Advent by Candlelight
ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 3RD 2006 we were swept along a progress from ????? to a
strong affirmation that "In the beginning was the word". Our skilful
guides were Hilary Sage and Elisabeth Everitt. Our transporters were Ian De
Massini with the Cambridge Voices, and a medley of other voices both rhetorical
and sophist as Phaedrus might have contrived.
The first music came to us across four centuries and from several levels. A first and final soloist brought us, from on high and with great clarity of voice and import, hopeful instruction. The intervening passages, no less superbly executed, conveyed the undertone of watchful fearfulness. The second reading came to us appropriately from Edwin Muir who, born in Orkney, was cast out of that paradise, through no apparent fault of his own, to fall into the industrial hell of Glasgow and the intellectual chaos of twentieth century Europe. The music and readings which followed, all again immaculately accomplished, surely conveyed, with increasing urgency, that the sky was falling until the Cambridge Voices' Kyrie eleison heralded a human submission. This was quickly and resolutely confirmed by the rousing call from all the people, "Quickly come dread Judge".
A reading from Turgenev quickly brought the Him of the New Testament and an Evensong setting by Ian De Massini made Him warmly welcome. There followed a glorious celebration, in words and music, of manifold aspects of Advent. This being the twenty first century ladies were not neglected. Poetic and musical tribute was paid to Godes Mother and included a Massini choral resetting to celebrate the achievements of our own, angelic Lydia Smallwood. In such an evening the "Wachet auf" is a pure ornament. Who, resting unmoved, could slumber? Swaffham Prior knows how to throw a party.