High Sheriff was sworn in at Wells Cathedral. Bridgwater Mercury reported that: Somerset County Council has announced the county's new High Sheriff will be sworn in on Sunday, March 9 at Wells Cathedral.
Anne Maw will take over from David Medlock, who held the position in 2007, as the Queen's representative in Somerset for all matters relating to the justice system and to law and order.
Saving some pennies from the cost of nave seating (£25) opted for the Side Aisle (£7) as an experiment in listening pleasure.
Father Christmas and his sleigh will be pulled by reindeers through Wells from Tincknells, via Priory Road, Broad Street, High Street finishing in the Market Square when the 'lights' will be turned on a 4:15pm
Wells Carnival
An annual West Country tradition held during November when lots of floats covered with many light bulbs are towed by tractors around the streets of the town. Children seem to enjoy the spectacle and it is free. Starts around 7:30pm and lasts for a couple hours. Lots to eat and drink. Parking is a problem as the main streets are closed for the procession. Wear lots of layers depending on the weather. Best place to watch is Strawberry Way to the lights for Burcott Road and Tucker Street.
Cheddar Male Voice Choir. Fabienne Borget (soprano), Rick Bowers (conductor)
Programme includes a selection of items from the Male Voice Choral Repertoire, religious, spiritual, classical and operatic choruses, and modern sings from the shows.
Tickets : £12, £6 Starts at 7pm
Organ Recital - Greg Morris
free - Lunchtime Concert Series
Lunchtime in the Cathedral is not the quiet contemplative oasis to spiritual organ music an evening recital offers. Tourists, visitors and guides produce the same hustle and bustle as experienced outside from people sheltered as the first autumnal rains clouds drift over.
Once inside the Quire most of the chatter further reduced by all but the subdued passage. Greg Morris: Associate Organist followed his introduction by diving into a Bach's Prelude and Fugue (BWV 541?) that sparkled showing Mr Morris skills. He followed with a Triptique by Langlais (good, but not right for the occasion), Bach's Wasserflussen Babylon and finishing with Frank's Choral No3. It was the Frank that filled the Quire - a magnificent piece, superbly played.
Wells' organ dominates the space without over bearing the listener. It is worth an hour of anyone time experience music as composer intended.
Organ Recital - Margaret Phillips
Ticket £8 (Norman Andrew Memorial Recital)
Wells Cathedral Quire is the smaller church with a church at the East side behind the alter, accessed below the organ itself.
Prof. Phillips gave a brief introduction to the recital explaining the six pieces by Buxtehude, Mendelssohn, Parry, Forbes, and Langlais. The Buxtehude's Toccata was impressive, but paled compared to the following Mendelssohn's Sonata that shone against the ornate surrounding of the Quire's masonry. Forbes' modern, bright Haec Dies wasn't expected by the listening novice and pleasant example showing the capabilities of the organ and skilful interpretation by one the country's leading musician.
Three dozen managed to attend on the recital on a glorious September evening. Surprising few considering the quality and reputation of the organist; Dr Margaret Phillips: Professor of Organ at Royal College of Music and founder of the English Organ School and Museum. A comment on the lack of publicity considering the performance. It was well worth the moderate entrance fee.
Piano Recital by Lily Webster
St Cuthbert Church
A joy, it is that simple. Spending less than hour seated in the corner of the splendid St Cuthbert Church while the clarity of Beethoven, Messiaen, and Ravel played, all be it to an untrained ear, beautifully. It was perfect introduction to the St Cuthbert 2007 Music Festival.
Lily Webster, who spent time at Wells Cathedral School, understands and showed her clear, youthful, engaging spirit through Beethoven's Sonata No21 well known and much appreciated piece. Another introduction was Messiaen's Prelude, Cloches d'angoisse et larmes d'adiue (Bells of anguish and tears of farewell). From the quality of the playing, worth further investigation. Concluding with the technically difficult and challenging Ravel's Minuet and Toccata, that completed a perfect lunchtime recital. Lily Webster.
Thank you to the lady who spent the Beethoven organising her handbag, not so much loud, more inconsiderate. St Cuthbert Church