Category Archives: singing at services

three services at the Abbey

Posted on March 31, 2023 by vhk10

I’ll roll the three most recent outings of Bath Abbey’s Chamber Choir into one post. On 5 March we sang Peter Philips’ Ave verum and Purcell’s Remember not, Lord at the earlier sung Eucharist. A week later we were back … Continue reading →

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Go to Jail

Posted on February 22, 2023 by vhk10

The branch of the Premier Inn I stayed in at Bury St Edmunds was previously the town gaol, and retained some of the original features (not in my room, I’m happy to say). After not singing last year with the … Continue reading →

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observing the Weelkes anniversary

Posted on February 10, 2023 by vhk10

I foresee a lot of Tudor repertoire this year, with anniversaries both of Byrd and of Weelkes. I observed the latter by singing his ‘First Service’ canticles at Bath Abbey (doing a number of the first treble verse parts) with … Continue reading →

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the rise of the carol service

Posted on January 30, 2023 by vhk10

Time was when a carol service meant Christmas carols. (It has a sister in the ‘carol concert’, a format I’ve never really enjoyed because it feels wrong to pay for something that is often very similar to a service.) Advent … Continue reading →

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At last! Tribus Miraculis!

Posted on January 15, 2023 by vhk10

This piece by Marenzio had been on my wishlist for a while, after I’d heard it on numerous broadcasts at Epiphany time. It came round in the Epiphany Carol service at Bath Abbey this year. More florid in style than … Continue reading →

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Review of the year: 2022

Posted on December 31, 2022 by vhk10

This was naturally enough a great improvement on the two previous years. My musical life (like my non-musical one) contained many events postponed from 2020 and 2021, and so became very busy. I’ve only done half a dozen overseas choir … Continue reading →

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Advent/Christmas 2022 (2): four carol services

Posted on December 30, 2022 by vhk10

Three I sang in and one where I was in the congregation. One new piece for me in the church Advent carol service (held as usual on the second Sunday in Advent): Nova! Nova! by Bob Chilcott, very catchy but … Continue reading →

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Advent/Christmas (1): Spanish music on Advent Sunday

Posted on December 2, 2022 by vhk10

December is often not as busy a month for me as it is for many choral singers, but this year there were two concerts and several carol services. Advent Sunday (not December, I know) was a busy day, beginning at … Continue reading →

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a recap of a favourite evensong

Posted on November 8, 2022 by vhk10

I was back in Gloucester towards the end of October, not to rejoin Gloucester Choral Society (that comes later) but for a weekend of services with the Erleigh Cantors. Our programme had been adapted because the main organ was unavailable … Continue reading →

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where has this piece been?

Posted on October 25, 2022 by vhk10

Every so often I sing a piece for the first time and wonder how I’ve not even heard it before. This happened at a funeral at church recently, the piece in question being Es ist nun aus mit meinem Leben … Continue reading →

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