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GLOUCESTER, ENGLAND - It is a church choir's dream to be able to sing to the glory of God in an ancient and holy space; with a seven-second reverberation to boot. "After we've finished a final chord, the sound just keeps on traveling until it finishes filling every inch of that massive space," said one chorister after finishing an Evensong service. "And even then you still hear it echoing in the rafters. It's as though another choir is up in the rafters repeating what we've sung. It's a wonderful experience." Under the name "St. Mark's Choir," members of our own choir and several other choirs have been enjoying singing in one of England's finest acoustical spaces: Gloucester Cathedral. They are serving as the choir in residence while the Cathedral Choir is on school holiday. They began singing for services last Monday, August 14 and will conclude on Tuesday, August 22. Gloucester Cathedral is situated on a site where Christian worship has taken place for over 1300 years. William the Conqueror ordered construction of the present building in 1089 as an abbey. It is a magnificent structure with a Norman nave. It was the setting for PBS's television version of the novel "The Choir," and will soon host the filming of a Harry Potter book. David Whitehouse, who serves as St. Mark's Director of Instrumental Music, is musically directing the choir, with John Linker (Organist/Choirmaster) of St. Charles Episcopal Parish playing the organ. The final two Evensong services will see Gordon Baker (a former organ teacher for Whitehouse) directing the choir, with Whitehouse at the organ. In all, they will have completed singing eight Choral Evensong services and one Sunday morning Eucharist service. Each service is very demanding for the choir; with up to three or four anthems, a chanted Psalm and several sung responses. It is especially challenging for those singers who have never experienced this type of sung, liturgical service before. And even for those cradle Episcopalians, the liturgy and service music of the Anglican church is just different enough from the American Episcopal service to make you have to pay close attention to what you are doing. Combine that with a Cathedral setting that boasts a highly-respected music program, and you have a recipe for hard work and nerves about doing it right. Services are going well, however, and the choir is enjoying this labor of love. Singers in this special choir range across many ages and denominations, and include members of our own St. Mark's Choir, St. Charles Parish and St. Michael's Episcopal in Barrington, IL. Some have traveled from as far away as California and Massachusetts to be a part of this tour. It is not all grueling work. Led by tour organizer Peter Baldwin, the choir has gone on several day excursions to places such as Windsor, Tewkesbury, Oxford, Worcester, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Bath. Some members have gone off on their own adventures; taking the train to London, or renting a car and enjoying the countryside. Some choristers have family members traveling with them. Tricia Rusin of St. Mark's brought her entire family with her; three sons, a daughter and her husband. "It's an opportunity of a lifetime, and I decided we all were going to do this as a family," she said. "And here we are!" So far the trip has gone very smoothly, and there have been no major mishaps, short of one broken-down rental car. Nobody has gotten lost (except perhaps on a page of an anthem), and folks are in good health. Everyone is well aware and grateful for the prayer support offered by those back home. Many tour members have expressed appreciation about the prayers offered by the Cathedral's clergy during the Evensong services. They pray with great sincerity all of the prayer requests left by visitors each day, including many children. And they also thank God for the visiting choir, pray for St. Mark's and the Chicago Diocese, and for the choir's families at home. - by Senja Morgan, Director of Choral Music |
