Rochester Cathedral
Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th December 2024
Choral Evensong
and Choral Eucharist
in England's second oldest cathedral.
Download
Booking Form
here.
Finish the year by singing the services in this remarkable historic setting, next to the gaunt but impressive ruin of 1000-year old Rochester Castle, and the charming high street of this town where Watling Street crosses the Medway, and which is associated with the Hugenots and with Charles Dickens, among many other notable connections.
Programme
Saturday 28th December
10.00am Welcome, registration and coffee
10.15am Workshop 1
11.30am Coffee
11.45am Workshop 2
1.00pm Lunch
1.45pm Rehearsal in Quire
3.15pm Evensong
4.15pm Tea
6.30pm Dinner
Sunday 29th December
8.30am Rehearsal
10.00am Coffee
10.30am Choral Eucharist
Noon Sunday Lunch (optional extra, select on the booking
form)
1pm Rehearsal
3.15pm Evensong
What will we sing?
We will be singing all the musical components of the Eucharist service
and of a traditional Book of Common Prayer Evensong: the hymns,
psalms, sung responses, canticles and a Mass setting, and three choral
anthems.
Messe brève No 7 in C Gounod
Ave Verum Corpus Elgar
Quem Pastores Laudavere Trad. arr. Praetorius
Ich steh an Deiner Krippen hier Gerhardt/Bach
Short Service Farrant
Canticles in B flat majorStainer
Responses Tallis
Who can take part?
This will appeal to anyone used to singing traditional four part sacred music in a
choir. There is no audition, and you do not need to be an expert sight
reader, but you do need to be able to read music well enough to learn
your part in advance, a very important part of a one-off choral
occasion such as this. A full set of rehearsal videos will be posted
at the bottom of this page and participants are encouraged to use
these for easy regular part-learning in the weeks prior to our visit.
You must do the homework and learn your part before we meet.
Those who arrive and are under-prepared and uncertain have a negative impact on our performance.
What does it cost?
The cost is £ 149 per person. This includes Saturday lunch, Saturday
tea/coffee break, Saturday evening dinner with wine, soft drinks and tea or coffee, (unrestricted but subject to reasonable consumption per
head), and Sunday coffee and tea at break times. It also includes a printed set
of all the music.
This year for the first time there is a lower rate of £75 for any singer aged 25 or less.
Sunday lunch is an optional extra, details of which are on the Booking
form.
Travel and accommodation is left to individual arrangement.
Download
Booking Form
here.
Can I bring a friend or partner?
Non singing friends, relatives and partners are welcome. If they wish only to attend the services these are open to the public at no charge. There is a reduced charge indicated on the Booking Form for any who wish to join us for the meals and refreshments.
What do I wear?
During the workshops and Saturday evening dinner you may dress
casually.
For the service, everyone must wear black. For the ladies this means
black dresses, or black tops and skirts or trousers, black shoes, and
discreet personal jewellery. Tights may be black or natural. For the
gentlemen, black shirts open at the neck, black trousers, socks and
shoes, and black jackets or jumpers if worn. Dinner jacket components
are acceptable.
It could be quite cold in December so bring warm wear. Black
jumpers or cardigans may be worn, even black coats if needed.
There is not much time for changing immediately prior to each service.
Preparation
Because we will be meeting as a full choir only on the day, it is very
important that everyone prepares in advance as much as necessary to be
able to sing their part on the day with few or no stumbles over the
notes.
I will place rehearsal videos for each part for each
piece here, which you can watch and sing along with as an efficient
and easy way to practice your part as often as you feel you need to.
This is extremly important - plan to sing through each item at least 5 or 6 times, either using the part-learning videos published here or on your own.
Do not arrive under-prepared and unable to sing your part reasonably accurately and confidently.
If you need accommodation, this is left up to individuals to organise. If you are planning to come, you may wish to book accommodation early, in order to get the best rates and good availability.
Download
Booking Form
here.
If you would like to know about future events like this send me an email at phil@withcheerfulvoice.org.uk.
Music files and practice videos for Rochester
Singers are not required to print and bring scores, as a printed book will be provided.
As part of your preparation listen to each of these practical videos specially made for us by professionnal singer Bethan Williams, to help improve your singing :
Setting up to Sing (6 minutes)
What is 'Support'? (3 minutes)
Happier High Notes (5 minutes)
Saturday: Choral Evensong
Farrant Nunc Dimittis
Psalm Full words sing through
Sunday: Choral Eucharist
The oldest pipes in Rochester's organ date from 1791.