Easter Monday
A glorious day and I spent some time in the garden cutting up the remains of branches of lilac which were cut down last year and hanging out the washing. Liz had somehow volunteered to operate the lift in the cathedral tower! About 60 people went up during the day to enjoy the views!
I went to the RSCM 80th anniversary evensong at 5 p.m. at St Paul's cathedral. I was disappointed and I have written to the RSCM about it. There were insufficient copies of the hymn and no commemorative leaflet. I had never heard the Nicholson tune for the hymn before. The large choir was placed in the choir stalls with the result that the sound of the men was distant and muffled. Howells in G does not inspire. "I was glad" was grand and so was the Karg-Elert Nun Danket at the end (we had the latter at our wedding). There were 2 new anthems one by Professor John Harper but neither were announced. In the prayers the Royal Society (sic) of Church Music was mentioned but nothing was said about Sir Sydney Nicholson or his successors. Canon Lucy Winkett was made an associate of the RSCM before the Magnificat - this would have been better done at the start or the end of the service as it broke the continuity and atmosphere to have applause at that point. Half the organ is covered up and so is the river side of the outside of the building. It was good to find 2 lovely icons and votive candles (only 30p each!) at the back of the cathedral so I lit candles for Mum and Dad. The whole thing was a pale shadow of the great RSCM events of the past - we sang at the 50th, 60th and 75th anniversary celebrations. And on this occasion I was unable to join in the one item we were allowed to sing - the hymn! And why don't organists play proper pieces if they can't do an inspiring improvisation! Am I turning into a grumpy old man? I hope not!
Got trains home very quickly and listened to part of the broadcast of the chorus's Saturday concert from King's Cambridge - Elgar Sursum Corda, The Light of life and 5 mystical songs by Vaughan Williams. We sang the Elgar years ago at the Methodist church, Upper Norwood and we have done the Vaughan Williams at St John's with Stephen Roberts. Have a new acquaintance called Graeme from Scotland through My Space and discovered some new blogs through Churches Together in Westminster website!
I went to the RSCM 80th anniversary evensong at 5 p.m. at St Paul's cathedral. I was disappointed and I have written to the RSCM about it. There were insufficient copies of the hymn and no commemorative leaflet. I had never heard the Nicholson tune for the hymn before. The large choir was placed in the choir stalls with the result that the sound of the men was distant and muffled. Howells in G does not inspire. "I was glad" was grand and so was the Karg-Elert Nun Danket at the end (we had the latter at our wedding). There were 2 new anthems one by Professor John Harper but neither were announced. In the prayers the Royal Society (sic) of Church Music was mentioned but nothing was said about Sir Sydney Nicholson or his successors. Canon Lucy Winkett was made an associate of the RSCM before the Magnificat - this would have been better done at the start or the end of the service as it broke the continuity and atmosphere to have applause at that point. Half the organ is covered up and so is the river side of the outside of the building. It was good to find 2 lovely icons and votive candles (only 30p each!) at the back of the cathedral so I lit candles for Mum and Dad. The whole thing was a pale shadow of the great RSCM events of the past - we sang at the 50th, 60th and 75th anniversary celebrations. And on this occasion I was unable to join in the one item we were allowed to sing - the hymn! And why don't organists play proper pieces if they can't do an inspiring improvisation! Am I turning into a grumpy old man? I hope not!
Got trains home very quickly and listened to part of the broadcast of the chorus's Saturday concert from King's Cambridge - Elgar Sursum Corda, The Light of life and 5 mystical songs by Vaughan Williams. We sang the Elgar years ago at the Methodist church, Upper Norwood and we have done the Vaughan Williams at St John's with Stephen Roberts. Have a new acquaintance called Graeme from Scotland through My Space and discovered some new blogs through Churches Together in Westminster website!
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