Category Archives: singing at services

nightingales in Plymouth

Posted on July 4, 2018 by vhk10

We sang about these in Paul Gerhardt’s hymn Geh aus, mein Herz during an Anglo-German wedding we were guests at recently. (Sadly, the ornithological reality is that they are not to be found within about 200 miles of the city.) … Continue reading →

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a return to Bradford

Posted on June 23, 2018 by vhk10

Bradford Cathedral was famously the last of the English Church of England Cathedrals that I performed in. I wasn’t expecting to return so quickly but the Cathedral Chamber Choir’s Artistic Director is now Director of Music there, so we were … Continue reading →

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recalling Cambridge

Posted on June 13, 2018 by vhk10

During my time in Cambridge I sang with two different chapel choirs, and I’ve recently been reminded of both. First was a memorial concert near Bath to mark 20 years since the death of William Walls, for whom I sang … Continue reading →

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Holy Week and Easter 2018

Posted on April 17, 2018 by vhk10

I missed singing the Good Friday service last year, but this year I was available for everything except Maundy Thursday. Palm Sunday included Peter Aston’s Hosanna to the Son of David, one of his more mediæval-influenced works, and Leighton’s Solus … Continue reading →

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not on the front row

Posted on January 27, 2018 by vhk10

I joined the choir of St Peter’s Caversham to sing evensong at Bristol Cathedral. We were quite numerous so made 3 rows on each side, with me in one of the middle ones, which felt unusual in Cathedral choir stalls. … Continue reading →

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BLOOD on my back

Posted on December 31, 2017 by vhk10

Not as bad as it sounds. Some of our church choir were part of a group singing carols at Sainsbury’s in Chippenham in aid of the Freewheelers, popularly known as the ‘Blood Bikes’, volunteer bikers who transport blood supplies to … Continue reading →

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I had that Barry Rose in the back of my congregation once….

Posted on December 4, 2017 by vhk10

This happened to me once before, quite recently. This time the occasion was a memorial service at church for Martin, who sang in the choir until a couple of years ago. Martin was musically well connected (he’d been a recording … Continue reading →

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how to commemorate 370 people

Posted on November 20, 2017 by vhk10

I sang Fauré’s Requiem at an All Souls’ Day service and was told afterwards that some 370 of the faithful departed had been commemorated by name at it. All Souls’ Day does seem to have caught on in the Church … Continue reading →

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a rub from Pangur

Posted on November 11, 2017 by vhk10

This autumn seems relatively empty musically. I think this is partly in comparison with last autumn which was exceptionally busy, with three concerts over and above what I’d usually do. By contrast, this year there is one event fewer, because … Continue reading →

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the season begins

Posted on September 12, 2017 by vhk10

I don’t normally have much of a ‘close season’ for singing. Erleigh Cantors at the end of July are followed by Cathedral Chamber Choir towards the end of August, and then church choir and Bristol Choral resume in the first … Continue reading →

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Bax and Josquin in St Davids

Posted on August 4, 2017 by vhk10

The Erleigh Cantors started out doing day-trips from Reading but have gradually ventured further afield. St David’s was definitely the furthest we’d been, though there are rumours that the choir’s next step might be to conquer the North. And then … Continue reading →

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avoiding the Prayer Fayre

Posted on June 24, 2017 by vhk10

The Cathedral Chamber Choir sang at Wells Cathedral for the weekend of Trinity Sunday. Well, sort of, as on the Sunday afternoon we made way for a ‘prayer fayre’ in the Cathedral and decamped to St Cuthbert’s Church, together with … Continue reading →

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