Stonehenge, Old Sarum and Panto

I tried to write a blog post last night but failed. I fell asleep at the computer, which slid to the floor and the light and TV and my specs were on as well.

I'll start with Salisbury then add Wells later.

Yesterday we went out to Stonehenge. I was expecting to be underwhelmed by it, given the reports of others, but I found it very beautiful and breathtaking in the cold, windy weather. I was amazed that photos seemed to have very few people in them although there were quite a few people there.

After Stonehenge we went to Old Sarum. The fort was closed but we went for a walk around the moat. Once we got to the top we found the Old Cathedral; a ruin of the Cathedral begun in 1070, just an eyeblink after William the Conqueror. The stone was all pulled down and used for the new Cathedral in Salisbury, but the foundations remained. So Leonie thought it was the time and place for a sing, and the obvious choice was Bruckner’s Locus Iste. I've inserted the text so you can see why...

Locus iste a Deo factus est, inaestimabile sacramentum, irreprehensibilis est.

This place was made by God, a priceless mystery; it is without reproof.

Another of those “hairs-on-the-back-of-your-neck-tear-inducing” renditions. The bar of silence was spell-binding. It really did take your breath away.

The Locus Iste moment

Always support your Cathedral
Thanks, Glen, for setting up this shot

Looking back to Salisbury Cathedral from Old Sarum

The Lay Clerks sang Evensong last night, giving the Trebles a well deserved night off. We had all been to the Panto to see Aladdin, although the Lay Clerks had to leave at interval to get to the Cathedral for the rehearsal. The Pantomime was classic, just as we have always been led to believe it is. All the “he’s behind you”, “Oh no you don’t, Oh yes you do”, hissing at the villains and an extraordinary number of lame jokes and double entendres. New phrase in the Alto vocabulary to describe one another is “My Low Fat Love Muffin”. The Trebles, their parents and Leonie said it was great fun. The Choir even got a mention at the end.

Evensong was lovely. We sang Sumsion in G canticles, with Ferial responses and a great anthem called Quaeramus cum pastoribus by Pedro de Cristo, which is just the right era/week for our Bella Crompton. Ask her about it some time. We were a little surprised when the mentioned an Introit, as we were not prepared for one so we sang a verse of Away in a Manger around the crib scene before we entered the Quire. Despite the problem the Altos have with remembering how to sing tunes this was in fact rather beautiful. I can’t remember when I last sang the tune for that.

And so to Wells. I will post this now so that I don't lose the draft again.

Cxxx

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