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Last week the Choir enjoyed a choral workshop with Nigel Short, Artistic Director of the award-winning professional choir Tenebrae. After a warm-up and singing games the Choir rehearsed several anthems including No small wonder by Paul Edwards, Whence is that goodly fragrance by Sumsion and There shall a star by Mendelssohn. Nigel was delighted with the sound of the Choir and quickly moved on to aspects of technique which he normally reserves for Tenebrae. Praise indeed!
After a short break the sopranos and altos sang a movement from Britten’s Ceremony of Carols which they had sung in full last term. Nigel was especially keen to hear this as he’s recording it with Tenebrae later this year and he was really impressed with the blend of the Lancing upper voices. Next the Choral Scholars went upstairs to the main Chapel to sing This is the record of John by Gibbons with star countertenor Benjamin I-C singing the extensive solo. Nigel, as a former counter-tenor himself, was extremely complimentary about Benjamin’s tone and poise as a soloist. Finally, the singers worked on psalm singing as this is such a core ingredient of liturgy.
It was a thrill for the Choir to work with such a distinguished conductor and former member of the King’s Singers, in what we hope will be the first of a number of collaborations.
Alex Mason, Director of Music
(Published on 24/1/2022)