Tag Archives: Britten

The Britten centenary at Merton

Posted on December 24, 2013 by vhk10

In between two performances of the War Requiem, I went to Oxford and heard two evensongs; a midweek one at the Cathedral and another live evensong broadcast from my old College, Merton, centred around Britten’s Hymn to St. Cecilia. This … Continue reading →

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The War Requiem in Gloucester

Posted on December 18, 2013 by vhk10

Our performance of the War Requiem was given jointly with the Gloucester Choral Society, and our first performance was in Gloucester Cathedral with Cathedral choristers in the boys choir. I’ll save my reflections on the piece itself for later. The … Continue reading →

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Remembering the War Requiem

Posted on October 29, 2013 by vhk10

@bristolchoral The War Requiem is associated with remembrance, which is why it gets so many performances at this time of year, especially in these years of the centenaries of Britten and the outbreak of the Great War. But I am … Continue reading →

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comfy cushions at Exeter

Posted on August 29, 2012 by vhk10

My recent excursions to sing at Exeter Cathedral have involved rehearsing in the Chapter House, in one case while people were noisily setting up lunch next to us. I’m happy to say those days are now over, and there is … Continue reading →

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In the Garden of God

Posted on August 2, 2012 by vhk10

Sadly the weather prevented us from enjoying the St. Mary Magdalen chapel garden, which has one of the best views in Bath. Instead, the Chandos singers performed an unusual programme of music setting mostly Catholic texts, or at least texts … Continue reading →

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My fantasy Mass

Posted on February 7, 2012 by vhk10

I’m going to put together a Mass setting for my own amusement (and I suppose that of my readers) of some of my favourite settings of these familiar texts. Two constraints: no composer is to be repeated, and the movements … Continue reading →

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Purcell’s monument

Posted on December 31, 2011 by vhk10

While on a shopping trip to London, I found time to go to evensong at Westminster Abbey, which I’d never done before (I’ve been at evensongs there, but singing them!) The attraction was Byrd’s Great Service, a setting I’ve never … Continue reading →

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Bath Mozartfest 2011 (3): Padmore/Watkins/Drake and Grace Francis

Posted on December 23, 2011 by vhk10

We snapped up a few tickets while the Festival was in progress and so ended up going to lots of concerts. Some of the family went to hear Mark Padmore in the Guildhall accompanied by Julius Drake and alongside Richard … Continue reading →

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LPs: frivolities at the end

Posted on October 25, 2011 by vhk10

There were still a few discs of music, mostly of a lighter variety. A four-disc set of Viennese waltzes, marches and polkas by assorted composers.  Four sets of Gilbert and Sullivan, mostly with Sargent and Glyndebourne.  The only recording I … Continue reading →

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a missed anniversary concert

Posted on May 17, 2010 by vhk10

I was prevented by illness from joining the Erleigh Cantors for their 20th anniversary concert. So I can’t write about the concert itself but I had rehearsed the programme with the other singers and at home which allows me to … Continue reading →

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