Choral Conundrums

[decantor]

Actually, Simon, I intended the answer to the 'original plan' part of the puzzle to include "Opus Dei", or "regularly", sung by an all-male choir, as at St Paul's (and to include "Anglican" to exclude the Drome). Obviously visiting choirs and so forth might include girls. I was under the impression that the fun part of the puzzle was to work out the route, which was not hard and played for a few laughs on the way, and that I needed something a little more subtle linking the locations to provide some meat for brains to chew over! Oh dear! I apologise if I miscalculated. (I'd toyed with the colours of cassocks as the link!).

And yes: a single word can now wrap up this episode.

[Simon]

Perhaps we should fly very stedily, should we?

[Simon]

You didn't miscalculate - and it's been an excellent puzzle, dec. Well done and thanks indeed. I know of at least one cathedral vestry where it has lain printed out, but nobody's bothered to post here - and I bet it's occupied quite a few minds on and off.

But I may have miscalculated with my "hint" in the above post, as you have said "one word". I thought St Eds had no girls, but it's a while since I was down there. I can't offhand think of another cathedral where there's no girls' outfit.

[subcontrabass]

So, all we need to do is take off from Gloss in the direction of the nearest cathedral that doesn't have girls... and I expect it won't be long before somebody tells us where that is!

That, presumably is Hereford.

[Simon]

Well, if we go back South-West it is, scb - but we've passed it already, so I thought we needed to keep East back towards the start!

[decantor]

Quite right, scb: Hereford it is. Well done to all (ardcarp, Simon, Dilbert, and scb) on a fine team effort!

And thank you for your kind words, Simon. I hope the cathedral choir in question didn't take their eyes off the music for too long. Still, I guess folks will think twice before asking me to take my turn at posing a conundrum again!

(PS: I never did crack the "stedily" reference in your earlier post - I was too busy trying to think up a St Edward's!)

[decantor]

Well, if we go back South-West it is, scb - but we've passed it already, so I thought we needed to keep East back towards the start!

I thinkyou'll find, Simon, that Hereford is NW of Gloss. Interestingly, unless I'm much mistaken, the next leg of the trip would be all the way up to Ripon - and then he's got to fight his way back taking in Christ Church, Oxford, and no doubt other places between.

[subcontrabass]

I thinkyou'll find, Simon, that Hereford is NW of Gloss. Interestingly, unless I'm much mistaken, the next leg of the trip would be all the way up to Ripon - and then he's got to fight his way back taking in Christ Church, Oxford, and no doubt other places between.

What about Carlisle?

[decantor]

What about Carlisle?

True - we're now into the sphere of detailed route planning. As far as I know, the NE cathedrals all have girls' sections (Durham quite recently), so you may well be right that Ripon is better visited after Carlisle, on the return southwards. And where after that? I haven't sorted that out yet, but it will surely be another long leg. It might be Norwich, where the girls sing only once a week - we're into a grey area.

[subcontrabass]

True - we're now into the sphere of detailed route planning. As far as I know, the NE cathedrals all have girls' sections (Durham quite recently), so you may well be right that Ripon is better visited after Carlisle, on the return southwards. And where after that? I haven't sorted that out yet, but it will surely be another long leg. It might be Norwich, where the girls sing only once a week - we're into a grey area.

Lichfield before Norwich?

[decantor]

Lichfield before Norwich?

Lichfield before Carlisle, I would have thought; and, on reflection over my original scheme, I'm inclined to disqualify Norwich anyway.

Curious about Lichfield. I had thought that part of the recent 'restructuring' of the music staff there was the inclusion of a girls' section. It seems I'm wrong - there is no mention of such on the Lichfield website. (It's rather touching that they name all their choristers, going back a hundred years.)

[Simon]

No, no, no, no! Lichfield have a girls' choir, though to be fair it's the LCS girls' choir - but they do sing services. Ripon have a "proper" one - the girls sang with the boys in their last CE broadcast in fact - and very good they are too!

Re geography - yes dec you are absolutely right technically and I'm sorry - but you have to blame the M5! Heff from Wuss takes a while; Gloss from Wuss takes what seems like a few minutes - esp. at in the early hours! So it seems an age to get to the Welsh border, hence the theory that you'd automatically go Heff - Gloss - Wuss on your way up - from Cardiff, of course, which is where I'd be coming from habitually if I did it, as I work a fair bit in Cardiff. From Truro no; Gloss first - so I give you best!

[decantor]

Thanks for sorting out my confusion, Simon. I'm glad to get confirmation that there is a girls' outfit at Lichfield, though it appears they sing services only two or three times a term. Over Ripon, I had somehow got it into my head that there were no girl choristers: how wrong can one be? It's lucky I didn't send Percival that far North!

As regards the geography, I must own up to local knowledge, as I live more or less equidistant from the Three Choirs cathedrals. I do see how the M5 might give a false impression, with Heff being well off the beaten motorway track - even the M50 is not much help.

I await your revenge - your next conundrum - with trepidation!

[Simon]

Well, I have an idea for one that I think will be generally enjoyed, but I'm a bit tied up with work at the moment and I might have to go away a day or two as well, and it needs time to work out. So if you or anybody else has anything to amuse and occupy, I'm sure it will be well-received. I hope to be up and running again by Thursday.

bws to all

[ardcarp]

Conundrums in the Doldrums? Maybe time to kickstart it. So here's a very easy one...so easy you'll need to be quick on the button to win.

Q. What is the common factor in this music list?

Introit: We wait for thy loving kindness - McKie
Resonses: Smith
Psalm 104 Crotch
Canticles: Byrd's Great Service
Anthem: Faire is the Heaven - Harris
Organ: Processional - Mathias


....and the winner has to set a new one!