Author Archives: vhk10

‘some of the most demanding work in the repertoire for bassoon’

Posted on October 1, 2016 by vhk10

So says the Wikipedia article on Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis. Bassoons? Does the writer of this realise what the chorus sopranos are asked to do?! This is a work where you can’t tell by looking at a vocal line whether it … Continue reading →

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Lilies for William

Posted on September 25, 2016 by vhk10

Members of the Cathedral Chamber Choir reassembled a week later at St. Gabriel’s Church, Pimlico to remember William Wingate. William was a very long-standing member of the choir, who occasionally conducted it and sadly died recently before his time. Although … Continue reading →

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An alternative to the food festival

Posted on September 23, 2016 by vhk10

I was glad to revisit Lichfield with the Cathedral Chamber Choir as my last choir trip there, with another choir, was not a happy one and I wanted some fresher memories of the place. The choir room has been moved … Continue reading →

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My Lord Mayor’s Chapel début

Posted on September 12, 2016 by vhk10

I joined the choir of St Mary’s Bathwick to sing at the Assumptiontide Festival of the C of E Catholic Societies in Bristol. Actually that is a bit inaccurate because so many of that choir were away that fewer than … Continue reading →

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introit vs anthem

Posted on September 9, 2016 by vhk10

I went along to hear a choir drawn from an RSCM course sing at Bath Abbey (they are resident at Kingswood School every year). Looked out for the distinctive cassocks of St. Ann’s Manchester (no one else wears that shade … Continue reading →

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Three Choirs: the summing up

Posted on August 28, 2016 by vhk10

So now looking back at the whole enterprise – was it worth while?  Definitely.  From what I’ve heard it sounded like I picked a particularly vintage year in which to be involved.   The BBC really missed something by not … Continue reading →

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3 Choirs (7): Mahler’s Eighth Symphony

Posted on August 26, 2016 by vhk10

Phew! Finally I get near the end of writing up my Three Choirs activities. After a rest day on the Thursday the final outing for the Chorus (and large numbers of others) was Mahler 8. In preparation, I tried not … Continue reading →

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The Three Choirs evensongs

Posted on August 25, 2016 by vhk10

I went to most of the Choral Evensongs at the Three Choirs Festival. These of course are the real Three Choirs – the Cathedral choirs of Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford – and it’s clear that for many festival-goers the evensongs … Continue reading →

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3 Choirs (6): Carmina Burana

Posted on August 22, 2016 by vhk10

I promised to review my opinion of Carmina Burana after the performance. I realise I’ve been unfair on the piece in at least one respect. I alleged it was unvocal and it isn’t – even that top C is well … Continue reading →

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3 Choirs (5): the Grande Messe des Morts

Posted on August 22, 2016 by vhk10

Confronted with this piece, what can one do (apart from try to conserve some voice for Mahler 8 later in the week)? I’ve said enough about it in the past, so I needn’t spend much time describing it. It seemed … Continue reading →

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3 Choirs (4): Dona Nobis Pacem

Posted on August 21, 2016 by vhk10

Dona Nobis Pacem was the discovery of the Festival for me, as previously it had only been a name. It is one of those pieces invoking peace, like Give Unto the Lord or Friede auf Erden, which sadly got overtaken by events … Continue reading →

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Stile Antico get dirty

Posted on August 18, 2016 by vhk10

A perk of being in the Three Choirs Festival Chorus is that you can claim unsold seats for concerts in the Cathedral.   Strictly speaking, these should be in the quire, in other words without a view, but when some … Continue reading →

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