Author Archives: vhk10

Billing, Chorus Angelorum or Gerontius?

Posted on February 14, 2025 by vhk10

Bath Abbey hosted a well-attended evening event: a hymn forum in which four people involved with compiling hymnbooks (in particular the Revised English Hymnal) discussed hymnody, the part it had played in their lives, the history of recent hymnals, and … Continue reading →

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Praise Him with Trumpets

Posted on January 31, 2025 by vhk10

We weren’t able to have an in-person launch of Bristol Choral Society’s first CD, so it was good to be able to inaugurate the second one this way. It was made with Delphian back in autumn 2023 and I sang … Continue reading →

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3 kings in Latin and English

Posted on January 19, 2025 by vhk10

Bath Abbey Chamber Choir began the year with the fixed point in our annual schedule: the Epiphany Carol service, with two pieces I hadn’t done before. Byrd’s 5-part setting of Reges Tharsis appears to be an early work, using the … Continue reading →

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round-up of 2024

Posted on January 7, 2025 by vhk10

2024 will not rank as a particularly vintage year for me I think – I didn’t go to any operas and there were no major works I sang for the first time (maybe this is because the ones that I … Continue reading →

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autumn and Advent round-up

Posted on December 21, 2024 by vhk10

I sang at various services during the autumn and here’s a quick summary of some musical highlights. Back in September Bath Abbey Chamber Choir introduced me to another setting of Ego sum panis vivus, this time by Palestrina. Later in … Continue reading →

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carols in the nave

Posted on December 8, 2024 by vhk10

I didn’t take much part in the Christmas season, but I returned to Gloucester Cathedral for a session singing from ‘100 Carols for Choirs’ while visitors to the Cathedral strolled around during an open evening. Mostly carols that were well-known … Continue reading →

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German romantics at Bristol Cathedral

Posted on November 28, 2024 by vhk10

November was a potentially a busy month and my next outing a week later was a concert with Bristol Choral Society of (mostly) German Romantic music in Bristol Cathedral. Actually looking at the origins of the composers, they include two … Continue reading →

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a mystery recital

Posted on November 18, 2024 by vhk10

The Assembly Rooms filled up – and at least one choir practice room practically emptied – the night Sir András Schiff came to give his recital at the Bath Mozartfest. He didn’t announce his programme in advance although as it … Continue reading →

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choir and brass

Posted on November 12, 2024 by vhk10

The first of my two November concerts was in Gloucester Cathedral and brought in a brass ensemble to accompany us as well as the organ. The single largest piece was Joseph Jongen’s Mass of the Blessed Sacrament. Jongen is known … Continue reading →

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the great and the good in the nave

Posted on November 8, 2024 by vhk10

A gala dinner was organised in aid of Gloucester Cathedral funds, with performances from the various Cathedral choirs, and held in the nave. The Choral Society performed near the end of this, and we fitted it in after our usual … Continue reading →

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the B minor Mass at St Luke’s

Posted on November 7, 2024 by vhk10

Next up was a workshop day on Bach’s Mass in B minor, hosted by Neil Moore and Bath Cantata Group prior to a forthcoming performance. Readers who’ve been with me a long time know that I don’t have much history … Continue reading →

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Mathias and Matins at York

Posted on October 31, 2024 by vhk10

The Erleigh Cantors were due to visit York in 2020 and we’ve had to wait for our turn to conquer the North (the furthest north we’d been before this was Lichfield). Most of the music we used was drawn from … Continue reading →

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