Lessons and Carols

Last night, Puff and I went to the Cathedral for Advent Lessons and Carols. St Mike's Boys Choir was in their usual excellent form. Some of the music choices were a bit unusual, though. They chose many lesser known pieces to sing. For instance, they sang the seven O Antiphons, which are rarely done today.   They did Bruckner's Ave Maria- again, not a common choice. There were also some hymns for the people to sing along with, but some of them I had never heard before- and I sing all the time.

They made no mention that the 'lessons and carols' was invented by the Anglicans at King's College, almost exactly one hundred years ago to the day. The Anglicans, however, choose quite different music. It is not Christmas in England until some young boy steps forward at the back of the chapel at King's College and begins singing 'Once in Royal David's City.' Also, the readings are generally much better done by the Anglicans. They have that high art tone that is, on the one hand, very easy to parody, but when done well it is full of drama and moment. Skilled readers could have their audience enthralled as they read from a phone book. If phone books were still around, that is.  So they have us beat when it come's to reading, but our Boy's Choir takes a back seat to no one, so there's that.

Speaking of the Boy's Choir, I usually reflect on their original purpose when I hear them or write about them.  They were formed to provide music for the Cathedral, of course, but one of the intentions in forming the school was to create a body of talented singers who would then fan out throughout the Archdiocese and form the nuclei of other parish choirs.   To that end, the boys are trained not only in singing but in organ and piano as well.  However, that end has not been well served.  Generally, speaking, the boys pretty much vanish without a trace upon graduation.  Many seem to never sing another note.  Those who try and stay with music want to- very unsurprisingly- want to be paid for it, and unfortunately Catholics generally either do not pay or they pay very, very poorly, and not nearly as much as a man who has spent ten or more years learning and honing their craft deserves. Also, the music we sing is generally terrible and sung badly. When they hear such choirs and such music, they are more likely to say to themselves "That's awful! I want no part in that." than 'That's awful! I should go in and help them clean up their act."   So you will seldom see an alumni from St Mike's in a Catholic choir.  You are much more likely to see them in one of the Anglican choirs around the city.  They sing better music, they sing it well, and they pay much better for the time and talent of their singers.   

Enough of that.  All in all, a nice night out for a few hours, beautiful music