Last night I returned from a regular visit to Southwell with the St. Michael's Singers. We were in residence at Southwell Minster and provided the music for four Evensongs, a lunchtime concert, and a sung Eucharist.
It was our 7th visit to Southwell - our last was in 2023 (see here). We used to do it every 3 years but in 2021 we decided to do it every other year. It was, again, a lot of singing, but this time my voice lasted out to the end of Sunday Evensong.
It is 50 years since the choir was formed in Cambridge and I joined it when I started as a Cambridge undergraduate in 1976. After completing his degree and teacher training Guy Turner, co-founder of the St. Michael's Singers moved to London and formed a daughter choir, the Tudor Singers of London, with many of the same singers - including me.
In 1982 the Tudor Singers recorded an LP of English sacred music, including Bainton's Open Thy Gates and And I saw a New Heaven, both of which we sang in Thursday's evensong.
Some people were staying with Guy and he got out the LP and they marvelled at how young we looked. Today I got out mine and photographed the sleeve.
Can you spot me? In total twelve of the singers then, and Guy, were in the choir this year. Can you recognise any in this year's group photo at the top of this post?
Anyway, back to this year, and a few photos...
Sister Sue and I were both staying at The Reindeer this year... a choice of last resort, but I won't bore you with the details.
The Minster is a very fine church.
We rehearsed in the Trebeck Hall in the grounds of the Minster.
Nearby was a pear tree laden with fruit... and very testy they were too.
Assembling to rehearse in the Minster.
The organ is very fine too and our organist for our visit, Tim Selman, treated us to the full range of its sounds.
As before, they had a great selection of beers and pies. The beerlist include the vanilla stout Bad Kitty from Brass Castle brewery in Malton, where we visited Sarah and Ethan recently (see
here), so I just had to have some of that!
This was our schedule and repertoire up to Saturday Evensong.
This is the Minster's listing of music for the week...
The Friday recital was very well attended, I think someone said we had 110 people in the audience.
The Minster streams the services on Sunday online and the
recordings are available for 7 days afterwards. The sound quality isn't
great with the balance weighted rather
towards the sopranos, but it will give you an idea. For the next 7 days you
can hear us in the Sung Eucharist service (
here) and the Sunday Evensong (
here).
For the Eucharist we sang the mass setting Missa Prima Sexti Toni by Croce along with two pieces by Whitlock, Be Still my Soul and Here O My Lord. If you just want to hop between the bits where we sang you can find
7:55 - Kyrie
13:30 - Be Still My Soul
26:00 - Hymn
49:30 - Sanctus
54:30 - Agnus Dei
1:01:40 - Here O My Lord
1:09:00 - Gloria
As for Evensong you can find us singing. Introit O Nata Lux by Tallis, Responses by Guy Turner, Howells Gloucester Service and the anthem Expectans Expectavi by Wood
6:26 - Tallis O Nat Lux
10:00 - Responses
23:20 - Howells Magnificat
36:15 - Howells Nunc Dimittis
42:20 - Responses
48:00 - Expectans Expectavi
1:06:00 - Offertory Hymn
1:10:00 - Dismaissal and Organ Voluntary
Between the Sung Eucharist and our rehearsal for evensong, we returned to the Hearty Goodfellow for a a Sinday Roast lunch. Here are Ruth's photos of us all.
It was hard work but a great few days of music-making and lovely to catch up with old friends, as always. Thanks to Kevin, Michael and (especially) Guy for conducting us and Tim for accompanying us. We are already booked in for the same week in 2027!
It was a great time - rather a lot of hard concentration to get to grips with so much unfamiliar music but worth it. It was lovely to see everyone again.
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