Categories: uncategorized
Date: 25 February 2013 17:34:54
Spent a very enjoyable 'Plainchant Workshop' day at St. Mary's, Totnes, run by Peter Parshall - I had sung Gregorian chant before, but had forgotten much of the detail, so it was a very useful refresher course, suitable for complete beginners but also those with some experience. The day ended with Compline, plus the Lent Prose (Attende Domine), Ubi Caritas and Ave Regina Caelorum.
A chance to listen to my own choir sing Evensong on Sunday, from a relaxing position in the midst of the congregation. Our deputy organist had written a setting of the Magnificat which was beautifully light and joyful, with plenty of running notes in the melody, so often missing from the modern chants we are regularly required to sing. The solo of 'Wash me throughly' (Wesley) sounded very poignant as usual, and the unconducted parts coming together much more than they had at rehearsal earlier. It is always interesting to hear choir rehearsals and then stay on for the service or concert, to hear the improvement.