A & B CHOIRS FESTIVAL 2005

Saturday 9th July at the Friary, Crawley

This was another enjoyable day if different from previous choir festivals.
There were different faces, a different format, and we worked on one Mass setting rather than learning a variety of music from different sources.
“No Greater Love” by Michael Joncas was the chosen Mass setting and while there was not time to learn all the parts, we were introduced to enough selection to give us a good flavour of this lovely music.
A departure form the normal format of the day, was to have the singing rehearsals interspersed by some commentaries. These were ably led by Barbara Hopper, Sarah Adams & Canon Gerry Coates and gave the opportunity to reflect on what we were doing, what each part of the Mass meant, and how we could enhance that meaning through our music. Personally, I found this a great help, bringing additional meaning and prayer to our days’ efforts.
The much needed lunch break gave an opportunity to chat with other people who had come from all over the diocese. It is always good to meet up again with folk one may have met at Sayers Common or at other Diocesan Music Days.
Everybody worked very hard, as usual. Tea and coffee appears as if by magic and is just as mysteriously cleared away again. Books and CD’s are available for sale. Someone has to organise this.
The culmination of a day that demanded concentration and effort was a most moving Mass led by Father Gerry. The singing was beautifully embellished by some able instrumentalists, including Francesca Harris on the harp, Claire O’Brien on Flute and we were lucky to gain, at short notice Tim Roe on the organ who demonstrated through a magnificent final voluntary that the organ was, after all, not that bad!
Peter Olsen, our musical director, introduced the day by apologising that it would be different. You need not have worried, Peter. If everyone’s style was the same, we would loose the variety that makes us sit up and think afresh about what we are doing through our music for the Mass – so - thank-you for being Peter.