How shall I keep from singing?

A day for looking back at the lights of Advent and Christmas and forward – through the darkness of the Crucifixion – to the light of Easter. This was effectively demonstrated during the sermon by the use of a candle which relit when it was blown out. We sang ‘Teach me O Lord’ (Attwood), before processing to the font with our own lit candles (which did not relight when blown out).

Festival Evensong included the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (Brewer) and ‘Lift up your heads O ye Gates’ (Matthias), the words of which were this morning’s psalm, but the music of which would probably not have fitted so well into the more reflective Eucharist. The vicar liked the lively Matthias setting.

The new vicar is a mean preacher and it is not at all possible to doze off in his sermons – even for choristers, who are usually expert in such matters.

The last two weeks have been morning-only commitments; the only changes so far being that the gospel acclamations and the sursum corda are no longer sung. Also, for a few months now we have been saying the morning psalm, rather than singing it – people seem to have got used to the idea. I am glad we still get a chance to sing them ‘properly’ (i.e. to Anglican Chant) at Evensong several times a month.

This week’s anthem was ‘O Taste and See’ (Vaughan Williams) – solo and SATB a capella. The previous week saw us singing ‘Day by Day’ (How) to organ accompaniment. Due to the choir master’s absence we discovered yet another closet conductor in the tenor section. I wonder what other hidden talents we will manage to unearth before the next choir concert?

Although his tenure was at risk of being severely curtailed when, at choir practice, he took one look at the choir in front of him and stated, ‘You’re rather large, aren’t you?’
There was certainly a large procession this evening, as some 30 choir, plus the clergy of the deanery together with assorted deans, bishops and clergy friends tagging along behind, weaved their way through the church and up to the stalls. Unfortunately, our main organist and choir master was called away on business and there was mild panic when the music could not be found – but by hook or by crook we cobbled together enough copies to share. Looking over each others’ shoulders we sang Psalm 121 to a setting by Walford Davies and the ‘Litany to the Holy Spirit’ by Hurford, both of which appeared to be well received by the congregation. Which is more than could be said for the setting of ‘When I survey the wondrous cross’ to ‘O Waly Waly’ and the rather racy final hymn (our church does not do racy), ‘Sing of the Lord’s goodness’ (Sands), both of which received a few grumbles. However these were soon silenced by the declaration that ‘the new vicar chose them’ (at least I think he did). After all, if the new vicar can’t choose what he likes for his own installation, when can he? And he did make us laugh several times in what could have been a very serious and solemn – and long! – ceremony. So, on balance, I think we’ll keep him.

The veritable feast which followed had to be seen to be believed. The church mice will have indigestion for weeks.

How confusing – people will start thinking Jesus was baptised as a baby. The choir snuck in ‘Tres Magi de Gentibus’ (Lang) just to remind everyone of the other season we are celebrating; I shouldn’t think many people were in church on Saturday.

Despite the wet weather, there were a reasonable number of people in church for Evensong, and a reasonable number of choir members to sing ‘Listen sweet Dove’ by Ives.

The choirmaster, trying to lose weight after a pig-out Christmas, began shamelessly passing his spare choccys on to any junior choristers with 100% attendance over the last few months. I didn’t realise Curly Wurlys were still in existence!

A very long set of notices in the morning made me feel the service was never actually going to start. The Coventry Carol (arr Shaw), although beautiful, always strikes me as rather gloomy and ponderous. However, this was offset by a cheery Sortie in Eb by Lefebure-Wely on the way out.

Taking our cassocks and music on tour, we trotted off to the little nearby country parish for Evensong, where we always get an enthusiastic welcome and heaps of food (this time, mulled wine and – more – homemade mince pies. I think this Christmas beats all previous records for the most mince pies consumed.) Not having had chance to practise the music beforehand was a concern, but the psalm, canticles and anthem (Infant Holy, arr. Willcocks) were already well-known to the lower parts and to the three sopranos who turned up. The other sopranos obviously had a better offer of entertainment on New Year’s Eve – either that, or they couldn’t face the thought of any more mince pies.