[Worcester Cathedral's Organ]

There is often a moment of terror when one is about to do something radical, but I do think that Worcester cathedral is going to end up with an instrument which will be wonderful for accompanying on, amongst other things. Having played the present instrument for a week for a visiting choir, I know that it is not easy for get a good balance - even were it all working fully. I look forward to seeing the new cases, too. Was Wells cathedral the last one to have a new case?

 

Theo

[Voluntaries Or Compulsories?]

What annoys me even more though, is when you hear a choir give a wonderful, atmospheric rendition of a beautiful anthem or motet only for the idiot priest to jump in far too soon to announce the next hymn, or "let us pray" or whatever. Often the final chord doesn't even have time to clear the accoustic. It makes you wonder why we bother.

 

I think we choirtrainers have to educate the clergy - is there any reason why we should assume not that they should know it all, or indeed anything to do with music. There is lovely passge by CS Lewis, in which he refers to the music framing the silence both before and after it, rather than the other way around. If the person taking the prayers has difficulty in judging a suitable length of time, ask him/her to wait until the choir has sat down - and then make sure that the choir at least understand what they are doing, and why, and that they should savour those wonderful moments at the end of the anthem to the full, quietly and without movement, waiting for the sign from the conductor to sit down. You would have to be insensitve to break into that!