[Magdalen] Hereford Musings.

[Cantor03 at aol.com]

There is a full page ad in the American Organist this month promoting
the Three Choirs Festival (Hereford, Gloucester, and Worchester) this 
summer.  There are a number of these three choir festivals.  The  one I
have attended several times is the Winchester, Salisbury, and  Chichester
festival.
 
In any case there is a wonderful sweeping view of the interior of  Hereford
(as in "Hartford, Hereford, and Hampshire hardly ever have  hurricanes")
Cathedral from a camera mounted high in the vaults of the  sanctuary.  It
shows the Cathedral arranged for the concerts with all the  nave chairs
turned around to the west end where there are bleachers extending up  to
the west window to accommodate the large choir. 
 
My one trip to Hereford was before I gave up the booze, and I recall  
driving
through the Malvern Hills from Worchester to Hereford, with a stop at  the
Great Malvern Priory.  At that impressive church, I got into a  little tiff 
with 
a clergyman at the west entrance.  I baited him, asking him where  the
Blessed Sacrament was kept on reserve in the Priory, suspecting full  well
that this was a church in the Evangelical camp.  
 
In any case, I remember little about Hereford Cathedral, except for  the
lovely Early English Lady Chapel with an unusual triptych altarpiece.  
That's shame, because it looks like a splendid building.  But then,  alcohol
does pickle the brain, and it was my loss.
 
I wish I could do the Three Choirs Festival.  It looks  wonderful.
 
 
 
David S.