salva me, fons pietas

The stem and leaf of a bunch of flowers purchased to take to Mums grave. They had to wait because Saturday was all tied up with singing.

Dad and I were singing Verdi's Requiem all day, which was performed in the evening. I was seriously out of depth amongst the Chester Bach Singers who clearly knew their stuff. Thankfully, with around 150 singers, my efforts were largely hidden by those that knew what they were doing. There were a few crys of 'salva me' coming from within, as well as those we were singing. I regard it a triumph that I got to the end at the same time as everyone else and only got lost the once (for about 10 very long seconds). Wonderful acoustics and a powerful dramatic requiem. I might have to join a 'proper' choir again after that experience.

[Kahsia]

150 voices singing together can be such a powerful and uplifting experience.

[Judith Greenwood]

That sounds amazing - wish I could sing!

[Catherine Otley]

Like the abstractness of this. Can imagine the sound of 150 soaring voices!

[Suzanne]

How wonderful to be able to sing, it must have been quite an experience., You really should join that proper choir, on the other hand, I really shouldn't!

[Helen Jane]

@moonmtn indeed so. I love how the overall is so much more than the individual voices.
@judithg it is a great thing, when all the practicing is done and everyone comes together and gives of their best for the performance.
@redandwhite a strong and lovely sound - especially so in the church building.
@suzanne234 I'm just a bit worried that there might be an audition!

[Saxa van Eijnsbergen]

Love your writing Helen!

[Saxa van Eijnsbergen]

I once sang with my aunt in a huge choir the Carmina Burana (Orff). Never joined a choir after that, though the experience was great. Verdi's Requiem is very powerful.

[Gayle]

It sounds like an amazing experience! I was in our school choir in high school and that's the extent of my singing experience.

[Ethel]

I enjoyed your photo and comments. Verdi's Requiem is so moving. I have a long history of choral singing. In my youth I belonged to a prestigious choir in Adelaide. One of my joys was singing Bach's Mass in B Minor which was presented in the town Hall with full Orchestra. It was thrill when we split into 8 parts.