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Our Final Day in York

It has been wonderful to have a mini-residency in one Cathedral, especially with the people at York Minster being so very welcoming and kind.  This evening we sang the last of our services and bunked out of the Camera Cantorum, the Minster's Song School, which has been our musical home for the past three days. We have had two rehearsals in there as well as warming up before services, sorting music and robing. And here is a picture of Edward Bairstow's piano. With a garish Christmas tree,


Tonight we sang Sanders Responses, Howells Gloucester Service canticles, one psalm and an anthem from memory, What Cheer. It was David Heah's first turn on the York Minster Organ. David and Alana had a very special experience yesterday when they went to visit 97yo Francis Jackson (of Jackson in G fame). He even did some improvisation on his home organ for them. 

 Here is David on the flight deck tonight.



Earlier in the day we had a tour of the Minster, broken into three groups, using our financial groups - each day High McPharlin, Melissa Bochner and David Thomas hand out our per diem, which is our lunch money and dinner money if it is required. So this seemed like a natural grouping. Then after the tour we met in the Chapter House for the first Locus Iste moment. This was well received by our tag-alongs and the public who stopped to listen. 

 Meanwhile, while we were singing, Alice Crompton lost a tooth, while eating a Skittle (the sweet, not the bowling pin). It was one of her capped "Princess" teeth. Here is the evidence. 


We hope that the Tooth Fairy comes this far.

 Here are some of the Girls in the Chapter House


And some more pictures of the Minster. 

This Madonna and Infant statue was head-free for many centuries. It dates to 13th Century


The stonemason wanted to do a man putting his head in a lion's mouth but he did not know what a lion looked like so he did a sheep with sharp teeth

Risque bosses - nun and abbott


Dragon in the Nave





With the Chancellor and two vergers
And here is my Taylor Walker Steak and Ale Pie at lunch at Ye Olde Starr Inn


Dear Reader, please look after one another as you face these difficult days of fire. 

 Much love, Cxx

Comments

  1. AnonymousJanuary 3, 2015 at 5:29 AM

    One of the nice things about being home from LHI was catching up with all your doings and viewing the splendid and memory-stirring photos. I read them to your Mother this afternoon. What a wonderful experience for the young organists to meet Francis Jackson.
    Coming out of LHI we were all weighed and our baggage to boot - as we boarded we were told that NO checked baggage would accompany us. as the plane was full. We're not sure if it was the Frequent Flyer priority tags. or our age, but our two cases did make the flight. Going over on 27/12 we met the Sherrard contingent, who had flown to LHI and been unable to land because of cloud and rain - they made it on 28/12.
    S,P, J and O surprised us with champagne before dinner with them on 29th.
    All in all a most pleasant sojourn - and Nixon was pleased indeed to see us - JP met us - in a max of 44.1C
    Every good wish to you and those who know us. D/B

    ReplyDelete
  2. Christine BealJanuary 9, 2015 at 2:05 AM

    Dear Reader
    This is what happens when you give your parents access to the Internet! They send lovely long letters. Thanks Dad.
    Cxx

    ReplyDelete

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