In praise of choral evensong

Choir stalls at St David's Cathedral

I'm ambivalent to the austere charms of C of E choral evensong when I hear it broadcast on the radio (Twice weekly on Radio 3, live at 3.30pm on Wednesday and repeated at 4pm Sunday). But when I see (or even take part in) this intimate performance live, it's an entirely different experience. The way voices carry within the transcendent architecture and massive acoustic of a mediaeval cathedral is nothing short of astounding; every note seems to shimmer with a halo of resonance.

Coming from a Welsh chapel background, I didn't grow up with the rituals of Anglican liturgy, so the mysteries of the responses and when you're supposed to stand up and sit down again are not familiar to me. But all of this seems inconsequential when you hear a choir's performance of a Stanford anthem or their sensitive singing of the Psalms and Canticles. I've heard them described as 'minor musical miracles in a gigantic space'. Hyperbolic language, perhaps, but I agree.

Once a year I sing a week of choral evensongs at St David's cathedral with the East Wickham Singers. I thoroughly enjoy being part of a centuries-old musical tradition and I look forward to the meditative and reflective moments the services allow me. If I lived in St David's, or close to one of our other great cathedrals, I think evensong would become a regular musical ritual for me. It's a living tradition that costs precisely nothing to experience live. The best free show in town! 

St David's 2012: Part 1

Lych gate at St Mary's, Roch

Up early this morning and off to St Mary's church, Roch, to meet up with the East Wickham Singers for a rehearsal for tomorrow's choral eucharist. An interesting church with a few wall plaques of note. I was particularly struck by one commemorating two brothers killed in WW1. One of them already had a Military Medal and a recommendation for a VC pending at the time he went 'over the top' leading his brigade.

In the afternoon we went for a walk near the Treffgarne Gorge. We had intended to do a circular route but this was spoilt by some undecipherable footpath diversion signs. Nonetheless we had a good 4 mile stroll with some fantastic panoramic views of coast and mountains. In the distance we could make out the Preseli Hills. Strange to think that some of the monoliths used to build Stonehenge came from there. It's a long drag to Wiltshire. But not to the tea room at Nant-y-Coy Mill where we repaired for light refreshments. Simple things done extremely well and a place definately worthy of a return visit.


Preseli Hills in the distance



In the footsteps of Rhys the Anonymous

Here we are back in St David's for our annual sojourn at the cottage we rent, Glowty. Arrived last night and went out for a stroll along the beach at Whitesands. Glorious views but, oh dear me, it was cold. Winter is a coming in.

And Rhys? Absolutely no idea  but he left his signature in the sand. I do hope he enjoys his time at St David's as well. Perhaps our paths will cross sometime this week? I'll keep my eyes open for someone who looks like a Rhys.