This evening members of the Bra-vissima choir arrived in Exeter from across the land duly attired in black with music folders in hand, ready to perform the first of two Evensong services at Exeter Cathedral.
Beautiful mauve cassocks carried with such care on the many train (not planes) and automobile journeys in recent days and hours were set free momentarily as they caught the February breeze outside the entrance of the Cathedral. A meeting of musical minds gathered promptly at 3.00 pm and a short walk to the song school beckoned. After such an intense period of rehearsal for the choir back in Brentwood, Essex, entering this inner sanctum of music and singing was like coming home. A place where many of us could recall (almost instantly) countless happy memories, in the knowledge that so many more would be made in the coming days.
A final check was made after a very successful rehearsal, not of pitch you would think or of musical competence, but of the covered flat shoes that everyone was wearing. Many hazards lay ahead for all of us, as we were in instructed so carefully by the Cathedral vergers of our walking route from the song school to the choir stalls of the cathedral. Slips, trips and noise were our temporary adversaries as our musical prowess this evening had to be matched by our ability to glide quietly along the old high arched passageways.
We reached our positions in the stalls without incident – our moment had arrived. The service began and was a privileged and glorious moment for us all.
Jo Clarke
