Author Archives: vhk10

a choral foundation at Merton

Posted on January 17, 2007 by vhk10

I read in the latest Private Eye about Merton College’s plans to set up a choral foundation with scholarships under the direction of Peter Phillips, no less. I couldn’t quite believe this at first but the College’s website confirms it. … Continue reading →

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Glenn Gould’s favourite composer

Posted on January 3, 2007 by vhk10

I’m told that this was Orlando Gibbons. A characteristically eccentric opinion, but as a Gibbons fan myself I can hardly fault his taste. During a weekend at St. Alban’s Cathedral the Cathedral Chamber Choir sang See, see, the word is … Continue reading →

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2006’s and 2007’s resolutions

Posted on December 31, 2006 by vhk10

In the closing minutes of 2006, it’s time to review my ambitions for the year and to look ahead to 2007. The musical highlight of this year was (as I suspected a year ago) joining the Bath Camerata on Good … Continue reading →

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let’s go and sing by the bling

Posted on December 29, 2006 by vhk10

I took the older children to the annual Christingle service at the local church here in Buckinghamshire. We soon learnt the Christingle song, which is the only one I know with a line ending in the word ‘orange’ – fortunately … Continue reading →

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with extra percussion

Posted on December 24, 2006 by vhk10

As with three years ago, this year’s 9 lessons and carols service featured brass, but now there was also a percussion section which I was standing in front of. To balance this, some local big guns were drafted in to … Continue reading →

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Pimm’s no. 3

Posted on December 18, 2006 by vhk10

That’s the ‘winter’ one, based on brandy. It was served (mixed with apple juice and warm) after our Advent carol service – the first time I’d tried it. But I should be writing about music. We sang a mixture of … Continue reading →

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a concert on Second Avenue

Posted on December 5, 2006 by vhk10

No, I wasn’t back in New York, and strictly speaking it took place just off Second Avenue in Oldfield Park. The introduction to Charpentier’s Te Deum is very well known to me from countless weddings and as the call signal … Continue reading →

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Lætentur cœli – but not set by Byrd

Posted on November 28, 2006 by vhk10

This time the words come from Saint-Saëns’ Christmas Oratorio, which I’m singing on Saturday with the Chandos Singers. Meanwhile, I sang at a concert of anthems with St. Mary’s Bathwick choir in Acton Turville, a place with a connexion to … Continue reading →

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Mozartfest 2006

Posted on November 22, 2006 by vhk10

This came and went last week. I imagine it was financially a great success because many of the concerts sold out. In fact the piano recital by Alfred Brendel sold out as soon as postal booking opened, if not before … Continue reading →

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two disappointments

Posted on November 6, 2006 by vhk10

I was one of a number of people who turned up at Bath Abbey at 5 o’clock on Saturday to hear evensong sung by the Spectrum Singers. This was advertised on the Abbey’s website and on the lists of services … Continue reading →

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a chant by Verdi

Posted on November 6, 2006 by vhk10

Recently the Erleigh Cantors have been using some chants from Richard Marlow’s Trinity Chant-Book. These are mostly adapted from other works, by quoting a phrase or two rather than forcing a longer passage into a metrical straitjacket. They can be … Continue reading →

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At last! Lætentur Cœli!

Posted on October 27, 2006 by vhk10

The Erleigh Cantors were visiting Winchester Cathedral last weekend, arriving as the Knights of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre (Equestrian Division) were holding a service of their own in the Cathedral. This time, there was no music I hadn’t … Continue reading →

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