Head's Newsletter 17 June 2022

MUSIC

Westminster Abbey Organ

Beginning the afternoon with rehearsals in the abbey ’ s ancient choir stalls, the choir rested from rehearsals with a guided tour of the building, taking them up into the highest corners of the building where some of the institution ’ s most important artefacts are now on display. At the service the choir made an impressive sound, seemingly filling the space and matching the powerful reeds of the 1937 Harrison and Harrison organ (installed for the coronation of King George VI) in Sumsion ’ s setting of the evening canticles in A. The preces and responses by Ayleward were also sung beautifully, before the service concluded with an expressive rendition of Faure ’ s Cantique de Jean Racine, a fitting end to the choir term.

Britten St. Nicolas with Teddington Choral Society

Members of the Tiffin Boys ’ Choir were delighted to be invited to appear as soloists and semi - chorus members with the Teddington Choral Society in their recent performance of Benjamin Britten ’ s St. Nicolas at All Saints ’ Church in Kingston. In this work, the treble semi - chorus, which stands apart from the chorus of adult voices, sings in dialogue with the chorus from their offstage position, creating an ethereal effect. From this semi - chorus, three trebles are taken to perform the role of the ‘ pickled boys ’. These characters feature in the retelling of one gruesome story from the life of St. Nicolas, in which he brings these children back to life, alongside his other good works of saving sailors at sea and freeing slaves from captivity. The choir members gave excellent performances and were a credit to the choir and school in this performance enjoyed by a large audience at All Saints ’ Church.