Tag Archives: Schütz

in praise of … the pieces that swallow rehearsal time

I’m not sure I’m really praising these, as in fact they are a nuisance. We have all encountered them – the pieces which seem innocuous and straightforward, yet which consume the lion’s share of rehearsal, possibly leaving others unprepared. How … Continue reading

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a coachload come to the Bachfest

Stile Antico’s concert at the 2019 Bach Festival in Bath was very well attended. I noticed a coach outside St Mary’s Church afterwards to take people away, and have learned that some local tour companies block-book at popular concerts. This … Continue reading

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great composers in Chichester

It has taken the Erleigh Cantors a long time to get round to visiting Chichester Cathedral, but we made our debut appearance at the end of July.  It was an intensive weekend with some notable but taxing pieces by major … Continue reading

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Liszt’s chaotic pendulum

The second half of the Chandos Singers’ concert opened with a Salve Regina by Liszt.  The rules governing the length of each beat, we were told, were very complex and the net effect on the beat was rather like that … 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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Sz… you know who

The latest Chandos Singers concert included only by music whose composers’ names began Sh (or Sz, Sch). The revelation here was Schubert’s Deutsche Messe. Unlike a lot of his church music, this is late and very characteristic Schubert. I’m very … Continue reading

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the worst week of the year

… for concert-going in London, except possibly the week between Christmas and New Year. I am attending a meeting at the British Library tomorrow and my usual practice if work takes me to London is to end the day by … Continue reading

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a longish Missa Brevis

The Chantry Singers have started rehearsing again. I have sung all three pieces in the next concert before, but in each case there’s a catch. Firstly, the Little Organ Mass by Haydn. We are doing this with the extensions to … Continue reading

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