This year’s autumn gathering was held at Salisbury Cathedral and was preceded by the first CMT Academic Conference, entitled New Generation Perspectives, held at Sarum College in the cathedral grounds. As the conference was finishing, so almost 120 Friends and Supporters were gathering in the Cathedral’s south transept, collecting their badges and programmes and chatting.
After initial introductions from Jean Duerden, the event organiser, and Chris Barnard, Local Ambassador for Salisbury, the Dean, the Very Revd Nicholas Papadopulos, introduced the Cathedral by saying: Welcome to the most beautiful cathedral in the land, at which point there was an intake of breath! However, by the time we had heard the choir and explored the cathedral buildings, the stained glass, the tower and the precinct over the next two and a half days, this writer, for one, was tempted to agree with him!
Director of Music, David Halls, gave us a very detailed and interesting talk about the choirs and the music at the cathedral, demonstrating his patience and understanding, both of which were clearly in evidence during the Open Rehearsal prior to Evensong on Saturday evening. This talk was followed by an excellent organ recital given by John Challenger, Assistant Director of Music, and including music by Bach, Stanford, and Nadia Boulanger. There followed a beautiful Evensong, and later that evening, Compline, featuring the Lay Vicars.
As always, food and drink featured strongly over the weekend, with an excellent Dinner in the Refectory, Sunday lunch in the Cosy Club, cream teas in the cloisters and a farewell reception where the wine flowed well! At the Dinner, the Dean amused us all with a specially written rhyming grace before the meal and an excellent and most unexpected speech afterwards.
In her gathering programme, Jean had carefully noted details of some enchanting places to visit in and around the precinct and many of us took advantage of these suggestions on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, always returning to the cathedral for the full range of sung services.
There were many highlights of the weekend’s music, including a stirring set of Stanford canticles at Mattins, and a delightful Palestrina Mass setting for the Eucharist. One of the highlights for me was John Challenger’s beautiful organ arrangement of Venus from The Planets, which can be enjoyed on the cathedral’s YouTube channel complete with drone footage – well worth a look!
Many congratulations and thanks to all at Salisbury Cathedral for their warm welcome over the two and a half days, and especial thanks to Jean for her brilliant organisation.
by Rosemary Downey, Regional Coordinator for the North, West and Wales
