Category Archives: singing at services

The Wexford Carol at last

Our Christmas carol service brought my first chance to sing what I think is one of the most beautiful carols of all: the Wexford Carol. This gorgeous Irish melody doesn’t really need all the oooh-ing and aah-ing that John Rutter … Continue reading →

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Advent at Christ Church Bath

We held over our Advent carol service till the second Sunday of Advent, in order not to clash with similar services at Bath Abbey and elsewhere. There was a piece (and composer) new to me: Come, thou long-expected Jesus by … Continue reading →

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A service with 12 anthems

I moonlighted (is that the correct past tense?) on Advent Sunday by singing an Advent carol service at another local church whose organist is leaving at the end of the month. The choir was expanded with several singers who’ve joined … Continue reading →

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Note clusters in Ely

I made a swift return to Ely Cathedral, this time for a weekend of services with the Erleigh Cantors. We weren’t able to do introits and we weren’t at full strength, because it wasn’t half-term for some people, so our … Continue reading →

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going up the Octagon

I have never been able to go up the Octagon in Ely Cathedral before, but it is now open to the public on guided tours, and some of us in the Cathedral Chamber Choir seized the chance to do so … Continue reading →

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the Cathedral with the beer mug

Lichfield Cathedral has a beer mug on display, which used to be used to issue a measure of beer to lay-clerks as part of their payment. That doesn’t happen any more (or rather it still does, but indirectly via the … Continue reading →

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comfy cushions at Exeter

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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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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Fauré for All Souls

I joined the Bathwick choirs and friend for a liturgical performance of Fauré’s Requiem for All Souls’ Day. We sang the Libera Me early on in the service, which at least prevents you from feeling that this piece only takes … Continue reading →

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a long day at Guildford

The Erleigh Cantors arrived at Guildford Cathedral at 8.30 a.m. and we finally left about 7.45 in the evening after singing three services (with a couple of free hours in the afternoon). This event featured music by a number of … Continue reading →

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