Categories: uncategorized
Date: 14 November 2012 23:05:08
A busy Sunday for Remembrance Day, with three choir services. Firstly, the Eucharist with its understated sombreness, created by those connected with the armed forces doing the readings and prayers, the singing of 'Be still my soul' (Sibelius) and 'St. Anne Fugue' (Bach) as the voluntary.
A quick draw of breath, then out into the Square for the town Remembrance parade and service, with almost total silence, interspersed with 'O God our help in ages past' and the Last Post. It always intrigues me how meticulously the youngest brownies and cubs adopt the solemnity of the occasion modelled by the older townspeople. I just wish the band wouldn't start 'God save the Queen' in such a high register, as hardly anyone can join in!
Not surprisingly, the numbers at Evensong were rather low, given the high turnout at both morning services. The overall feel was rather less sombre, although our inclusion of the Kyrie, from Faure's Requiem, and the voluntary (Elegy by Thalben-Ball) continued to remind us of the overall theme of the day.