Nelson Mandela's Memorial Service at WA

[ardcarp]

I didn't see it all, but I thought the singing of the black gospel choir/s was truly magnificent, not to say colourful. Wabbey's own choir doing the Kyrie from VW's Mass in G minor was enjoyable too; not the easiest of pieces to bring off under worldwide scrutiny.

For me, however, the highlights were the talks/sermons by Desmond Tutu and Peter Hain. What a brilliant public speaker DT is...a slow delivery that had everyone holding their breath. But for me (and maybe this will be banished to the Politics and CA dungeon) Peter Hain was BRILLIANT. Short and to the point, his tribute to the anti-apartheid figures in Britain (and especially Trevor Huddleston) had the most deliciously veiled condemnation of Margaret Thatcher's opposition to sanctions. And the cameras panned obligingly to a few ex-Tory grandees in the congregation.

[decantor]

I didn't see it all, but I thought the singing of the black gospel choir/s was truly magnificent, not to say colourful. Wabbey's own choir doing the Kyrie from VW's Mass in G minor was enjoyable too; not the easiest of pieces to bring off under worldwide scrutiny.

For me, however, the highlights were the talks/sermons by Desmond Tutu and Peter Hain. What a brilliant public speaker DT is...a slow delivery that had everyone holding their breath. But for me (and maybe this will be banished to the Politics and CA dungeon) Peter Hain was BRILLIANT. Short and to the point, his tribute to the anti-apartheid figures in Britain (and especially Trevor Huddleston) had the most deliciously veiled condemnation of Margaret Thatcher's opposition to sanctions. And the cameras panned obligingly to a few ex-Tory grandees in the congregation.

Yes, the Soweto choir were visually and musically splendid - they managed to make 'our' way of doing these things look unnecessarily drab and austere, though the resident choir did correct the impression with their well-judged chunk of RVW (the Agnus, of course, not the Kyrie).

Tutu is something of a showman, but he certainly commands attention from the pulpit, and gauged his words well for this occasion. Personally, I found some of Hain's remarks sour and tasteless - an Abbey memorial service is not the moment to score party-political points (albeit historic)...... after all, Mandela is held up as the personification of reconciliation. For that reason, presumably, no mention was made of the absence of President Zuma, for whose convenience the date had been moved, and yet who found a party in Zimbabwe more appealing than a commemoration of the man who, in effect, put him where he now is.

Oh dear! That dungeon beckons!

[Magnificat]

I didn't see it all, but I thought the singing of the black gospel choir/s was truly magnificent, not to say colourful. Wabbey's own choir doing the Kyrie from VW's Mass in G minor was enjoyable too; not the easiest of pieces to bring off under worldwide scrutiny.

For me, however, the highlights were the talks/sermons by Desmond Tutu and Peter Hain. What a brilliant public speaker DT is...a slow delivery that had everyone holding their breath. But for me (and maybe this will be banished to the Politics and CA dungeon) Peter Hain was BRILLIANT. Short and to the point, his tribute to the anti-apartheid figures in Britain (and especially Trevor Huddleston) had the most deliciously veiled condemnation of Margaret Thatcher's opposition to sanctions. And the cameras panned obligingly to a few ex-Tory grandees in the congregation.

ardcarp

WA sang the Agnus Dei not the Kyrie and also Deep River from A Child Of Our Time by Britten. I thought they sang really well. There seems to be a lot of older boys in the choir at present. I can take gospel choirs in short doses I wouldn't want to hear them all the time.

I heard Desmond Tutu preach at the St Albans Pilgrimage a few years back. He packed the place to the rafters and held the congergation spellbound.

Actually, I have read that Nelson Mandela approved of Margaret Thatcher's refusal to support sanctions believing that it made it easier for the South African government to agree to negotiations.

VCC.

[ardcarp]

Sorry about the Kyrie comfusion. I knew perfectly well it was the Agnus. Just me being stupid. I missed Deep River alas. Glad it went well.

[Gabriel Jackson]

ardcarp

WA sang the Agnus Dei not the Kyrie and also Deep River from A Child Of Our Time by Britten.
VCC.

A Child of our Time is by Tippett...

[Wolsey]

Personally, I found some of Hain's remarks sour and tasteless - an Abbey memorial service is not the moment to score party-political points (albeit historic)...... after all, Mandela is held up as the personification of reconciliation.

Having listened to his remarks, I disagree. There was no scoring of 'party-political points', but an uncomfortable (for some) reminder that during a struggle for justice, others - for whatever reason - were unable to acknowledge what Mandela was attempting to achieve.