Tag Archives: Gloucester Cathedral

the Big Sing

I joined the South Cotswold Big Sing Group for Berlioz’ Grande Messe des Morts in Gloucester Cathedral, conducted by Adrian Partington. So a revisit of Bristol & Gloucester Choral Societies’ combined performance a few years ago, with quite a few … Continue reading

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Flats into sharps at Gloucester

Rather on the spur of the moment I decided to join a singing day at Gloucester Cathedral, organised by Gloucester Choral Society and featuring four settings of the Evening Canticles. It was a rare chance to sing this repertoire with … Continue reading

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review of the year – 2016

And what a year it was. I sang in the Three Choirs Festival Chorus. I sang lots of choral masterpieces (and Carmina Burana) for the first time. I made my débuts in several new venues, sang before a member of … Continue reading

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The Missa Solemnis is singable

So the great day finally came round, and I got to sing the Missa Solemnis with Gloucester Choral Society and the Bristol Ensemble in Gloucester Cathedral. I wrote earlier of the particular difficulties of performing this piece. It wasn’t Beethoven’s … Continue reading

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Double Gloucester

Back in Gloucester again, this time for a weekend at the Cathedral with the Erleigh Cantors. As has happened here before, we had an out of the ordinary service to sing, in this case a farewell Eucharist in the nave … Continue reading

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Three Choirs: the summing up

So now looking back at the whole enterprise – was it worth while?  Definitely.  From what I’ve heard it sounded like I picked a particularly vintage year in which to be involved.   The BBC really missed something by not … Continue reading

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3 Choirs (7): Mahler’s Eighth Symphony

Phew! Finally I get near the end of writing up my Three Choirs activities. After a rest day on the Thursday the final outing for the Chorus (and large numbers of others) was Mahler 8. In preparation, I tried not … Continue reading

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The Three Choirs evensongs

I went to most of the Choral Evensongs at the Three Choirs Festival. These of course are the real Three Choirs – the Cathedral choirs of Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford – and it’s clear that for many festival-goers the evensongs … Continue reading

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3 Choirs (6): Carmina Burana

I promised to review my opinion of Carmina Burana after the performance. I realise I’ve been unfair on the piece in at least one respect. I alleged it was unvocal and it isn’t – even that top C is well … Continue reading

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3 Choirs (5): the Grande Messe des Morts

Confronted with this piece, what can one do (apart from try to conserve some voice for Mahler 8 later in the week)? I’ve said enough about it in the past, so I needn’t spend much time describing it. It seemed … Continue reading

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