Author Archives: vhk10

the Cathedral with the beer mug

Posted on August 29, 2012 by vhk10

Lichfield Cathedral has a beer mug on display, which used to be used to issue a measure of beer to lay-clerks as part of their payment. That doesn’t happen any more (or rather it still does, but indirectly via the … Continue reading →

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comfy cushions at Exeter

Posted on August 29, 2012 by vhk10

My recent excursions to sing at Exeter Cathedral have involved rehearsing in the Chapter House, in one case while people were noisily setting up lunch next to us. I’m happy to say those days are now over, and there is … Continue reading →

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Reincarnations

Posted on August 10, 2012 by vhk10

I went to hear the Clothworkers Consort of Leeds (formerly the Leeds University Liturgical Choir) singing a concert in Christ Church Bath during their residency at Bath Abbey. The most notable feature of the concert was the large number of … Continue reading →

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In the Garden of God

Posted on August 2, 2012 by vhk10

Sadly the weather prevented us from enjoying the St. Mary Magdalen chapel garden, which has one of the best views in Bath. Instead, the Chandos singers performed an unusual programme of music setting mostly Catholic texts, or at least texts … Continue reading →

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Why I’m giving up chamber choirs

Posted on July 23, 2012 by vhk10

I don’t want to alarm too many people whom I sing for – I’m not giving up singing in small groups for liturgical purposes, or taking part in workshops for small numbers of singers. Nor am I necessarily doing this … Continue reading →

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Adam and Eve-ing it

Posted on July 19, 2012 by vhk10

I took part in the South West Festival Chorus/Bath Phil’s performance of Haydn’s Creation. Our conductor, Jason Thornton, told as that Haydn had been inspired to write the work after conducting Messiah in Bath Abbey, so by performing it there … Continue reading →

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A genuinely funny opera performance

Posted on July 12, 2012 by vhk10

All too often at performances of the opera you get that rather strained, knowing laughter that people produce when they feel it’s expected of them rather than when it is actually derived from the performance. There was a fair amount … Continue reading →

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The WholeNote

Posted on June 27, 2012 by vhk10

On a visit to Canada last month I found a copy in our hotel room of a publication called The WholeNote. It’s a monthly magazine about classical music (also covering jazz, musical theatre and world music) in the Toronto area. … Continue reading →

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The sword of Damocles

Posted on June 12, 2012 by vhk10

I missed most of the Bath Festival this year, but caught towards the end the Belcea Quartet’s Beethoven programme at the Assembly Rooms. After hearing an efficient performance of the fifth of the ‘Haydn’ quartets, I managed to track down … Continue reading →

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The Britten Sinfonia at the Wiltshire Music Centre

Posted on June 11, 2012 by vhk10

I made a detour to hear the Britten Sinfonia at the Wiltshire Music Centre in Viennese repertoire. Bath itself has a lack of concert halls that are a natural size for a small orchestra – the Assembly Rooms and Guildhall … Continue reading →

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