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Our first visit couldn’t have been more dramatic! We had planned to
sing Choral Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral on the eve of St
Crispin’s Day (Northampton’s Patron Saint) - 25 October - in 2011.
Unfortunately the Cathedral was closed just 48 hours before our
visit, because of the “Occupy London” protest taking place around
the Cathedral. Last minute ‘phone calls were made to all Cathedrals
within commuting distance of Northampton, and we were delighted that
Gloucester Cathedral had a vacancy that date, and we were most
grateful to the Canon Chancellor, Celia Thomson for hosting us at
such short notice.
The change of venue also made it impossible for our répétiteur to
be with us for the allotted times, due to his other London
commitments, so we were delighted to welcome the organist and
composer David Bednall to accompany us.
Just over seventy members of the choir took part in the visit,
and we sang a set of Responses by the Organist of Cartmel Priory,
Adrian Self, the Evening Service (Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis)
in B flat by Henry Smart, and the glorious eighteenth-century
anthem, O Lord, look down from heaven by Jonathan Battishill.
The service was such a success that we immediately contacted St
Paul’s to get a new date for a visit, and the rest, as they say, is
history!
Programme:
Northampton Bach Choir
Organist - David Bednall
Conductor - Lee Dunleavy
Self - Preces and Responses
Smart - Evening Service in Bb
Battishill - O Lord, look down from heaven |
