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.