Category Archives: singing at services

My Michael Tippett Centre début

I’ve only been to Bath Spa University’s Michael Tippett Centre a handful of times. Not long after I moved to Bath I had a disastrous audition there, and I seem to recall rehearsing the Millennium performance of Mahler 8 there … Continue reading

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An alternative to the food festival

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

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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3 Choirs (1): the opening service

The opening day of the Festival finally arrived, the first event being the opening service. This was one of those occasions where the processions of dignitaries (which included some truly spectacular civic headgear) are an important part of the ceremony. … Continue reading

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an organist’s wedding and two Festival concerts

There was just too much going on on May 21st. I had been due to sing a concert in Reading but asked to be released from it when I realised there were enough sopranos and some unrepeatable events going on … Continue reading

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Two funerals

I’ve recently been to a couple of funerals – one as an invited singer, one as a family friend. The former was my first visit to Bath crematorium and its chapel overlooking farmland south of the city. The family wanted … Continue reading

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Cambridge Surprise Major

The Cathedral Chamber Choir’s Low Sunday weekend in Cambridge was a nostalgia trip for some of us, and was divided between two venues. On Saturday we were in Queens’ College Chapel, where we were left to our own devices to … Continue reading

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church choir ghosts

Gradually going round the national patron saints, I went to sing at a St George’s day service at a church I used to attend. There is now an occasional ‘festival choir’ instead of the one that used to sing every … Continue reading

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Holy Week and Easter 2016

Coming soon after an extra licensing service for our new priest in charge, Holy Week was put together largely out of works already in our repertoire. I missed Maundy Thursday but otherwise was kept busy with Palm Sunday (Weelkes’ Hosanna … Continue reading

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The Bath Knot

Not a way of tying a dressing gown, but a branch of the The Ancient and Most Benevolent Order of Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick. They hold a service on the Tuesday nearest to St. Patrick’s Day and I was … Continue reading

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Complicated things with jabots

Not being sure about my future with Priory Voices, I have been looking at other similar choirs and joined one, the Harsnett Choir, for a weekend of services in Wells. I’d been on their mailing list for a few years … Continue reading

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Advent and Christmas 2015

Our two carol services, separated by a fortnight, brought some new pieces for me to sing and some welcome reprises. Advent brought Anthony Piccolo’s I Look from Afar, quite a demanding setting of this text, but worthwhile. And my singing … Continue reading

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