Categories: uncategorized
Date: 12 June 2010 16:28:34
A little trip up the candle, while we enjoyed the drama of Corpus Christi at St. Mary, Bourne St. It was strange to hear the choir but not see them (as they sang from the back of the church, the Missa Caro Mea - Jacobus Clemens non Papa, the sequence - Laud O Zion thy creation, and two motets - Antiphon to the Magnificat, Guerrero, and Ave Verum, Byrd). It was fascinating to watch the frequent doffing of birettas, the intricate patterns on the lacy cottas and the elaborate dressing arrangements of the celebrant, alternating between chasuble and cope, requiring two assistants acting as page boys, it seemed. Fortunately, the cast revealed themselves to be perfectly normal and 'just like us' with glass of wine in hand at the end of the service. It seemed strange to return to 'normal' service at our home church, where we received a good 'welcome home' by the rest of the choir. The party on Saturday was not really just for us, but it felt as if it was, especially after several glasses of sangria, plates of cheese, salad and strawberry flan. On Sunday, we sang 'Litany to the Holy Spirit' (Hurford), obviously a popular choice amongst many choirs and a favourite of our own vicar, in the morning and Wood's 'Oh most merciful' in the evening - a lovely but short anthem, so the choir master decided we should sing it twice, first as a quartet and then with full choir. It worked very well in that format and, I think, will soon become a choir favourite. It's lovely to go away for a while, but you can't beat 'home'.