I do seem to be having something of a dry spell, in terms of blogging here. I have been quite busy!
I composed an anthem; it was sung during a church service on 27th September. The sheet music is available here and a MIDI file here; I don’t yet have a suitable recording. The piece is dedicated to Rev Dr Catherine Dowland-Pillinger, on the occasion of her ordination to the priesthood of the Church of England, and the church service was the first Eucharist at which she presided. I’m very grateful to the vicar, music director and choir at St Mary’s, Addington for allowing me to contribute in this way.
Closer to home, I’ve been rehearsing with a couple of other ex-Trinity students. Between us we play an eclectic variety of instruments and it has been good fun finding and adapting repertoire to suit our sound. We’ll be playing this Sunday at the launch of the Roots and Remembrance exhibition at St Andrew’s Church, Colworth Road, London, E11 1JD. The launch begins at 11.30am, after the annual Rememberance Sunday service.
Also at St Andrew’s, I’ve been learning a bit of how to play the organ. It’s a lot of fun, this making notes with my feet, but really very difficult to co-ordinate with my hands! I’ve also been doing some singing in the choir there. We will be having a Lessons & Carols service on 13th December, and welcome anyone interested in singing in our Community Choir to join us for rehearsals on Friday nights from 7pm.
On December 9th will be the annual London Gallery Quire Christmas concert, held as last year at St George’s German Lutheran Church, 55 Alie Street, London E1 8EB. Do arrive 6.30pm for the 7pm start; tickets are £5 on the door. As well as the rare treat of listening to West Gallery music this is a good chance to see the inside of the oldest German church in Britain.
I almost forgot to mention the London Performance Collective lunchtime concert at St John’s Notting Hill at 1pm this coming Thursday, 12th November. This concert of “Known, Visible Music” will include works by Bassi, Piazzolla and Whitlock, as well as yours truly playing the Haydn Divertimento a tre for horn, violin and ‘cello.
It would be great to see some familiar faces!