Author Archives: vhk10

sung once before, long ago (3): the Chichester Psalms

Posted on June 29, 2017 by vhk10

Bristol Choral Society’s final concert of the season was a programme performed to a large audience in Bristol Cathedral. I didn’t know Eric Whitacre’s Five Hebrew Love Songs, an early work originally written as solo songs for his future wife, … Continue reading →

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avoiding the Prayer Fayre

Posted on June 24, 2017 by vhk10

The Cathedral Chamber Choir sang at Wells Cathedral for the weekend of Trinity Sunday. Well, sort of, as on the Sunday afternoon we made way for a ‘prayer fayre’ in the Cathedral and decamped to St Cuthbert’s Church, together with … Continue reading →

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Not for dancing

Posted on June 19, 2017 by vhk10

We didn’t get to very much in this year’s Bath Festival, though the programme was good. In fact apart from ‘Party in the City’ and the Kingswood gig in Green Park Station, it amounted to me going to a couple … Continue reading →

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three more funerals in May

Posted on June 9, 2017 by vhk10

I sang at four in all this month. I have already mentioned the first – the second was that of an old friend back in Cambridge. We sang Byrd’s four-part Mass, and I heard a voice from heaven by Tomkins, … Continue reading →

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music for Royal occasions

Posted on June 9, 2017 by vhk10

This was the theme rather loosely applied to the Erleigh Cantors’ concert (with interspersed readings) in St Peter’s Caversham, where we’ve returned after some years decamping to Earley. We included some pieces from recent Cathedral visits such as Jonathan Dove’s … Continue reading →

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A benefit concert

Posted on May 27, 2017 by vhk10

I had a twofold reason for going to the benefit concert for Bath Minerva choir: I have sung with the choir and know many members and it was held in the theatre at the children’s school. The conductor of the … Continue reading →

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Walking with YouTube

Posted on May 15, 2017 by vhk10

Last week I sang Handel’s ‘Where’er you walk’ at a graveside ceremony for a member of my husband’s family. I shan’t write more about the occasion here, but instead talk about my use of recordings in preparation. This aria used … Continue reading →

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sung once before, years ago (2): Bach’s St John Passion

Posted on April 28, 2017 by vhk10

For years my friend from Merton days Sally Mears has been trying to involve me in musical ventures she organises in the Oxford area, and finally I was able to join for a performance of Bach’s St. John Passion in … Continue reading →

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The Spiked Drink

Posted on April 25, 2017 by vhk10

This has been suggested as a translation for the title of Le Vin Herbé by Frank Martin. I was curious about this rarity, and after hearing it on Radio 3 I decided to go and see WNO’s staging of it … Continue reading →

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a Facebook challenge

Posted on April 16, 2017 by vhk10

I found this list of categories on a friend’s Facebook page and feel moved to add my own contribution. I suspect I will have to duck as people read it. It runs as follows: Opera I hate: Arabella Opera I … Continue reading →

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sung once before, years ago (1): Mozart’s C Minor Mass

Posted on April 6, 2017 by vhk10

As my bucket list of the works I have never done and want to do is shortened, I find that in the next few weeks I’m revisiting several pieces I have sung before but only once, and that not recently, … Continue reading →

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Flats into sharps at Gloucester

Posted on March 18, 2017 by vhk10

Rather on the spur of the moment I decided to join a singing day at Gloucester Cathedral, organised by Gloucester Choral Society and featuring four settings of the Evening Canticles. It was a rare chance to sing this repertoire with … Continue reading →

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