April 27, 2012
Gloucester
We were sad to say goodbye to Rosalie, but exchanged contact information and hope to maintain a distant friendship.
During the long-ish coach drive to Gloucester, Michelle and I watched The Iron Lady with Meryl Streep on the iPad. We rented it to supplement our cultural experience here and learn a little more about England's more recent history. The film is very well acted. Meryl Streep is incredible. There were things I didn't care for though. Rather than rant on about it here, I'll leave an open invitation for discussion to anyone interested in sharing opinions about the film and about one of the most controversial leaders England has ever had.
When we arrived in Gloucester, we had some time to walk around and enjoy the city. We spent most of the time before dinner at our performance venue, touring and learning about its history. The crypt was particularly interesting and again, everything is so incredibly old.
We ate dinner at a restaurant called the New Inn that was built in the old Tudor style. It was very old and was leaning so far over that I wondered how it didn't just fall down. We ate an English roast of Yorkshire pudding, roast meat, potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower. I thought it was slightly bland except for the English mustard that could burn the hairs in your nostrils.
The concert in Gloucester went really well. I especially enjoyed singing our renaissance pieces in that space that was designed for such music and vice-versa.
Our host family was another American family. They were also friends with Whitney Larson, one of our altos, from her home town in Texas. It was quite the experience. When I asked the dad what he did for a living, he quickly response that he was the chief executive of a billion-dollar international company. I wondered about how well we would get along. Any uncertainty was quickly put away when he showed me his guitar and bass collection. We jammed for a bit, ate a little and went to be in a beautiful, large room with a private bathroom. It was a wonderful and needed night of sleep.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Gloucester
April 26, 2012
Norwich
We drove from Cambridge to Norwich and went first to a workshop. I always enjoy the workshops because it's a chance to share a lot about our music making with people who speak our same language. Unfortunately, our workshop in Norwich was with a very young group and we quickly found a bond through the music of Glee than through our regular repertoire. It was a bit rowdy for my taste, but hopefully some of those kids could feel something inspiring.
Following the workshop we went to Norwich Castle. After eating a nice sack lunch on the castle grounds, we had a nice tour of the castle by a local member of the church who just finished his dissertation on the history of the castle. It was a neat tour with lots of great history. So sad that for 500 years of its history it served as a prison before being given to the city as a historical landmark, now converted to a museum.
The feeling through all of Norwich was very old. The shops just down from the castle have been bustling since before the 9th century. To enjoy the city better, Michelle and I split off with Devin & Rachael. We went to first to the Norwich Cathedral which was absolutely stunning. While we were there, word got out that members of a choir were in the cathedral. We assembled and found that nearly half the choir was present with proportional representation from each section. So, we gathered an sang 2 songs. It was really incredible to sing in that space.
We wanted to have time to peruse the shops, so Michelle and I went with the Andertons to the shops where Michelle found a "big girl purse" as she puts it. That's how she decided to spend some of her graduation money.
We had to hurry back to our rehearsal sight which was St. Andrews Hall in Norwich. The rehearsal went well, but it was the first time I felt like members of the choir were beginning to feel the stress of tour. After our rehearsal we split into sections for a bit of kumbayah. I thought it was good timing and hopefully will prevent stress and frustration to grow. (Group dynamics on tour are very interesting.)
After dinner, we sang another great concert. We're really, really spoiled this tour with the venues we have lined up. St. Andrews Hall was a great place to sing and the audience was really warm. We also had many dignitaries in attendance. What struck me the most was a tidbit of information that our concert sponsor included in a pamphlet for us about the area. Apparently the last time the Mormon church was addressed formally in St Andrews Hall was during the early days of the church in England when several pastors called a meeting there to discuss the erroneous Mormon doctrine. It was incredible to contrast that with the warm welcome we received from the Lord Mayor and all other dignitaries in attendance.
The most important part of our time in Norwich is named Rosalie Samaroo. Rosalie is a Scottish widow that hosted Michelle and me. I think Michelle and I must have a think for cute old ladies because we became attached very quickly just like we did to Janice 2 years ago. Rosalie was so warm and funny. She invited us down for a chocolate and biscuits (hot chocolate and cookies) after we changed into more comfortable clothes, which really is the number one priority. We laughed a lot and she talked a lot about her daughters and her late husband who was from India, which explains her interesting last name. She was so sweet to us. We had some laundry to do that night. After putting it in I notice that she didn't have a tumbler (dryer). I asked her about it and she told me not to worry, that she had a way of drying our clothes in time for our early morning departure. I'm pretty sure her "way" was to stay up late into the night ironing our clothes dry. She was so sweet and kind. We were overwhelmed.
Cambridge
April 25, 2012
Cambridge
If you follow more than one blog that counts the tales of this tour, your certain to hear all about the rain and they would all be right. Rain was in fact the feature of the day, but the word of the day must be beauty. More about that later.
Michelle and I stayed with a really nice couple named the Lawson's. They were very hospitable and we were a bit relieved last night when they sent us to bed early. I woke up early to work out with the exercise band. It felt great even if it was rather ineffective because the space was so limited. Homes in England and everything in them is very small, at least in comparison to the urban sprawl we are accustomed to.
We took the coach to Cambridge. It was a wonderful return to such a beautiful place. The thing about Cambridge is the constant, lingering question that anyone you happen to pass in the street is possibly among the greatest minds in the world.
One of our first activities was meeting with Stephen Cleobury, who directs the chapel choir of Kings College at Cambridge. It was an exciting opportunity because he is among the most important conductors in Britain. The plan was for us to sing from our repertoire for him and he would give us feedback on how to improve. I really hate to sound cocky, but literally every point he made felt like a pat on my back as I have long advocated the ideas he gave us. He gave mostly suggestions about intonation that we're very useful and very much in my line of thinking. It was a good experience, one that I thought was very interesting and helpful for our choir. I also felt very proud to represent BYU and the church in such a way. He seemed very impressed by the fact that we performed memorized as that is not something he is accustomed to. (Obviously that comes with the territory though since his choir performs multiple services and concerts a week - memorization is an impossibility.)
After our workshop and a sack lunch, we broke into smaller groups to tour the colleges of Cambridge and the surrounding area. Michelle and I ended up in a group led by a former BYU student studying at Cambridge. It was such a a beautiful place and I felt so torn by my curiosity in the things that the tour guide was telling and my curiosity in the beautiful sites that I wanted to look at through my viewfinder. One of the real highlights was the Wren Library. Unfortunately there was a strict no photography rule. It was so inspiring to walk into that hall of learning. Wren's design was influenced by his interest in chess. The black and white tiled floor served as a battlefield of thought between the statues of ancient philosophers and thinkers on the left side and the modern masters on the left. Very impressive.
Toward the end of our walk around the town the rains began to come down with greater fervor. I had to cease shooting and holster my camera to protect it from the torrent. We finally took refuge on the coach and went to rehearse in the United Emanuel Church in preparation for our concert. It was a small but beautiful l church, well suited, I think, to the size of our choir. Following our rehearsal we got to eat in the dining hall of Pembroke College in Cambridge. I found myself more than a little ravenous.
My only regret up to this point in the tour is that I haven't gotten to spend as much time with my dear Michelle as I would like. Responsibilities as hour president have,at times held me back from the merriment I would much prefer. I hope though, that as tour moves along I will be able to enjoy her company more.
I found myself a little nervous to perform for our audience that night as they come from a truly erudite community, one that has become more and more unbelieving in a supreme being. I really wanted our music to make a spiritual impression as well as a musical one. I thought that we sang very well and was really touched by a comment that came from one of our sponsors at Cambridge. We received many compliments from the people at the concert, especially from the members of the church. Our sponsor said, "You have to realize that when the church members tell you what a wonderful concert you sang, it has significant meaning. The members here have lived their whole lives in the shadows of the college choirs of Cambridge. So it means so much to them when they can claim your group as their own." It was really satisfying. It seems that more than any other Singers tour, I'm seeing the good that we're spreading.
Our host family in Cambridge was an American family living outside Cambridge. We stayed up late into the night enjoying some of the amenities that are not as common it English homes. We also had Karli West and Heather Barton along with us on our home stay. I think we were all up late on the Internet, reconnecting to our world across the pond.
Cambridge
If you follow more than one blog that counts the tales of this tour, your certain to hear all about the rain and they would all be right. Rain was in fact the feature of the day, but the word of the day must be beauty. More about that later.
Michelle and I stayed with a really nice couple named the Lawson's. They were very hospitable and we were a bit relieved last night when they sent us to bed early. I woke up early to work out with the exercise band. It felt great even if it was rather ineffective because the space was so limited. Homes in England and everything in them is very small, at least in comparison to the urban sprawl we are accustomed to.
We took the coach to Cambridge. It was a wonderful return to such a beautiful place. The thing about Cambridge is the constant, lingering question that anyone you happen to pass in the street is possibly among the greatest minds in the world.
One of our first activities was meeting with Stephen Cleobury, who directs the chapel choir of Kings College at Cambridge. It was an exciting opportunity because he is among the most important conductors in Britain. The plan was for us to sing from our repertoire for him and he would give us feedback on how to improve. I really hate to sound cocky, but literally every point he made felt like a pat on my back as I have long advocated the ideas he gave us. He gave mostly suggestions about intonation that we're very useful and very much in my line of thinking. It was a good experience, one that I thought was very interesting and helpful for our choir. I also felt very proud to represent BYU and the church in such a way. He seemed very impressed by the fact that we performed memorized as that is not something he is accustomed to. (Obviously that comes with the territory though since his choir performs multiple services and concerts a week - memorization is an impossibility.)
After our workshop and a sack lunch, we broke into smaller groups to tour the colleges of Cambridge and the surrounding area. Michelle and I ended up in a group led by a former BYU student studying at Cambridge. It was such a a beautiful place and I felt so torn by my curiosity in the things that the tour guide was telling and my curiosity in the beautiful sites that I wanted to look at through my viewfinder. One of the real highlights was the Wren Library. Unfortunately there was a strict no photography rule. It was so inspiring to walk into that hall of learning. Wren's design was influenced by his interest in chess. The black and white tiled floor served as a battlefield of thought between the statues of ancient philosophers and thinkers on the left side and the modern masters on the left. Very impressive.
Toward the end of our walk around the town the rains began to come down with greater fervor. I had to cease shooting and holster my camera to protect it from the torrent. We finally took refuge on the coach and went to rehearse in the United Emanuel Church in preparation for our concert. It was a small but beautiful l church, well suited, I think, to the size of our choir. Following our rehearsal we got to eat in the dining hall of Pembroke College in Cambridge. I found myself more than a little ravenous.
My only regret up to this point in the tour is that I haven't gotten to spend as much time with my dear Michelle as I would like. Responsibilities as hour president have,at times held me back from the merriment I would much prefer. I hope though, that as tour moves along I will be able to enjoy her company more.
I found myself a little nervous to perform for our audience that night as they come from a truly erudite community, one that has become more and more unbelieving in a supreme being. I really wanted our music to make a spiritual impression as well as a musical one. I thought that we sang very well and was really touched by a comment that came from one of our sponsors at Cambridge. We received many compliments from the people at the concert, especially from the members of the church. Our sponsor said, "You have to realize that when the church members tell you what a wonderful concert you sang, it has significant meaning. The members here have lived their whole lives in the shadows of the college choirs of Cambridge. So it means so much to them when they can claim your group as their own." It was really satisfying. It seems that more than any other Singers tour, I'm seeing the good that we're spreading.
Our host family in Cambridge was an American family living outside Cambridge. We stayed up late into the night enjoying some of the amenities that are not as common it English homes. We also had Karli West and Heather Barton along with us on our home stay. I think we were all up late on the Internet, reconnecting to our world across the pond.
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