Category Archives: category-defying

A chorister watches The Theory of Everything

Posted on March 8, 2015 by vhk10

It’s a strange experience to watch a bio-pic of someone who used to have the singing lesson after yours. Members of Stephen Hawking’s family crossed my path in various ways when I was in Cambridge. I don’t think I ever … Continue reading →

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An idea for a Bath concert hall?

Posted on October 10, 2014 by vhk10

Oxford, like Bath, lacks a purpose-built concert hall for anything larger than chamber concerts, using the Town Hall, Sheldonian Theatre and churches and chapels. This is due to change as St. Edward’s School is planning to open a concert hall … Continue reading →

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The Assumption in Milan

Posted on September 1, 2014 by vhk10

I have been fortunate to be in Milan for some major festivals of the Church year, and this year we were there on the feast of the Assumption. I went to Vespers, which included a procession around the building for … Continue reading →

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2013 and 2014’s resolutions

Posted on January 8, 2014 by vhk10

2013 saw the achievement of something that’s been on the wishlist a lot longer than this blog has existed (10 years now and counting). I performed in the 42nd and last English Church of England Cathedral – Bradford. And I … Continue reading →

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John Tavener RIP

Posted on November 13, 2013 by vhk10

#tavenerrip Some of us heard the Song for Athene playing in the dentist’s surgery yesterday, and this turned out to be because Sir John Tavener had died. I predict an Christmas outbreak of performances of The Lamb and perhaps also … Continue reading →

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counting lengths by compositions

Posted on February 7, 2013 by vhk10

I go swimming most weeks at a local pool, doing 20 laps up and down in my lunch break. Sometimes I get so relaxed doing this that I lose count of how many laps I’ve done. Recently it occurred to … Continue reading →

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seasonal music at the ballet

Posted on December 13, 2012 by vhk10

Thanks to my bank, my daughter and I enjoyed a night out at the Northern Ballet Theatre’s production of Beauty and the Beast. It was the first time I’d been to the ballet for many years, and rather than one … Continue reading →

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Friendship but no food

Posted on October 24, 2012 by vhk10

Last year my family thought making me a ‘Friend’ of the Bath Mozartfest would be a nice birthday present. The privileges included early booking, a free programme and an invitation to the ‘Friends’ and Patrons’ Lunch’, and they thought the … 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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a quiz at St. George’s

Posted on May 14, 2012 by vhk10

I took part in a piece of Bristol University research, held one evening at St. George’s Bristol, after picking up a flyer about it in a local music shop. The researchers were looking at concert programming – what makes an … Continue reading →

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