Categories: uncategorized
Date: 21 December 2008 21:36:04
In an otherwise quite solemn service, we were treated to a very funny vestry group play, featuring a dozy, grumpy inkeeper. The part was played expertly by a former chorister who used to be well-known for falling asleep during every choir event. The choir's role was to sing the beginning of the Hallelujah Chorus as the Angel shone her heavenly light in the inkeeper's eyes. It even outshone the scheduled choir anthem - the premiere of a new arrangement of 'O come O come Emmanuel' (Mazur Park). We enjoyed the organ interlude between each line, but weren't allowed to enjoy it too much or we'd forget to come in again.
This evening was the Festival of Lessons and Carols. The church was so full there was hardly room for the choir to start singing at the back. The first verse of 'Once in Royal David's City' was sung very confidently and competently by one of the choir girls, after which the items were sung partly by a quartet and partly by the whole choir (with selected verses men only or women only). These pieces included 'Adam lay Ybounden', 'Coventry carol', 'Sussex carol' , 'Myn Lyking' and 'Silent Night'. In a rash finale, a departure from the norm, we enjoyed singing 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' (arr. Rutter). I'm not sure what the regular congregation thought, but I hope the visitors enjoyed it.