Tag Archives: Howells

The Big Space

The Cathedral Chamber Choir spent Low Sunday weekend at a new venue for us, Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. I’d sung there once before, a huge combined NW choral societies’ performance of Gerontius. I remember two things from that: one was that … Continue reading

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a gatekeeper in the house of the Lord

As a resident of Bath I ‘hosted’ the Cathedral Chamber Choir’s weekend at Bath Abbey and this entailed letting people into rehearsal venues and generally shepherding them around. A weekend at Bath Abbey is unusual because it includes Matins and … Continue reading

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Lots of carol-singing: in church

This year I’ve done/heard more carol services than usual; fortunately there was plenty of variety on offer. The festive marathon began with my singing at the Bathwick 9 Lessons, where there’d been a lot of illness in the soprano section. … Continue reading

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I attend a Choral Evensong broadcast

For many years I’ve followed Radio 3’s Choral Evensong broadcasts, and have listened to them whenever possible.  I’d never been to one – why bother when Radio 3 brings it into your own home?  But I made a special case … Continue reading

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Two and half degrees of slope

If you place a coin on its side on the floor of the nave of St. David’s Cathedral, aligned east-west, it will quickly start to roll westwards because of the slope of the building. It’s really quite disconcerting to see … Continue reading

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no complaining in our streets

I thought I knew my psalter pretty well, but Ps. 144 seems to have passed me by altogether as I had no memory of the words at all. The Erleigh Cantors sang it at Sunday evensong in Bristol Cathedral (it … Continue reading

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a return to Swayne

The Erleigh Cantors put on a concert of music for double choir at St. Peter’s, Caversham in May, which I sang in. The most complex item on the programme was the Magnificat by Giles Swayne, which we sang at Southwark … Continue reading

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I was glad

The Chandos Singers’ latest concert consisted of settings of Psalm 122, plus a parody Mass, by various composers (but not Parry). It was the first time I’d performed in the Magdalen Chapel on Holloway, a small venue but acoustically pleasant. … Continue reading

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the Byrd 5-part Mass reappears

I joined Priory Voices for a weekend of services in Wells in autumn half-term. The highlight for me was a chance to sing movements from Byrd’s five-part Mass. This was especially welcome because I had had to decline an invitation … Continue reading

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a new organ at Llandaff

I got away for a weekend singing in Llandaff Cathedral with the Erleigh Cantors: a new venue for them, though one I’d sung in a couple of times before. This time there was a very new organ – we must … Continue reading

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the words of the anthem are …

I recently went to hear the Farrant Singers from Salisbury sing evensong at Wells Cathedral. The choir contained a friend of mine (as well as another singer who is ubiquitous in choirs around here!). It was a good service, with … Continue reading

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2009 and 2010’s resolutions

I have to admit that 2009 was a quieter year than I’d have liked on the vocal front. There were some highlights: I revisited Spem in Alium for the first time in a long while, and though between New Year … Continue reading

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