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Choristers' Page

annual fun day |
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Here are some descriptions of what it is like
being a chorister at Lincoln Cathedral, written by the children themselves:
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Life in the Stall…
" I joined the choir of Lincoln
Cathedral in September 2005 as a girl probationer. At first, it was very
difficult to settle in, but with the other choristers to help me, I soon
felt more comfortable. I like singing lots of types of cathedral music,
but my favourite at the moment is to sing the psalms. Not every one of
the girls agrees with me about psalms! I have to agree with them, a lot
of the other music is brilliant as well. A lot of the music we sing
comes from the bible, which is why I like some of it so much. When I
joined the choir I was not allowed to sing everything in the services,
but as I progressed I was allowed to join in more and more. Also as I
sing more in the services, it becomes more enjoyable for me.
As probationers, the others and I had
special singing lessons with the assistant organist, tours of the organ
loft and the cathedral, as well as visits to the Precentory to learn
about the services and we even had chocolate cake once!
I have wanted to join the choir ever
since I first saw the girl’s choir come into the Cathedral when I was
four! I told my parents that was what I wanted to do but they didn’t
believe me at first. But here I am! The time I walked into my first
service I felt all shaky but happier than ever. I was thinking “Here I
am where I have always wanted to be and I have fulfilled a dream.” I
don’t get the shakes anymore!
Some people don’t like the early
morning starts, but the morning rehearsals are very good for me because
I always get up about half past five anyway! We practise early, as we
sing at evensong on Monday and Thursday and we sing at weekends,
Saturday and Sunday too. We have also sung in other places and for the
radio and the television sometimes. We are very busy at Christmas and
Easter, singing a lot. On Christmas Eve we girls sang midnight mass,
even I was not up at half past five on Christmas day!
The main thing is I like to praise
God and this is a way for me to do it."
(Sophie ~ Dominique Waddie) |

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My
life as a girl chorister
"I've been a chorister for about
two years now.
During the first few months when I
was a probationer, I was only allowed to sing in rehearsals, not during services. Then I
began joining in when I had learnt particular pieces.
Just before I became a full chorister
the whole choir went to Prague.
It was the first time I ever went
abroad, and it was such fun. We did not just sing, we went shopping, we went to
restaurants and even went to a Pizza Parlour. So choir is not just sing-work, work-sing;
in fact, we go on an outing about twice a term, such as ten-pin bowling, the fish and chip
shop, a restaurant, a church with a buffet, and BBQs.
We always sing for half an hour at
the Lincolnshire Show, and then we "shop till we drop", as Mr. Prentice says. We
sing during the famous Lincoln Christmas Market - this year we performed a large carol
service during the Christmas market and the nave of the cathedral was completely full.
So overall, I think choir is fun,
even if I sometimes have to give up my weekends, but that doesn't matter because Mr.
Prentice keeps us amused with his jokes and impressions. And you make lots of friends. And
I love the music and the singing."
(Avalon Summerfield) |
A Choristers Christmas
It can be hard work
being a chorister! I and my brother Freddie are both choristers. The Lincoln Cathedral
Choir consists of roughly 20 boys, 20 girls and 10 men (lay vicars).
The boys and girls
rarely sing together except for special occasions, and of course one of these is
Christmas. The run up to Christmas for choristers is very busy. In addition to normal
services we have several concerts to perform. Our first carol service is actually at the
end of November on Advent Sunday and between then and Christmas day there is a lot of
singing to fit in! The concerts include several carol services, Carols by Candlelight and
Benjamin Britten's Ceremony of Carols.
When school breaks
up the choristers have to wait for their holiday - we still have another week of music to
rehearse and perform. Of course it's not just the girls and boys, as the lay vicars also
rehearse with us. Some of the boarders don't get to go home until the end of Christmas
Day, although we are lucky living near the Cathedral.
The days are
counting down and there's a general feeling of excitement and expectation. The day
is just around the corner, the Christmas Eve Carol; Service is always great fun with the
Cathedral full and everyone is a happy mood. Whoever is going to sing the first verse of
Once in Royal will be looking nervous, but the service is suddenly over, the great West
Doors are opened and we line up shaking the hands of the congregation as they leave, which
I really enjoy.
On Christmas
morning, Freddie and I imagine most choristers will probably get the chance to open a
stocking before a hurried breakfast - green jelly and cream for us on Christmas Day!
Most children are probably still asleep in bed when we get up. We have an hour's
rehearsal with our choirmasters - Mr Harrison, who will play the organ, and Mr Prentice,
who will be conducting. We all get changed into our robes: probationers wear the blue
cassock, Burghersh Chanters a cassock with a white surplice and the Girl Choristers wear
an alb with a blue scapular. The Choristers wear a cope over their cassocks, which is like
a cloak. The copes are very good for keeping warm during the winter!
After the 9.30
Eucharist with the Bishop, the girls will be free to go home and we boys go off for tea,
coffee and biscuits in the Chapter House, then it's back to Mattins. Everybody then goes
home for a small lunch. Some people have Christmas lunch in the school. We will have lunch
at home, maybe with another chorister family. A chance for parents to have a Christmas
drink and a chance for a little present opening!
At 2.30 it's back
to the Cathedral for Evensong rehearsal - our last Mag & Nunc of the year. After
Evensong, around 5 o'clock, we rush back home to presents and a turkey dinner and look
forward to a good lie-in on Boxing Day. A Chorister's Christmas really is a busy time but
there's a great team spirit, we do have fun along the way and it's worth it!
(William Wright)
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