Monday, January 28, 2008

Heaven on earth

During Epiphany all the chairs are removed from the nave of Winchester Cathedral so that the building can be given a good clean and the services are moved to the quire. I was there yesterday, sitting next to the choir for a Mass whose setting was Mozart. At one point only four voices were singing: a choirboy, a tenor, a countertenor and a baritone. I was listening to them, looking down towards the nave where the sun was streaming in, thinking that I was sitting in one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, listening to some of the most glorious music on earth and it was one of those exceptional moments in life. How wonderful it would be to be able to store such moments in bottles which could be taken out and re-experienced on duller, darker, gloomier days.

11 Comments:

Blogger kinglear said...

... but you can. It's called Memory

9:23 am  
Blogger Whispering Walls said...

In theory KL. Maybe you have a very well trained memory. I was wondering what it would be like if cds were made of the highlights of people's lives. How correlated would it be to age? Do you think there is a vast difference in people's richness of life?

9:42 am  
Blogger Whispering Walls said...

I meant to say, how correlated would the length of the cd be to the age of an individual.

9:44 am  
Blogger Ellee Seymour said...

Thank heaven for Mozart...
What a wonderful experience.

12:04 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The combination of sublime music in a wonderful setting is the closest I will ever come to experiencing perfection. No-one can take away these rare memories that I can summon up again from my earliest years, as if they were yesterday. And amazingly, if only occasionally, it still happens! The most recent was at New College chapel.

5:33 pm  
Blogger Whispering Walls said...

Greetings Mr ED - hurrah for William of Wyckham!

8:59 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi WW.
I know exactly what you mean. It was a beautiful service. I don't really enjoy having the Eucharist in Quire, but I do enjoy walking into the empty Cath and just 'feeling' the space enveloping me and knowing that's as near as I'll get to what those of mediaeval times would have experienced. The Candlemass service this Sat at 5.30 is another such time, when we shall process through the Cath to the font with our candles. Beautiful time. Must get there early ...
Liz
PS - Glad you've done the deed and can get your life back!!!

9:02 am  
Blogger Whispering Walls said...

Hi Liz - hope your leg's recovering. I'll miss the Candlemas sadly: I'm sure it will be wonderful. Thank you for your good wishes.

10:13 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The knee was getting quite a bit better. Then I went to Lille for a
short break this week and walked it too much! I never learn my lessons! Still, it was worth it and Lille was way beyond what I'd expected. Despite a lot of the WW1 ravages, a lot of the old buildings survived and make lovely wandering grounds. I like the ultra modern architecture on the city edges much less - Credit Lyonnaise building is NOT called the 'ski boot' for nothing! I'm now very much a fan of Eurostar too - £52.50 there and £27.50 back does it for me! I did find the local beers interesting, especially that called Ch'Ti! and yes it's said as it looks!!! Say 'Hi' to your Father from me.
L

1:39 pm  
Blogger Welshcakes Limoncello said...

What a lovely moment that must have been and I love your bdescription of being able to "store such moments in bottles" - if only we could, WW!

11:57 pm  
Blogger Whispering Walls said...

Thank goodness for the Eurostar, Liz. How was the new St Pancras? My father sends his regards.
Ciao WL - hope you're enjoying some Sicilian sunshine.

2:05 pm  

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