The Chapel ... 13 The Choir

Communion service throughout the term. In addition, a new set of psalters enabled people to have a new interpretation of the psalms, although, because of the shorter services, psalms were not often used.

The Church has been seen as being both out of date and out of place in the twentieth century and is endeavouring to change its image while preserving its basic teachings. It is to be hoped that any changes in the services will help members of the school to find, or secure, their faiths. H.E.D.L.

21st Jan. Epiphany Procession in York Minster. 18th Feb. Preacher : The Rev. C. E. B. Neale, Senior Chaplain, Southern Division of the Woodward Schools. 28th Feb. Ash Wednesday. Address at Evensong by Mr. D. S. Mair. 10th Mar. Preacher : The Very Rev. The Dean Of York. 25th & 26th Mar. Performance of Benjamin Britten's "St. Nicholas".

CHOIR NOTES

At the start of the term we were immediately confronted by the Minster Epiphany service which was to take place only four days after the beginning of term. By intensive practising we managed to attain the standard necessary. We sang the traditional carols, "The Noble Stem of Jesse", "O'er the Hill and O'er the Vale" and "The Carol Of the Star", in the awe-inspiring candlelight. Several Sixth Formers processed with the choir as candle bearers.

The first Sunday chapel was marked by another carol sung in the Epiphany procession, namely "Up Good Christian Folk", by Charles Wood. Into February, the choir and congregation enjoyed to the full the annual singing of Beethoven's "Creation's Hymn". Meanwhile we had revised Stanford's Evening Service in B flat. The congregation participated fully, and the performances were not limited to Sunday chapel.

The term's Sung Communion was celebrated on Quinquagesima Sunday to a mixture of Merbecke and Darke which had proved most effective the term before. The solo was excellently sung by M. P. Baby.

During the two weeks that followed, Queen's and Grove conducted the services. During this period several hymns were brought to light which had fallen into oblivion.

In March, the choir sang "Turn Thy Face From My Sins", by Thomas Attwood. The tenor solo was again impressively sung by M. P. Baby.

On the same evening we celebrated the annual choir supper. After an excellent meal, the headmaster dropped a bombshell in his speech, concerning the impending departure Of Mr. Waine at the end of the

summer term. We were all completely unaware of his departure and it came as a stunning blow to most of us. Following the meal the entertainment was varied. It ranged from the Toy Symphony by Haydn, which incorporated many interesting percussion "instruments", to the imposition copy printed for chanting and sung by Mr. Exham, Mr. Kemp-Welch and Mr. Wise. The final song performed by the Headmaster, Mr. Exham and Mr. Kemp-Welch about slimming diets was a very entertaining comparison to the meal that we had just eaten.

"Choir Supper"

During the week that followed, services were held in hall owing to modifications in the chapel. The choir stalls were removed, and at the end of the week the choir found itself singing from the gallery. From our point of view the situation was altogether very different, one must be very careful not to trip over one's cassock and fall down stairs : we soon became accustomed to the new conditions, however.

On the last Sunday of term, Canticle II by Benjamin Britten was sung and played magnificently by R. A. Howat (alto), M. P. Baby (tenor) and T. M. Day (piano). The canticle took the place of the Magnificat, and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

During the term the choir lost several trebles but was fortified in the underneath parts by more tenors and basses. Any deficiency in the choir's execution of music was more than made up by the two grand performances of St. Nicolas.