A hour or so ago, Stephen Cleobury, Choirmaster of Kings College Capel in Cambridge England took aside three young boys between 9 and13 years of age whose voices had yet to mature, who had been rehearsing for many weeks to sing the haunting solo In Royal King Davids City, of the Lesson in Nine Lessons and Carols. He selected the one to be this years soloist. Until that moment that young boy had no hint it would be he who would be selected among the three. As I was listening in my car radio to the live broadcast via National Public Radio, 40 minutes ago, along with millions of people world wide, I was transported back to that Cambridge over four decades ago when I spent a year as visitor there. The service begins as cold damp dusk is just beginning, often foggy or misty this time of year. When I lived there there was the fragrance of wood burning fireplaces heavy in the air as the service began. This morning I had to pull my car over and just listen. King’s College Choir, originally established by Henry VI in 1441 comprises 16 boy choristers, aged between nine and 13 years, and 14 male undergraduates, studying for degrees in a variety of subjects. There are also two organ scholars. The Nine Lessons tradition began in1918 during WW1, and international broadcasts to Commonwealth Countries began in 1936, originally by BBC shortwave radio. Whether you are Christian or not, one cant help but be mesmerized by the boys and young mens voices and gorgeous music. My visiting appointment had been in St. Johns College nearby, or simply Johns as they put it,where my sponsor Robert Hinde was a senior fellow. Here is a sample of how it looks and sounds. Hold your breath. : youtu.be/pc_Mo2KrIzw
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 15:56:28 +0000
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