Playing on

Against all the odds, the Choir of Clare College managed to enjoy a successful Michaelmas Term of music-making, offering thrice-weekly services in Chapel with reduced formations and following strict COVID-secure measures. But as the UK entered its third national lockdown Lent Term 2021 once again saw Clare music move online whilst we all worked from home. The recent installation of our Chapel’s livestreaming equipment in the summer of 2020 enabled the Choir’s services to be streamed to over 10,000 people worldwide, so it seemed only right that Clare musicians should continue to provide music to their supporters and followers from their homes.

Clare Music Mondays

As part of the returning Clare Music Mondays series, eight performances from past and current Clare musicians were delivered weekly over the course of Lent Term via social media. The series received contributions from Clare alumni, including international concert pianist, Cordelia Williams (pictured), Dominic Wheeler, former Clare Organ Scholar and Head of Opera Studies at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, tenor and former Clare Choir Lay Clerk Stefan Kennedy, as well as performances from current Clare musicians William Harris, George Gillow, Yammi Yip, Samuel Jones, Hannah Dienes-Williams and Victor Wang.

All performances can be viewed via the Choir of Clare College’s YouTube channel at bit.ly/ClareChoirYT.

ClareCasts

Alongside Clare Music Mondays, the national lockdown saw the return of our weekly ClareCasts, programmes that explore the parables with readings, reflections and prayers from members of the College community. Each ClareCast additionally revisited a musical performance delivered by the Choir that had been recorded live in the College Chapel during Michaelmas Term. Musical offerings included Anna Semple’s recently commissioned Nunc Dimittis for choir and violin, Beethoven’s Elegischer Gesang for Choir and strings and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor By the waters of Babylon, which featured as part of our BBC Radio 3 broadcast on Wednesday, 10 February 2021.

Choir at Home

The Choir once again joined forces with friends at Knight Classical to produce a virtual performance of Sir John Stainer’s God so loved the world. This special performance was made by Choir members first recording individual parts, in their own homes and by using smartphones, and then stitching these parts together through technological means to create a virtual performance. The recording has been wonderfully received and can be watched via the Choir’s YouTube channel.

Choir Socials

Aside from their music-making, the Choir have continued to socialise and stay connected during lockdown via virtual Zoom socials. Members have worked together to produce Clare Choir themed games nights and quizzes, with rounds based on popular TV quiz shows, such as Richard Osman’s House of Games and Family Fortunes, as well as scavenger hunts and ‘Guess the Song’ rounds, testing memories of the Michaelmas Term’s repertoire. There were some rather niche quiz questions!

Plans for next term

Despite the fact we are unable to make live music together at this current time, we very much hope to be able to do so again in person during Easter term. Following the lifting of restrictions, we have exciting plans for a UK Summer Tour around the southwest of England for what will be our first live concerts in 18 months, as well as a new CD recording for the Choir’s record label, Harmonia Mundi, with John Rutter producing. Stay tuned on the Choir’s website and social media pages for further updates on our future plans.

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