Great to see the Probationers 'acting up' in to the full choir and what a weekend too. Saturday was the School Summer Fair, albeit bracketed by two rehearsals whilst Sunday was the second orchestral Mass.
I remember when Tom spent his first weekend in the Cathedral, very exciting for us and especially for Tom as all of the parts of the jigsaw puzzle began to fit into place. New timings, arrangements and for us, the beginning of weekend services at the Cathedral.
We actually missed the summer fair on Saturday as we had a family wedding, one of the few reasons that Choristers are let off their duties. Pity to miss the fair (Tom had planned a stall with one of his mates), although early reports are that we did well and all had a good time. As a member of the school PTA I had organised the raffle tickets as this was one of the few tasks that could be completed in advance of the day. The fair is our main fund raising activity of the year and the raffle key to that; although looking at the numbers the children's stalls actually raised more than the raffle (and their efforts go straight to a Children's charity).
Due to the wedding, we had a very early start Sunday as Tom needed to get back for a 09.15 rehearsal. Because the 11.00 service was with orchestra, the rehearsal took place in the School hall (not the smaller Cathedral rehearsal room); and as mum took him back she was able to take a little peek at the session from the gallery. In the two years Tom has been at St. Paul's, we've never seen a rehearsal; it really does happen behind closed doors. The boys are in School Uniform (no tie) and the gentlemen are the professional Vicars Choral who provide the Alto, Tenor and Bass. Hugely talented all of them and along with the organist and Director of Music makes St. Paul's Cathedral Choir one of the finest in the World.
The mass was Mozart's Missa Solemnis in C (K.337) as part of the July series celebrating the genius of Mozart, performed with the City of London Sympnonia. Truly remarkable and awesome, especially given the setting under the great dome.
Two of the boys sang solos, standing, metaphorically, head and shoulder with the male Vicars Choral soloists. Amazing to see how these young lads of 11 and 12 years of age take this in their stride.
In a break from our tradition of sitting closest to the Choir on Sunday mornings (for the Eucharist they sit under the dome, not in the Quire), we sat directly opposite them across the dome so they were singing straight at us, as it were. It might have looked something like this.
After a wonderful lunch in the Crypt restaurant, it was off to Evensong at 3.15. Along with Tom's Uncle (himself an ex-Chorister) and Nannie and Gramps, we sat in the quire stalls with a great view as the Choir took their places. Now with 5 or 6 probationers acting up, there were 12 boys on Decani; room for a few more, but not many. The Pros in their black Cassock and stiff white Ruff looked very wonderful; and in September they'll receive their white surplice and be made up to full Chorister just like Tom did last year.
