We then drove to Durham Cathedral where we
had sometime to explore and take photos. These photos will
be included in the journal tomorrow. Choral Evensong was at
5:30pm. The music was sung by the men and women of the
choir, all the music having only alto, tenor and bass parts.
The responses were by Rose, the Magnificat was Victoria's
"Sexti toni", the Nunc Dimittis by Reid and the anthem "In
Pace" by Shephard (the title of which was mispronounced by
the clergyperson who introduced it, much to the amusement of
some in the choir!). The Psalms were sung to plainchant.
This requires the singers to sing in unison (all the same).
The blending of the voices was excellent and all the music
was of a very high standard.
I noticed someone I know in the congregation. David Hill, a
distinguished church musician, has been to Australia twice.
The first was an RSCM Summer School in 1984 in Adelaide
(which I attended) and then in 2019 for the "Sydney
Inspires" RSCM summer school (attended by Satoshi and me).
When we spoke to him, we learned that he was to conduct the
combined Durham Choral Society and Leeds Philharmonic the
next day. Satoshi and I resolved to attend.
We enjoyed dinner at an Italian restaurant "
La Spaghettata".