CE Friday 9 September St Paul’s Cathedral, London 6pm

[Petrushka]

An impressive and moving service. While I'm sure that this would have long been planned, no-one could have known exactly when the moment would arrive.

21 years ago, almost to the day, St Paul's put on a service on September 14 2001 for the victims of the 9/11 attacks. John Scott and his team had little more than three days to arrange an incredibly moving service, a remarkable feat of organisation. I attended that service and, looking back on it now, I wonder if a number of elements in it were actually those always in preparation for the death of the monarch.

None of this detracts from the excellent work done by Andrew Carwood and the present day team at St Paul's who proved themselves well up to the task of their predecessors and a shining example of what church musicians can do.

[Pulcinella]

After Byrd's death the words were changed to "Charles our King", so we could perhaps see that version resurrected.

Oh: I didn't know that.

[DracoM]

Well, you might, IF R3 was actually doing its day job.

[jonfan]

I wasn’t able to sing Evensong at Truro Cathedral as planned by Operation London Bridge for every cathedral in the land as I’d gone up for the second day of the Oval Test Match v S.Africa followed by the Philadelphia Orchestra Prom. As both were cancelled, I attended this service (and The Cockpit afterwards) as well as Requiem Eucharist (said) at Westminster Abbey at 12.30. Having grown up in London, I felt it was somehow my destiny to be present, and to represent my cathedral choir as Senior Lay Vicar. The singing and organ playing were superb, especially a piece close to my heart, Stanford’s G major Nunc Dimittis. The solemnity of the occasion was almost tangible, and there was an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the selfless manner in which HMQ had reigned over the second Elizabethan Age. Those 2000 present had queued for wristbands in the morning, and later on queued in very dignified manner in the drizzle for over two hours to enter St Paul’s. It occurred to me that the British have an unselfish, orderly way of queueing; no one jumping in, but neighbours helping out if they could lend a coat or share a brolly in a downpour. The whole occasion was as it should be.

A moving description K and not the activities in London you had in mind when you set off, but an opportunity for you to be involved in these historical events first hand. Wonderful music, especially the anthem by the late Queen's piano teacher William Harris, with arguably the most profound Amen in the repertoire. Looking at the congregation it was good to see such diversity of age and race showing how much Britain has changed in 70 years. We now have a female PM, with diversity of race in the cabinet, and a Muslim Mayor of London. Andrew Carwood’s wonderful choir showed the same diversity, just some girls now?

[Pulcinella]

Oh: I didn't know that.

I've since been informed of a recording of the Charles version by a local (York) group, the Ebor Singers:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8335472--music-for-troubled-times-the-english-civil-war-siege-of-york

[Petrushka]

I've since been informed of a recording of the Charles version by a local (York) group, the Ebor Singers:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...-siege-of-york

That looks an interesting disc. I've just placed my order.

[Keraulophone]

Wonderful music, especially the anthem by the late Queen's piano teacher William Harris … Andrew Carwood’s wonderful choir showed the same diversity, just some girls now?

Mr Carwood chose a challengingly slow tempo for the Harris, but being the pros they are - front rows and back - they carried it off impressively. I’ve heard plenty of choir directors trying to draw out the music like a rubber band until it snaps because they don’t have good enough singers. The mellifluous baritone soloist in Stanford’s Nunc in G had only recently joined the choir, showing that AC certainly knows how to pick ‘em.

At this morning’s Eucharist at Truro Cathedral, we have substituted the Kyrie from Duruflé’s Requiem for the Stanford in C Gloria (I’d better have an extra mug of Punjana tea beforehand!) and Bairstow ‘Save us, O Lord’ will replace RVW’s ‘Antiphon’ at Evensong.

This will be another profoundly moving day of music and liturgy in Britain’s most south-westerly cathedral, as in the other forty-one, I hope.
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PS - the first St Paul’s girl choristers will be arriving in 2025: https://www.stpauls.co.uk/press-rele...s-to-its-choir
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