I’m no stranger to choral singing, though we have a somewhat off-and-on relationship; more one of those casual friendships where you meet up every once in a while but don’t get resentful if you don’t hear from the other person.

However, so much of my choral experience has been outside of the standard Anglican parish tradition that I think this afternoon was actually (subject to memory lapses) the first time I have ever sung in a robed choir. You can imagine I was a little self-conscious about what I was doing with my feet processing out …

It was a fairly straightforward dep job, covering the bass scholar of St Matthew’s Bayswater for a Good Friday reflective service punctuated by four or so A&M hymns and the same number of (short, continuo semi-accompanied) anthems. But to be honest, on getting recruited about 10pm last night, about 45 minutes rehearsal and one to a part, with how much choral singing I have (or haven’t) done lately, I’m quite happy enough to have got through that to everyone’s expressed satisfaction! And it’s always nice to sing some vocal polyphony, even if little snippets (here of Weelkes, with some lovely miniature imitation, and intermittently startlingly chromatic Schutz).

Another day, another gig; it’s all good for the soul, the skills and the pocket. Onwards and upwards (or, in conventional way of holding a map, downwards) to Brighton tomorrow!