Categories: uncategorized
Date: 20 December 2006 23:28:20
There were a lot of croaks and splutters in the morning, which made the anthem, 'Rejoice in the Lord alway' (Anon), sound rather wobbly - and didn't augur well for the 9 Lessons and Carols service to be sung later on that day.
However, thanks to the wonderful tea put on after the four o'clock rehearsal and a chance for our throats to warm up and then relax, the result was a fine service - everything was rattled through at high speed so there was not time to think or to make mistakes. There were the usual traditional carols interspersed with traditional readings of scripture and the choir programme of:
Adam lay ybounden - Ord
Hail Blessed Virgin Mary - arr. Wood
Sussex Carol - arr. Willcocks
Myn Lyking - Terry
Nativity Carol - Rutter
Sans Day Carol - Rutter
Ding Dong Merrily on High - arr. Wood
And a fine, rousing organ voluntary (Toccata - Dubois) to round it all off.
The award for the best part of the evening, however, must go to the treble soloist (who overcame a very inconvenient coughing fit like a true professional) followed by our best-matched quartet ever, in the first and second verses of 'Once in Royal David's City'. It's not often I stand amongst our choir and feel as if I'm in a cathedral, but I did this Sunday night.