June is, as Jeremy has said above, the month for ordinations[1] but it’s also, it seems, the month for “summer” concerts. The Choir of the 21st Century, our own Community Choir + Hampstead Players + Junior Choir, as well as the Hampstead Chamber Choir, have chosen summer-themed concerts for 15th, 21st and 29th respectively. Expect a range of music from Britten to Vivaldi – with two of the concerts choosing Paul Mealor’s Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal: Four Madrigals on Rose texts. Commissioned by John Armitage Memorial and first performed by the joint choirs of the University of St Andrew’s Chapel Choir, University of Aberdeen Chamber Choir and the Edinburgh University Chamber Choir in 2010, the title had me reaching for my Tennyson – Summer Nights, below.
Has anyone seen Henry?
We have, rather oddly, lost one of our Henry vacuum cleaners. He left his tubes and brushes behind but skipped off sometime in April and hasn’t been seen or heard of since. He is much missed and I poke around in odd corners feeling sure he must be here somewhere – how can a vacuum cleaner just disappear?! If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Henry leading to his recovery we would be most grateful!
The Hills are alive……..
Well, our particular hill is alive, indeed positively buzzing, with the news that the Hampstead Players are putting on The Sound of Music in November. Children, I hear, are persuading their music teachers to coach them, every woman in the congregation seems to want to be a nun and I’m assured there are good parts for men too! So make a note now that auditions are being held on 7th July (children), and during the week beginning 15th July (adults); exercise your vocal chords and dig out the lederhosen, Rodgers and Hammerstein are coming to a church near you.
[1] Though, as every custom has its exceptions, at least two of our former clergy were deaconed in September