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Renee organized a Saturday music lunch party. She prepared all the food herself (well, OK, I cut some veggies, but that hardly counts) including three choices of pudding! The musical highlight of the afternoon was a performance of Elgar’s violin sonata played by Michael Jones and David Gregory (David plays in the Birmingham S.O. ) performed of course on Elgar’s piano. They also played some lighter Elgar for us, and I was pressed into playing a duet arrangement of Salut d’Amour with Mike Smith. (I felt like a character from a Jane Austin novel, apologizing for my lack of talent in such… Read More »Elgar and more Elgar

Birmingham Town Hall is a must stop on the pilgrimage route of any oratorio lover. Here Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Elgar’s Dream and The Kingdom and many other great works had their first performances. I stopped by for a look. Last November I heard Gerontius here sung by the marvelous Birmingham choir Ex cathedra. I was on my way to King’s Norton on the train for an appointment with Frances Badger. Her Grandmother sang in the famous Sheffield Chorus conducted by Henry Coward who travelled to Canada in 1908. Frances was so gracious and showed me her extensive archive which her Dad… Read More »Memories of 1908

  The parish church in Wenlock was adorned for a wedding with beautiful bouquets. Over at the abbey, Nature was in charge of the decorating committee.

 Shropshire’s escarpment inspired a poem by Housman and a song cycle by Vaughan Williams. I’m standing on the top of this stoney cliff and behind me is the wonderful unspoiled farmland – the most prominent sounds are sheep, dogs, cows and many birds in the trees below. Renee and I drove here to visit the charming village of Much Wenlock (as opposed to Little Wenlock) and to see its many attractions: the local butcher shop, where you can buy sausage and very tasty meat pies, and Cornish pasties.  Nearby the neighbourhood Tortie got a nice pat from me since she looks… Read More »On Wenlock Edge

Last night I was able to attend the bell ringing practice in the tower of St. Michael’s and All Angels Church in Wolverhampton. I’ve attended practice three times now, so I’m beginning to understand something about this amazingly complicated and very English form of music making. Several of the ringers allowed me to interview them on camera afterward in the local pub (there are two pubs within a block of the church, and having a pint after practice is an integral  part of the experience) and they said some very wise things about bell ringing. It is a complicated undertaking, and ringers… Read More »Band of Bellringers

I arrived safe and sound here in Wolverhampton and, with my gracious host, enjoyed a lovely evening walk in the park and a pint of real ale while listening to the not-so-far-off cries of the Wolves fans – that’s the local soccer team. I’m staying in the house where Percy Young wrote many of his books – both the musicological ones and the ones about his beloved football team, the Wolverhampton Wanderers (alias the Wolves.) I am allowed to play Elgar’s piano in the front room – a piano given to Percy Young by Elgar’s daughter. Puchased by Elgar in 1902, this piano… Read More »Arrival

The long-anticipated induction service for Fr Harrison unfolded as planned yesterday afternoon at St. Mary Mag’s. It was so nice to introduce my parents to the bishop. Mary Willan Mason was there along with many of Fr David’s old parishioners, many Toronto organists, clergy and interested people. There was a lot of very strong and diverse music which everyone offered up very beautifully, and a suitably celebratory reception afterward. What a wonderful place – this feels like a new chapter in SMM’s rich history. I’m off to the airport now and I found myself nostalgic for Toronto and all the… Read More »Departure

I think I am beginning to understand the blog idea! Let me tell you about repertoire that we’re singing on Sunday at Fr David’s Induction. There will be 7 (yes, seven) hymns, Kyrie by Mendelssohn, Sanctus by Schubert, Agnus Dei by Palestrina (Missa Papae Marcelli) and motet “Behold the Tabernacle” by, you guessed it, Canada’s own Healey Willan. A new psalm has been composed for the 9:30 choir and a new response for the Orff ensemble. A half hour of prelude music will include Melanie Conly and Bruce Hill singing and playing Mozart, Matthew Whitfield and Elaine Choi playing Schubert,… Read More »I blog, therefore, I am

Bruce has a busy day today with two three-hour services. Tomorrow will also be a busy liturgical day with our normal services at SMM, and then Fr Harrison’s Induction at 4pm. Then I will be leaving on my big adventure over seas. Wish me good luck!

Hi  – well the Pax folks suggested I keep a blog since my    journeys are going to take me to some interesting places  and I’ll be lonely and have nothing to do but write up this  online diary. I’m going to try it so look for some  commentary from me now and then. I hope to keep you  posted about the amazing choirs I’m going to hear in the UK. etc. etc. I had tons of fun accompanying rehearsal last night. Stephane Potvin was a great fit for the choir and I’m sure will prepare you well for Faure… Read More »Bye Pax