Categories: uncategorized
Date: 09 July 2006 22:32:58
Saturday saw the wedding of one of our former sopranos who has sung in the choir since she was a small child. It is the only wedding I've been to where the bride and the bridesmaid (also a former member of the choir) sung the descant on the last verse of the hymn. Old choristers never die, they just go off and get married. We sang 'The Garlic Dressing' (as the Gaelic Blessing by Rutter is known by church choirs the world over) while they were up at the altar and then 'Ave Maria' by Arcadelt (quartet followed by full choir) while they were signing the register. The Arcadelt sounded particularly good so it was a pity the bride and groom weren't there to hear it. They will have to wait until the video is ready, after the honeymoon. Great fun was had at the evening reception, with lots of food - far too much to eat at one sitting and a very cheesy disco where the choirmaster and a surprising number of normally stiff-upper-lip choristers revealed their comic dance routines. I think I need a copy of that video for future manipulation purposes.....
Sunday morning was one of those frustrating times when the anthem ('Give us the wings of faith' by Bullock)went much better in the practice before the service. Ah well, you win some you lose some. The choirmaster kindly explained that it was partly his fault as the pages of his copy had stuck together. As one member of the congregation remarked after the service - 'The Anthem was good in parts' - whatever that means! Some of us soon stopped worrying about the anthem, however, as there was another filling spread served up in the parish centre, courtesy of the wedding couple's family. This was much more of a DIY affair, but good company and yummy food, nonetheless. And plenty more left-over wedding cake, some of the best I've ever tasted.