Category Archives: singing at services

between the altarpiece and the flower arrangement

Posted on June 26, 2021 by vhk10

My church took the plunge that other churches have been trying for a while now: live singing by a sextet at a service. We have created a rota using those members of the choir who wish to take part and … Continue reading →

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I have a tin ear for organ stops

Posted on April 13, 2021 by vhk10

This year’s Lichfield Cathedral Lent Quiz invited competitors to identify stops on the Cathedral organ. I did have a go at a dozen or so of these. Some of the less standard ones I was able to identify but most … Continue reading →

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what was salvaged from 2020?

Posted on December 31, 2020 by vhk10

Like most singers, I have lost a large number of opportunities to perform this year. A rough list: four concerts with Bristol Choral Society, three with Gloucester Choral Society, the Erleigh Cantors’ 30th anniversary bash, a day working on Tallis’ … Continue reading →

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2020’s carol services

Posted on December 22, 2020 by vhk10

We did actually get to sing our Advent and Christmas carol services in person, though the usual scramble (they happen 2 weeks apart) got even more compressed with our limited rehearsal time. So we didn’t try to learn anything new. … Continue reading →

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singing in the mask

Posted on October 9, 2020 by vhk10

This expression is no longer just a way of describing good vocal projection. We are now wearing face coverings to sing in church choir, to forestall any objections that we might not be protecting our congregation sufficiently. I haven’t heard … Continue reading →

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Choir returns (1): church

Posted on September 24, 2020 by vhk10

A few weeks after our church services resumed, we have a live choir again. Not only that, but our new choir furniture arrived on the day of our first rehearsal, to join the altar, lectern etc. which appeared earlier in … Continue reading →

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recording one’s own line

Posted on April 25, 2020 by vhk10

I recorded those two Easter hymns and our Director of Music stitched all the recordings together – a laborious task because they were large files with video – to enhance the webcast service on Easter Sunday. It was judged a … Continue reading →

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a weekend with Mathias

Posted on February 8, 2020 by vhk10

I had a busy weekend with two extra services, both of which included anthems by William Mathias. On Saturday I revisited St Mary Redcliffe for the first time in several years, to join a visiting choir for the first Evensong … Continue reading →

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two carol services

Posted on December 27, 2019 by vhk10

I’ll do a very quick round up of Christmas music. I miss the carol burn-out suffered by many people I know by going away for Christmas but I did sing in our Advent carol service. The new piece this year … Continue reading →

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Brahms with 4 hands

Posted on November 30, 2019 by vhk10

I have sung Brahms’ German Requiem within the lifetime of this blog, but it was not long after I started it! Instead I’ve twice attended a series of rehearsals with Bristol Choral Society for performances I couldn’t take part in. … Continue reading →

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a belated return to Truro

Posted on September 20, 2019 by vhk10

Truro was one of the first Cathedrals that I performed in, but that was a one-off: a concert I sang on tour with the Exon Singers. I’d never sung a service there until I returned with the Cathedral Chamber Choir … Continue reading →

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Steal away

Posted on July 30, 2019 by vhk10

Not the spiritual this time, though I wish it had been. On my railway journey to sing with the Erleigh Cantors at Liverpool Cathedral, my overnight bag was stolen from the train between Bristol and Birmingham. (Memo to Cross Country … Continue reading →

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