Tuesday, 4 February 2014

Candlemas, Sunday February 1st

Candlemas, marking the end of the Christmas period. The presentation of Jesus in the temple, when Simeon took the child in his arms, and spoke the words which we sing at each Evensong, the Nunc Dimittis, known as the Song of Simeon.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared for all people...

The more poignant as we had just learned that one of the oldest members of our church choir had died the evening before, on her birthday February 1st. I sang the Nunc Dimittis for her, who had been a chorister all her life, first in England where she was born, later in  Holland where they moved because of her husband’s job and where she raised her two boys, one now a musician, organist, pianist, composer and choir master. We, the choir, will sing this week at her farewell service, celebrating her life. She was quite a character, and will be much missed. When I celebrated my 60th birthday together with a friend from church, she sang a solo, accompanied on the piano by her son. The illness which killed her in just a year or two was horrible. Mercifully an end has come to her suffering, which cruelly also robbed her of her voice, which had been so important to her throughout her life. May she sing the Gloria in the angelic choir.

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