Chants

Chants and all that

A weekend filled with music. Two evensongs to sing and enjoy , plus Matins. Rushing from Amsterdam on Saturday to The Hague on Sunday and on to Haarlem. Two Mag and Nuncs in one weekend, utter bliss. Plus two different sets of Preces and Responses and two anthems. Amazing to have a rather full church for evensong on a bright and very cold Saturday afternoon in Amsterdam, in a big, icy, but beautiful church. It was a joy and a privilege to sing with such accomplished singers. The short sermon in Amsterdam was to the point and enjoyable. I won't mention the Sunday one in The Hague, mainly because I could not hear a thing, as the pulpit in The Hague faces the congregation and anyone speaking from there stands with his or her back to the choir. With just one good ear, it is a hopeless battle, but an excellent opportunity  to meditate on whatever one likes to meditate on. I must admit this time I fretted that the sermon might take ages, as I had to rush on to Haarlem. Made it just in time for the most important part of the practice. The anthem by S. S. Wesley, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace" is really beautiful. Saturday was devoted to Sumsion, (Mag and Nunc in G, and the Preces and Responses). Sunday it was Reading (Preces and Response) and D. Purcell for the canticles.

In fact we celebrated Candlemas in church, although it isn't Candlemas till February 2^nd, on Tuesday. Antoine Bodar, a Dutch priest, art historian and lecturer who now lives in Rome said during a broadcast about his choice of classical music, that in Rome Christmas decorations were not taken down till February 2^nd. It is the last day of Christmas, a new beginning. It is the day of the presentation of the Child in the temple, and the song of Simeon, the text of the Nunc Dimittis (Luke 2:29–32). Moving words, very appropriate for anyone who is old, weak and in pain,  and longs for peace and the kingdom of God.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
To be be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

January 28 The Last Station

Friday afternoon I went to see The last Station, which is about the last stage of Tolstoy's life.  Not in a cinema, but in a community building. Many of the public were not far from their own last station, as this was especially organised for our local seniors. And doesn't my village have seniors in abundance (forgetting that I am supposed to be in the same category, but feeling eternally young)! Anyway, excellent acting, beautiful photography, even captivating on a small screen. Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer are great actors. Normally cool Helen Mirren shows uncontrolled passion, and that very convincingly! If you are a fan of steam-trains, it is a must as well. A costume drama, with great landscape shots. Besides it was a nice and cheap way to enjoy a very cold and windy afternoon, in spite of needing to shut out the sun. Some unexpected good came from it: After living in this house for some 30 years, I finally met the neighbour whose back garden is facing mine. I do know her husband, who often works in the garden, but not his wife. She said she had always wondered what I looked like. Well, now we both know.