Resumption of sung services in cathedrals

[Miles Coverdale]

The congregation are part of the atmosphere. The organ bursting in for v.3 of Once in royal.... It won't be the same.

No, it won't be exactly the same, but surely better to have it without a congregation than not have it at all.

[teamsaint]

No, it won't be exactly the same, but surely better to have it without a congregation than not have it at all.

Maybe, but this could be seen as a false binary choice, MC. That's certainly the way I see it.

[Miles Coverdale]

Alright, let me re-phrase that. Better to have it without a participating congregation. I don't think that congregational singing will have been allowed by Christmas, and with social distancing, most large venues are operating at no more than about 20% of their normal capacity.

[Andrew Butler]

No, it won't be exactly the same, but surely better to have it without a congregation than not have it at all.

Sorry. Can't see it. I'm done with all this "New Normal" - "Make the best of it" - "It'll be better next year" c*** !!

[Nick Armstrong]

Maybe, but this could be seen as a false binary choice, MC. That's certainly the way I see it.

Don’t get this...

Anyway, I will be watching and listening - I’m glad they’ll be singing.

[teamsaint]

Don’t get this...

Anyway, I will be watching and listening - I’m glad they’ll be singing.

Not having the service, or having it without congregation are not the only two possibilities as I understand it

[Nick Armstrong]

Not having the service, or having it without congregation are not the only two possibilities as I understand it

Well I’ll be listening / watching anyway (as opposed to either way )

[DracoM]

KCC says thus ref Nine Lessons and Carols 2020:

"We won’t be able to invite members of the public to A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve this year."

[oddoneout]

KCC says thus ref Nine Lessons and Carols 2020:

"We won’t be able to invite members of the public to A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve this year."

Which doesn't necessarily mean there will be no congregation at all?

[Andrew Butler]

Which doesn't necessarily mean there will be no congregation at all?

They wouldn't be able to sing though

[jonfan]

I worry that from your posts Andrew you are becoming quite depressed about the situation. All I can say is to rejoice and try to experience the positive actions many are taking to bring sung worship to cathedrals and to a wider community through various media channels. The recent efforts of the BBC, St Martins and cathedrals to get things on Radio 3 moving is heart warming. Not the live congregation you crave yet, but hey, better than six months ago.

[Andrew Butler]

I worry that from your posts Andrew you are becoming quite depressed about the situation. All I can say is to rejoice and try to experience the positive actions many are taking to bring sung worship to cathedrals and to a wider community through various media channels. The recent efforts of the BBC, St Martins and cathedrals to get things on Radio 3 moving is heart warming. Not the live congregation you crave yet, but hey, better than six months ago.

Totally fed up with the whole business. I'm furloughed from my church until the end of the month, then probably going back on 0.25% of salary owing to loss of 2 weekend services and a choir rehearsal, coupled with reduced workload because of the singing ban. I'm probably going to pack it in.

[DracoM]

Hey, please don't - if you can possibly avoid it.

[Simon Biazeck]

Totally fed up with the whole business. I'm furloughed from my church until the end of the month, then probably going back on 0.25% of salary owing to loss of 2-weekend services and a choir rehearsal, coupled with reduced workload because of the singing ban. I'm probably going to pack it in.

I am in the same position - a two-service Sunday every three weeks and nothing else which was London-based professional chorus and solo work: ROH etc. I totally understand your feelings, and I am holding on for now. Please, hang in there and find someone to talk to. We're listening.

[Vox Humana]

The most depressing aspect of all this is that mankind has only itself to blame. Our current, very severe, environmental and climatic problems are entirely due to our selfish, blinkered outlook—our attitude that we can exploit the world's resources with impunity and that nature and its inhabitants are of no consequence in the quest for wealth and comfort. Nature has been telling us otherwise for a few decades now, but no one took any notice. I am frankly amazed at how many of the people I know have no real interest in nature. Indifference of this sort is the root of the problem. Governments are now showing signs of waking up—even the perhaps Chinese—but it may already be too late. David Attenborough had sensible advice and I feel much the same about Covid: "I don't despair because, what would you go and do? Just go and hide in a corner, crying in a corner and forgetting it all and giving up? I mean, we have a responsibility, and if there's only a fragment of hope left you have a responsibility to do something about it." It is heartening to see the various ways in which musicians are managing to overcome the problem of Covid, even if it is profoundly saddening to think that things may never be the same again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-54319449