How shall I keep from singing?

The time is near. It must be, for it has been snowing. Probably the earliest we have had for many years. But it certainly felt like Advent on Sunday.
‘Zion hears the watchmen’s voices’ (Wachet Auf – Bach) was sung in unison (well, all but about 6 notes, which were changed as a concession to the altos), with all parts needing to count like mad to make sure the entries were not missed. A feat which, surprisingly, was not lost on the congregation.

The Advent carol service in the evening was full of many old favourites plus a couple of more modern versions of old carols. There were a few comments afterwards of ‘well, it made a change, but don’t do it too often!’ from the regulars. The programme included: Adam Lay Ybounden, The Angel Gabriel, Joseph and the Angel, The Linden Tree, The Cherry Tree and People Look East, and ended with mulled wine and mince pies – very welcome after all the singing and the cold, frosty weather outside.

It was hard to sound joyful, as the choirmaster announced his retirement just before the service began – we will be sad to see him go, after 40 years’ service (he has outlasted all but one of the choir – his wife – and most of the congregation). The first Sunday after Christmas will be his last service, so he will go one week after the vicar. I hope the deputy choirmaster and organist will take on the role with enthusiasm.

As if hearing the anthems every Sunday was not enough, we decided to subject the good people of S.Eustachius to yet more renditions of our favourites. But it was all in a good cause – the organ fund. The organ itself behaved rather well, and so did the choir – even after a good slug of wine in the interval. The programme included: With a voice of singing (Shaw), Hail glorious spirits (Tye), Turn thy face from my sins (Attwood), Nunc Dimittis (Stanford), O for a closer walk with God (Stanford), Turn back O Man (Holst), Pie Jesu (Faure – Soprano Solo), Lord Give me Faith / Blessed Be the God and Father (Wesley – with Treble solo), Rejoice in the Lord Alway (Redford/Anon), God be in my Head (Rutter), Evening Hymn (Gardiner), Call to Remembrance (Farrant – Quartet), Look at the World (Rutter), O thou the central Orb (Wood). Plus a couple of Iona-style items and some organ solos.

On Sunday, the choirmaster decided to give us an easy time after our efforts the night before. Instead of an anthem, we sang the hymn, ‘Let all mortal flesh keep silence’.

It was a tiring weekend. Mainly, I think due to the fact that Gordon Stewart worked us so hard on Saturday – in his bouncing around like a demented Tigger style, so that we didn’t even realise how much effort we were putting in. This was at the RSCM Devon Area Festival at Exeter Cathedral. By Sunday we were ready to fall asleep during the sermon, but there was no let up (and no post-service coffee) because we had to be up early for two services, the first a Eucharist and the second an outdoor service around the war memorial. And finally, Evensong, with a repeat of the morning’s anthem: ‘God be in my head’ by Rutter. It wasn’t our best attempt. Perhaps we are saving ourselves for the choir concert on Saturday?

‘Turn thy face from my sins,’ by Atwood, was sung twice today – although they sounded very different. In the morning, sopranos, SATB, sopranos, SATB, all accompanied on the pipe organ (which is back with us apart from a few strange noises and minor finishings-off) but no conductor. In the evening, soprano solo (accompanied), SATB unaccompanied, soprano solo (accompanied), SATB unaccompanied. And, surprisingly, we stayed in tune! The evening one sounded so much better, partly because of having a condutor and partly because the first and third part sound better sung as a solo. Unfortunately, there are always fewer people in church to hear us in the evening.

I noticed there was a very good turn-out of under-18s in the choir tonight. But then I realised why – the famous annual bonfire and fireworks party at the vicarage, following evensong. Miraculously, the rain clouds cleared, the bonfire lit (although there were some mysterious diesel fumes floating about through the air…..) and every firework worked. The path was lit by decorated pumpkin lanterns and there was hot pumpkin soup (plus other goodies) after the show. The event was tinged with nostalgia, as which other vicar would be daft enough and kiddy enough to put on such a huge firework show after this one leaves?