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Evensong in Winchester Cathedral
29 May 2019
A group of just over 40 singers from the Northampton
Bach Choir had a day out in Winchester in late May 2019 where we
sang Evensong in Winchester Cathedral, as the regular cathedral
choir took a break for half term. The vergers and canons of the
cathedral were very welcoming and seemed to appreciate having the
singers there to take part in the service. We travelled by coach,
along with some supporters, helpfully organised by the concert
manager Mark Gibson, which made it a relaxed day and there was time
before we sang to explore the city and find some refreshment.
Northampton Bach Choir at Winchester Cathedral
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It was a joy to sing for the service in such a beautiful and
majestic building seeped in history, to be part of an ancient
tradition which has carried on for over a millennium. There is
something very moving to know you are part of something which has
been done regularly for so long; to realise that you are hearing the
same biblical readings and singing the same psalms as so many have
done for centuries.
People have been praying in that spot for over 1000 years, and
the monks, who were first to live and worship there in Christian
community, would have prayed seven times a day throughout the 24
hours, including rising during the night to pray. Their worship
would have had many similar elements to the service as we
experienced it; listening to readings from scripture, reciting or
usually singing the psalms and canticles, alongside praying for the
needs of the world and local community. Although the current
inhabitants don’t meet to formally pray seven times of day, the
tradition of regular worship continues, underpinning the work of the
cathedral and taking part in the worldwide work of regular prayer.
The choir in the quire stalls
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We sang a mixture of music we had sung on previous cathedral
visits, including Ayleward’s Responses, Smart’s Evening Service in
Bb, and a work for Ascension new to us by the centenarian composer
Francis Jackson, Sing praise to God who reigns above. The
music was challenging to learn in just two rehearsals, but under Lee
Dunleavy’s leadership we gave a fine rendering, and the sense of
worship and peace in the cathedral was palpable. Our répétiteur
travelled with us and played the magnificent organ, with his final
voluntary - Gordon Jacob’s Festal Flourish - particularly
rousing.
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