano). Several dozen of us … Continue reading →

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buying CDs at the farmers’ market

Posted on February 1, 2018 by vhk10

Bath Farmers’ Market takes place on Saturday mornings. The market stalls stand next to other stalls which are there all week, including one that sells second-hand DVDs and CDs. Among the latter there is a small selection of classical ones, … Continue reading →

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not on the front row

Posted on January 27, 2018 by vhk10

I joined the choir of St Peter’s Caversham to sing evensong at Bristol Cathedral. We were quite numerous so made 3 rows on each side, with me in one of the middle ones, which felt unusual in Cathedral choir stalls. … Continue reading →

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a new rehearsal room

Posted on January 14, 2018 by vhk10

Our choir is going to be rehearsing somewhere else next season, as our current venue will be for University use only after the summer. I’m not part of the process of choosing a new rehearsal location, but here are some … Continue reading →

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2017 in review

Posted on January 14, 2018 by vhk10

2017 was a much quieter year musically than 2016, though not uneventful. The most notable single event was that I fulfilled my ambition to sing in a Promenade concert. A rather unusual programme, but it was well received. I am … Continue reading →

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9 Lessons and Candles

Posted on January 14, 2018 by vhk10

Most 9 Lessons and Carols services are not lit by candles held by the congregation, the reason being that it is hard work keeping one alight for nearly two hours (in practice they have to be lit a little before … Continue reading →

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a change from Messiah

Posted on January 12, 2018 by vhk10

This year Bristol Choral Society didn’t do Messiah, but put on a programme called ‘An English Christmas’. I was glad of the change as, apart from the anthems we sing in church and bits of carol singing, I don’t get … Continue reading →

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BLOOD on my back

Posted on December 31, 2017 by vhk10

Not as bad as it sounds. Some of our church choir were part of a group singing carols at Sainsbury’s in Chippenham in aid of the Freewheelers, popularly known as the ‘Blood Bikes’, volunteer bikers who transport blood supplies to … Continue reading →

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Observing St Cecilia

Posted on December 10, 2017 by vhk10

St Cecilia’s Day at church was marked (I think the schedule was unintentional though) with a concert by the Bath Community Big Band, in which a couple of choir members play. I’m not an expert in this area but I … Continue reading →

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I had that Barry Rose in the back of my congregation once….

Posted on December 4, 2017 by vhk10

This happened to me once before, quite recently. This time the occasion was a memorial service at church for Martin, who sang in the choir until a couple of years ago. Martin was musically well connected (he’d been a recording … Continue reading →

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Bath Mozartfest 2017

Posted on December 1, 2017 by vhk10

We didn’t do much about getting tickets in advance, partly because there were lots of good concerts and we were happy with almost anything that didn’t sell out. Imogen Cooper is a regular here, though it was a little surprising … Continue reading →

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Cheerful Mahler: dodging cymbals in the 2nd Symphony

Posted on November 26, 2017 by vhk10

I’ve almost lost count of the times I’ve passed up opportunities to sing Mahler 2. When I first came to Bath I was invited (via the Chantry Singers) to sing it in the Bath Phil’s Mahler cycle, but I declined … Continue reading →

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